Just repent

October 19, 2007

By Gary Rogers

Have you ever felt like your mistakes will haunt you forever? Like you are of no further use to God or to people? Like there is no hope of your recovering any self-respect?

The Bible doesn’t candy-coat people’s mistakes. Scripture pulls no punches when describing Israel’s idolatry, David’s adultery, or Thomas’ doubt. But the Bible makes just as clear God’s gracious road to restoration. The needed ingredient to get on that road? Repentance.

There were two men who followed Jesus. They both heard Jesus’ teaching. They both were with Jesus when He healed the sick, calmed the storm, raised the dead, and cast out demons. They both had potential for accomplishing great things for the kingdom of God. They both were so close to Jesus they were sitting with Him around the table of the Last Supper.

Both of these men also failed Jesus.

Judas was the one who sold his loyalty for 30 pieces of silver and led the soldiers to Jesus to arrest Him. Judas showed false affection for Jesus with a kiss of betrayal.

Peter failed Jesus when fear caused him to refuse any allegiance to Christ. Even as Jesus was being interrogated by His captors, Peter was nearby denying his Lord and even cursing to make it clear he was in no way connected with the Master.

As a result of failing Jesus, both Judas and Peter experienced regret and remorse. Judas’ regret and remorse drove him to return the betrayal money to Jesus’ enemies. Peter wept uncontrollably. From that point, however, the similarities end.

Judas had no repentance and his heart was hardened. The only way he could find relief was in taking his own life.

Peter repented.

Mark 14:21 tells us it would have been better if Judas had not been born. But Peter went on to preach on the Day of Pentecost and become a dynamic leader in the Early Church. Peter wrote two small books of our Bible. His name is held in high esteem by Christians around the world.

What a difference his repentance made.

We see two men, two choices, and two outcomes. The right choice is to repent. Yes, all of us make mistakes. Yes, all of us deal with regret. If only all of us would repent! God responds to a repentant heart with forgiveness and restoration.

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:17,18, NKJV).

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart — these, O God, You will not despise” (Psalm 51:17).

“For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isaiah 57:15).

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Gary Rogers is senior pastor of First Assembly of God in Coweta, Okla.