Tag Archives: repentance

What About the ________________?

04 Thursday Aug 2011

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“… unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”  Luke 13:3

      People have a lot of questions they desire to ask God.  They inquire:

  • What about the dinosaurs?
  • What about Cain’s wife?  Where did she come from in the first place?
  • How did all those animals know to come to Noah’s ark? 
  • What about all the hungry people around the world?  Isn’t God concerned about them?
  • What about UFO’s, ghosts, or scandals in the church? 

      Do you have a “what about” question?  If Jesus were standing here today, His answer to these questions would sound something like this; “Don’t be so concerned with the issues you don’t fully comprehend, but concern yourself with repentance and not perishing.”  His response would seem to be blunt to our ears.  It certainly was to the listeners of His day. 

      Unless we believe the Lord loves us and has our best interest at heart, we will view His words harshly.  Actually, Jesus is trying to save us from ourselves.  Most of the time when people ask “what about” questions, it is not out of genuine curiousity.  They ask these types of questions to justify themselves.  They desire to shield themselves from God’s word.  If they catch God in a theological dilemma, then they are freed from having to obey the rest of His word.   When you are seeking a “way out” of something, you will usually find it.    

      Notice, Jesus didn’t fall for this trap.  He directed those listening to a greater dilemma, perishing.  There is something worse here than dying.  It is being condemned in the afterlife. 

      For Jesus the answer is simple.  Repent and give your life back to God.  He will answer all your questions in due time.  When you love God, you hear His answers and receive them in truth.  What about it?

Has the Lord Given You the “Dung” Treatment Lately?

02 Tuesday Aug 2011

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 “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. 7 And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; 9 and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’” Luke 13:6-9

All parables are earthly stories with heavenly meanings. Here are the working parts of this parable: 

  • The Owner of the vineyard is God.
  • The fig tree is you.
  • Roots are all of your physical and spiritual senses which allow you to understand truth and growth.
  • Fertilizer is refuse, compost, and manure.  It is anything (good or bad) that comes into our life that stimulates real spiritual growth.   

      Just think, God loves you so much…He plants your life in the middle of manure to assure growth.  How do you smell today? 

      According to this parable, the Father is always searching for real fruit in our lives.  The first type of fruit He desires to see in us is repentance.  In short, repentance is the belief, confession, and outward evidence that you have turned from sin.  The angels rejoice when we repent.  There is no need for anyone to stay in sin.  Real repentance is a fruit we all should be consistently bearing. 

      If the Father doesn’t discover fruit in our lives, He takes this corresponding action:

  1. He tills around our roots and exposes them to water, air, and nutrients.  This may shock our system as it does most plants, but it is just what we need. 
  2. Next, the manure is piled on!  Nutrient rich and easily digested truth should bring growth to our lives.  Since our destiny is to produce fruit, this is just what we need.    

      Understand, God always approaches us privately about our sin and the need for repentance.  When this does not work, His confrontations become more public.  If you stink today from God’s dung treatment, it is not because the Lord wanted it this way.  He would rather you live fertilizer free. 

      Decide now to be quick in your obedience to the Lord.  Your spiritual growth and well-being depends upon it.  Smell well, my friend!