As John the Baptist began preaching, he had a very simple message: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near” (Matthew 3:2). Jesus began His public ministry with the same message: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news” (Mark 1:15). This message rings as true and relevant today.
In a world where everyone believes they have their truth and morals have become a relic of the past, the need to repent has never been greater. God sets the rules for living because He created everything that lives. He is the author and judge, and our only role is to obey Him. Instead, we’ve spent millennia thumbing our noses at the One who loves us most.
There is no human who does not need to repent. Every day we live our lives in ways contrary to what God designed for us. We pursue the same things our unbelieving neighbors do, keep our faith to ourselves, and focus on our comfort and security. Televisions and smartphones occupy the time we should be spending in prayer and the study of God’s Word. The parts of our lives that are honoring to God are a very small minority. To be certain, we have messed up this whole thing. We are called to live differently, and we look like everyone else. We need to repent of our selfishness.
Our pride keeps us focused on ourselves rather than our Lord in Heaven or those in need here on earth. We prefer everything to be about us. Maybe we don’t say it aloud, but it’s true. We spend our lives looking out first for ourselves. If we have time, we might be generous to others. If we still have time after that, perhaps we will even spend some time with God. Our Savior languishes in last place while we promised Him first place as our Lord. We will not get away with this forever. Judgment is coming, and then it will be too late.
Don’t presume you’ve got your ticket to eternal life punched because you once said a prayer or walked down an aisle. Don’t be fooled into thinking the fact you believe in God is going to secure your place with Him. A lackadaisical approach to Christianity is no better than not believing at all. It may even be worse. At least a non-believer is being honest with God. Christ will not tolerate our lazy approach to His Lordship forever.
We need to repent of our selfishness, pride, and laziness. Every day brings additional reasons to repent. We need repentance in our personal lives, and in our cities, states, and countries. Jesus is coming back, and by the look of things, it could be sooner rather than later. If He comes back before we repent and follow Him, it’s going to be a horrific and terrible day. The time to repent is now. Throw off your old life. Fall on your knees and accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord. Then, live differently. Live like He is your Lord and in a way that shows there is nothing more important to you than Jesus. Warn everyone you know to repent, because the Kingdom of God is at hand.