True Repentance

 

    You know things have gotten bad in the world when God's people are compared to prostitutes.  Imagine what it was like for Jeremiah to be locked in with the people that God was comparing to lowest people in society.  He didn't get offended.  His feelings were not hurt.  He accepted it and looked at things how they were.  He knew that they all needed to repent for their wondering hearts.  This couldn't be circumstantial.  They needed to truly repent for all of their lifestyles.

    God's people had defiled themselves with their independent lifestyle from God.  Yet He still loved them and wanted them.  Today we are not very different.  That is why it is comforting to know that God still has not written us off.  We stray and search for the right now fix to make us feel better about life not being as we imagined.  This lifestyle defiles our love and respect for God.  It is shameless and produces evil.  Yet God is loyal, merciful, and has grace for us.

    The fact is that God can't be in our presence when we choose evil over a relationship with Him.  He is too true and pure to be soiled by sin.  We have to humble ourselves and then call out to Him.  God hates unfaithfulness, but He will forgive if we have true repentance in our hearts.  Don't pretend to be faithful when you are not.  You give all that carry the name Christian a bad reputation.  You bring sin's taint upon the church.

    True repentance is acknowledging your sin and guilt of rebelling and disobedience against God.  It is the only way you will really return to Him.  He gave us Jesus to shepherd us toward Him.  Jesus showed us the way with knowledge and understanding.  He gave us spiritual leaders like Jeremiah to walk in the world with us and show us how to do it better.  If it is the leader that is the root of the problem, then the leader has to go.

    The evil heart is stubborn and hard to change.  It deals treacherously with God.  God can heal and cure it because He doesn't abandon anyone.  The backslidden heart can be restored.  He provides salvation for all who wants it.  We have all disobeyed, but hopefully we learn from our mistakes.  It is human nature to sin, so we have to rely on the Holy Spirit to change our natural nature to become pure.  God is eager to show you a different way.  Are you willing to learn?

Jeremiah 3