Regret, sorrow, remorse… Are those words necessary anymore? Is there anything you do, say or think for which you
should regret? sorrow? remorse? Perhaps you regret doing something because you were
caught and punished. Perhaps you are sorry you said something because of the
consequences at work or home. When bad things happen to us because of our words or
deeds, we regret them; we are sorry.
Should there be any other reason for regret? Some are sorry when they realize that their
words or actions hurt someone else. Others do not care.
Being sorry, showing or feeling regret for harmful things you do to others or yourself,
includes more than you may think. It involves more than your relationship with other
people. It involves your relationship with God.
Your relationship with God is broken. This broken relationship taints all other
relationships. That’s why you find yourself thinking, saying and doing things which harm
others, often people you love.
To be sorry is not enough. To regret your careless, unloving words or deeds does not
begin to make up for them. More is needed.
Repentance is about realizing against whom you are sinning. Yes, you hurt other people
around you, but all your destructive ways are actually directed against your Creator, the
true God. “Against You (God) and You only have I sinned, and done this evil in Your
sight” (Psalm 51:4).
Admitting this, or confessing this, indicates you know the truth about yourself. You are
guilty. You are evil. You cannot blame others. You cannot “pass the buck.”
Where does this leave you? It leaves you in the hands of God. You are now in a position
to hear what God thinks about you.
- “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mat 11:28)
- “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes
in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Joh 3:16). - “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ
died for us” (Rom 5:8).
Through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, you are saved from your evil, destructive behavior
and life. Your sin is forgiven. Believe the Word of God. The One who created you also
took the necessary steps to help and rescue you. Trust in Jesus Christ, God’s Son. You
are included in the salvation Jesus won for the world.
To repent: acknowledge your sin (against God and others) and believe in Jesus as Your
Savior from sin.
(All Scripture references are from the New King James Version)