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Listen; you think this is a game. Perhaps you think you’ll finesse your way last minute and you’ll make it in. Or you think grace will speak for your sorta- kinda-but-not-really commitment on that day. But grace is being given to you now while you’re on the clock; but you’re not seeing it. You’re not accepting it because you believe there’ll be a prime time, a convenient time, a suitable time for you to finally accept it. But that’s not how this ought to work. You must not be arrogant and callous about your life. You have opportunity to get yourself in the right path, and allow God to prune you and help you; this is your time to get on (or get back on) the right path; to be washed, cleansed and renewed. Surrender is a daily work. It doesn’t stop being work because you feel you’re ready. The days are growing evil. The work of surrender, and prayer, and walking by faith does not get easier, whether you think you’re ready for it or not.
Take heed: if you want to save your life, you’ll lose it; and if you lose your life, you’ll save it [Matt16:25]. Don’t think that the glory of your commitment from times past will sustain you right now. From your backsliding, God will restore you if only you would come to him in full repentance. Whatever you are clinging to, God can bless you beyond your expectation. But you must turn to God, pick up your cross and carry it. The Holy Spirit was given unto all of us to help bear the weight of that which we are to carry. Exercise your faith and pick up your cross.
Don’t say “God knows my heart.” Our hearts are desperately wicked. Your heart is not your ticket to heaven, and your heart is not going to advocate for you or defend your lack of commitment or trust in Him. Do not be the one who, on that day, the Lord will say “I never knew you, depart from me, you that works iniquity (Matt7:23), because your confidence was “God knows my heart.” Instead, put your confidence in the word, in the Holy Spirit who is your helper.
Don’t just know God in name only; let your knowledge go beyond what God has done for you at one point or another, but know him personally; pursue Him and know Him intimately. Let Him direct your life; let Him help you with the things that challenge and afflict you. Let the Holy Spirit strengthen you against the things that are a stumbling block to your faith walk.
The days are growing evil. It’s time to be serious about working out your salvation with fear and trembling. Exercise your faith in what God has deposited in you when you gave your life to Him. Be intentional about your faith; do not be haphazard and careless. Your life was given to you to serve God, not to sit and lament how far you’ve backslidden as you continue in your sin. Repent.
Remember, Jesus says it is those who do the will of the Father that will enter heaven (Matt7:21). So, repent. If you know the right thing to do, and don’t do it, you’re guilty of sin (James 4:17).
God’s hands are not too short to save you from whatever it is you have done or are doing. He cares for you and desires you to return with all of your heart. He saved your soul so that you would serve Him and be a labourer in His field. You returned to your vomit, seduced by the things that won’t save you or profit you. You mention Jesus with your mouth but your heart is far from Him. But that has not led Him to abandon you as you have abandoned Him. Come back to Him. Let Him wash you anew. Let Him help you. Let Him lead you to the right teachers, men and women after his own heart who will help you pray, and walk in knowledge, understanding, in discipline and in faith. Let Jesus cultivate you into the fullness of a son, of a daughter of Zion.
Let God purify you and empower you to be effective for the glory of His Kingdom.
Forsake the things of the world. Because soon God will reveal to the world that it cannot even save itself. Separate yourself from them. You are meant to sit in glory with Christ Jesus, not to share in the portion of the wicked.
I am saying this to you now: Repent!
[“My wayward children,” says the LORD, “come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.” “Yes, we’re coming,” the people reply, “for you are the LORD our God.]|Jeremiah 3:22|
