Dear Fellow ABATE Members,
New Year's Resolution or New Year's Repentance?
Within the last week, we received an email from a person who said that they were going to change some things for the New Year. We usually call the resolve to change things, resolutions. The online Encarta Dictionary includes the following definitions within its description: a firm decision to do something; firmness of mind or purpose or, an answer to a problem. With resolutions, we usually want to correct something that is wrong, not good for us, or make an improvement in our lives or situation.
The problem with a resolution is found within its definition, "to do something." It basically implies it is something that will be done in the future. If you plan to do something in the future then some of that, "firmness of mind or purpose" can easily be worn off by the time that you had planned to take action. Then, sometimes for the very few that ever act on a resolution, they find that alleged, "answer to a problem" may not really solve the problem or they just go back to their old ways.
So, this New Year, may we suggest repentance?
To us, repentance is something that comes deeper from the heart than a resolution. The meaning of repentance is to have a change of mind or a change of purpose (this sounds a little like a resolution). In order to begin the process, we are told in Psalms 51:3, that before God, we must acknowledge our transgressions. We must acknowledge that these transgressions have been against God. In 2 Corinthians 7:9 and 10, we are told that we must have a godly sorrow for sin. In Luke 18:13, Jesus gives us a picture of the publican and repentance, "But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!'
John the Baptist was a forerunner of Jesus. If he was here today, we could definitely call him a Messiah's Messenger! He came to prepare the nation of Israel for their Messiah. In Matthew 3:1and 2, "In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." As it was then, it is still necessary today that in order to make some lifesaving changes, one must repent. In Acts 11:18; the scriptures tell us that repentance itself is a gift of God. Today, God is offering that gift to you, so that you can have repentance unto everlasting life. There are too many in this world that say, "I can live my life for self and the world and then, I can repent and turn to God when I decide." The problem with that is you could get so deep into sin that you may not be able to get out and the devil tricks you into saying to yourself that it's too late. Of course, one of the obvious problems that I'm sure everyone reading this will agree upon; there is no guarantee that when you get on your motorcycle or get in your car to go places today, that you will make it alive. Jesus could return at any moment. There is no guarantee that you will be alive two minutes from now. With every minute that passes by, you are one minute closer to eternity. The Lord could come back for you. At that point, the only thing that will make a difference as to how you will spend eternity (and eternity means forever) is if you had accepted the gift that God has offered. 2 Peter 3: 9 says, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
A resolution cannot offer you a change that will help you into eternity. However, repentance offers an inner change that can help you now and usher you into eternity to be with our Heavenly Father.
If you wish to repent and accept what God has for you, will you repeat this prayer? Repentance is now, not like a resolution that will be acted upon in the future. If you pray for this, you will have made a total commitment to God. He does not promise that all bad situations in your life will instantly change. Some things may change, at once, with your change of heart, with God living within you. Other things may take time. But, isn't it better to have God with you to face things, rather than to have to face things alone? He wants to partner with you. He wants to be at the center of your life. Now, invite Him in.
Please pray this prayer: "Dear God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, my heavenly Father, I confess that I am a sinner and have been separated from You. I ask forgiveness of my sins. I repent and accept this gift of repentance. I confess with my mouth that your son Jesus is my savior and died for me. I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead. I receive Jesus into my heart and ask Him to become the center of my life. I ask, in the Name of Jesus. Amen."
If you have prayed this prayer and it came from the heart, then we can truly say, HAPPY NEW YEAR and a HAPPY NEW LIFE! For 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
Blessings,
Tom and Kathy Provenzano
www.messiahsmessengers.org
267-8641- Call us if you would like to discuss or need us.