We lost our baby girl on Thursday, December 18, 2008. It was sad, but so sweet. Our veterinarians were wonderful to us and our baby girl. She passed away while surrounded by people who knew and loved her and we were blessed to have them there to support us and to express their affection for our baby girl. It was very comforting, but it was a very sad way to end 2008. I am hoping that 2009 will be a year with less sadness and uncertainty and more celebration and peace.
On to the new year and the new direction. This really has nothing to do with a new year’s resolution. What it truly has to do with is repentance. Yes, a heavy subject, but, I believe, a beautiful one.
Our pastor told some of us during a meeting last night that his sermon on Sunday would be on repentance. Now most people do not like this topic since they associate it with guilt and shame. I see it so differently and I am so very excited to be a participant in the service on Sunday. Let me tell you why.
First, all too often, I am so busy bringing concerns about my every day life to God that I forget to examine my relationship with him. One of the psalmists prayers was that God would search him and let him know of any offensive ways in him. Isn’t that how we all should approach God? Isn’t that how we all would approach a close friend about whom we care deeply? Wouldn’t we want to know of, and apologize for, any offensives that we may have committed against that person? I need to set aside time more regularly to ask God how I have offended Him and to apologize to Him for those offenses. This is an opportunity for that to happen.
Second, there is almost nothing I want more than to be in a close, intimate relationship with God. Note that I said almost, because, let’s be honest, sometimes, there are things that I do want more, even if they won’t satisfy me. I believe that one of the first steps to being in that kind of relationship with God is to repent. It puts everything right between us, because God is our most forgiving and gracious friend. There is no groveling with Him. There is no shame and no guilt. There is only the opportunity to be back in a relationship with Him that will bless us and change us.
If you grew up in a church like I did, you may not feel so positively about the word repentance, but let’s examine what repentance means.
Some definitions of repentance are feeling remorse or sorrow for wrongdoing and that is part of it because we should feel remorse for doing wrong, but we should not stay there. Another definition, and the one that gives me the best picture of what my action must be in order to repent, is to turn away from sin. I have to stop going in the direction that is offending God, turn away from it and begin moving in a new direction, toward God. It is acknowledging that I am going in the wrong direction (this is where I would probably feel remorse or sorrow over what I have done) and then choosing a new direction that takes me toward God.
The fantastic thing about God is that if we repent of our sins, He is faithful to forgive us (1 John 1:9). This is so amazing to me. What an awesome God! All I have to do is turn my back on my sins and they are gone. Again, no guilt, no shame, just forgiveness. And this isn’t just a one time thing, it is an infinite thing. God knows that I am weak. He knows that no matter how many times I turn away from impure thoughts, I am very likely to return to them. But that does not stop Him from forgiving me. I cannot think of a better God to serve. I cannot think of another God who offers such infinite love and mercy. I promise you, of all the people and things that I choose to serve, the only one who has the capacity to love me and to forgive me over and over again, is the one true God.
So, here it is, a new year and I am choosing a new direction and I cannot wait to see what it will bring!
