|
|
Repentance Demands Fruits A couple of weeks ago Tiger Woods competed in the Masters Golf Tournament. He came in a respectable forth place. Since November Tiger has been embroiled in a massive sex scandal. Who knows how many women he committed adultery with and the damage it has done to him and his family. Since that time Tiger has not played in any golf tournament as he has tried to save his marriage. Without a doubt Elin Woods has the scriptural right to divorce her husband. I don't know if she knows anything about what the Bible teaches or if she cares but she is apparently going to divorce Tiger. One thing that really stood out about the Masters Tournament was how Woods conducted himself. He has been trying to rehabilitate his image by going to counseling and admitting his many transgressions. We were told to expect a calmer, tamer Tiger Woods. Yet he used the Lord's and Jesus' name in vain. After hitting a bad shot he used more profane language. Instead of a different man we shall the same old Tiger Woods. This got me to thinking about the word "repent" and what it really means. A lot of people think repenting is simply saying, "I am sorry." This is not real, genuine repentance for this is simply a sorrow for getting caught. The repentance in the Bible demands we realize we are wrong and that we change for the better. This contrast is made in 2 Corinthians7.10, "For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death." Esau was sorry for selling his birth right but he remained the "same old Esau." He went out and married two women that were not godly, Genesis 26.34-35. Repentance demands that we stop sinning and we turn toward God. This is seen in Acts 2.38, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Those present were convicted of killing the Son of God. To simply promise to not do it again is not true repentance for it leaves off an important component. One must also turn toward God and do His will. Tiger Woods is showing the sorrow of the world but he is not repenting. The fact is many in the world are just like Tiger Woods. They want to say they are sorry and then continue in sin. That is why repentance is the hardest part of becoming and remaining a child of God. Believing the Gospel is not hard, it simply requires a little study. Confessing Jesus as the Son of God is also relatively easy. Being baptized into water for the remission of sin is also easy. Repentance is harder for it demands a change in how we live and conduct ourselves. The words of John the Immerser rings loud and clear, "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance" (Matthew 3.8). -- Dennis Tucker
|