The message at the end of time is a message of repentance. To repent is to change the way we think and act. Repentance isn’t something that comes naturally to the heart of human beings. It is a gift from God. We don’t naturally like to have someone point out what we are doing wrong. Instead, we seek to defend ourselves. We try to justify our behaviour. There is a saying that says, “We buy with emotion and justify with fact.” Nowhere is this more evident than with sin.
If you think back to your childhood, did you ever enjoy receiving the discipline of your parents? I know I sure didn’t. I did everything I could to avoid it including sometimes hiding what I did. We naturally move away from painful situations and painful conversations. You know what our biggest problem is? Ourselves. We have way too much confidence in our own justice and righteousness. We tend to believe that other people have problems that are much worse than our own. We need to have the courage to accept what the Bible tells us about ourselves. The picture isn’t pretty.
“None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes” – Romans 3:10-18
Paul in Romans is speaking to both Jews and Gentiles. In other words, the whole world is sold as a slave to sin. We cannot please God even if we tried. The only hope we have is the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. As God lives in our hearts he gives us to power to please Him. “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” – Philippians 2:13.
While this may seem to be a bleak and depressing worldview, it is actually liberating. How so? Too many people today are struggling with never being good enough. Feeling that no matter what they do they are never appreciated or accepted of others. While the Bible tells us that all human beings are sinful and naturally evil, that isn’t the last word. The Bible also tells us that we are God’s children.
“See what amazing love the Father has given us! Because of it, we are called children of God. And that’s what we really are!” – 1 John 3:1a NIRV
It also tells us that God loves us in spite of our evil nature.
“But here is how God has shown his love for us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8
We don’t have to get depressed over our faults and failures. God knows everything and sees everything and yet he loves us! Jesus Christ chose to die to save us from the ultimate consequence of sin. All you and I have to do is believe it and chose to put our trust in God.