Thinking Twice About Things We Take for Granted

There’s so much in this life that we take for granted. For example, running water. We turn on the faucet or the shower without wondering whether water will come out. Until it doesn’t – as happened to us recently. The water pressure was very low, so we instantly started worrying about if we’d have enough water for our morning coffee or to get cleaned up. But that doesn’t happen often. 

Running water isn’t the only thing we tend to take for granted. There’s the car starting every time we turn the key or hit the ignition switch (depending upon the age of your car). However, we’ve probably all had moments when we turned the ignition and … nothing.

 

What about food for breakfast? For most of us, it’s not a matter of whether we’ll have any food to eat, but rather what kind of food we choose to have: Eggs? Bacon, or sausage? Cereal? Toast? Cinnamon rolls or donuts? We even take for granted that we’ll be able to choose.

 

Then there are our joints. We know we’ve got them – knuckles, elbows, shoulders, hips, knees, ankles. We hardly notice them. We don’t consciously instruct them to bend. They’re just there, functioning unnoticed. Until something goes wrong – we twist them, strain them, break them. Or for no apparent reason, they just start aching. Suddenly those joints and the many movements they enable us to make become precious.

 

We could cite many other examples: Beating hearts, air in our lungs, clothes to wear, air conditioning when it’s hot, heat when it’s cold outside. It’s easy to take our loved ones for granted, something I try hard not to do. But it happens sometimes. 

 

Another thing we’re inclined to take for granted – and most important of all – is our relationship with God. For atheists and agnostics, of course, this isn’t a problem. But for those of us who profess to be followers of Jesus, we sadly can take Him for granted as well.

We might attend church regularly, spend a few minutes reading the Bible once in a while, pray before meals (when we remember), and act appropriately pious when the situation dictates. But how many of us can declare along with the apostle Paul, “For in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28)?

 

When a crisis arises, we’re quick to call out, “Lord, I need you!” When confronted with a difficult, important decision, we remember God. When a loved one is experiencing a serious illness, we pray and ask Him to intervene. When we discover there’s too much month at the end of our pay, our thoughts shift toward the Lord and plead for His provision.

 

However, when all is going well or circumstances seem manageable, our attitude is more like, “I’ve got this. No need to bother God with this one. I can handle it.” Kind of like pushing Him aside and saying, “I’ll let You know when I need You,” and moving on with our lives.

 

It’s interesting that in the second and third chapters of Revelation, where the apostle John records a vision God gave him while he was on the island of Patmos, taking God for granted was among the grievous sins of the seven churches in the province of Asia.

 

To the church in Ephesus, John was directed to write, “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance…. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first” (Revelation 2:2-5).

 

And to the church in Laodicea, John was inspired to tell the believers, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of My mouth…. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:15-20).

 

We commonly use that last verse, “I stand at the door and knock,” in an evangelistic sense. That Christ is knocking at the door of a person’s heart waiting to be invited in. And in one respect that’s true. But the context here is the church in Laodicea, people already claiming to trust in Jesus. They were neither cold nor hot – essentially, they were taking their relationship with the Lord for granted. To use a contemporary word, “Meh.”

 

Believers in Ephesus had “lost their first love,” apparently becoming preoccupied with other things. The Laodiceans were “neither hot nor cold,” perhaps going through the motions but not demonstrating the joy and zeal for Jesus Christ that sets us apart from other people.

 

Granted, these God-inspired words were written nearly 2,000 years ago, but tragically many congregations – and many professing Christians – today also can be described in the same terms: having lost their first love, or being lukewarm – neither cold nor hot.

 

When I sense this in my own life, I try to recall and pray these words of repentance from King David in Psalm 51:10-12:

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

 

Considering everything the Lord does for us, much of which we don’t even recognize, He doesn’t deserve to be taken for granted. Maybe, as with the folks in ancient Ephesus and Laodicea, it’s time for us to repent.

Recapturing the Rewards of Repentance

“That’s the way I am, the way I’ve always been, and the way I’ll always be.” Have you ever thought that? I know I have. 

 

In some respects that statement is true. For example, I’m an introvert by nature; I’ve never been “the life of the party” and I know I never will. I admire extroverts, folks who have never met a stranger and find themselves energized by interacting with people. Me? I like people, but after a while I find my emotional battery running dry and have to retreat to my computer or a good book to recharge.

 

The same can be said for many skills. I’ve always loved sports, but God didn’t give me the physical tools to be an accomplished athlete, so I’ve been content with being a spectator, watching individuals able to run fast, jump high, and as a high school baseball coach once described it to me, “hit a round object with a round object square.”

 

Successful living means sometimes
being willing to turn.

We’re born with certain talents and abilities, as well as special areas of interests. We can seek to cultivate others, but much of the time we’re best when using and developing our God-given traits.

But there are times when “That’s the way I am…and always will be” is nothing more than an excuse. For instance, someone with a hair-trigger temper might excuse his or her anger as “that’s just the way I am.” Or an unfaithful husband might defend himself the same way – “I can’t help it. It’s just the way I am.”

 

The thing is, such cop-outs are unacceptable in the sight of God. There are no excuses for thoughts and behaviors the Lord has defined as sin. The Bible admonishes us to “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice” (Ephesians 4:31). The Bible doesn’t add the caveat, “unless that’s the way you are.”

 

After speaking with religious leaders who were adept at giving the outward impression of being holy, Jesus Christ took His followers aside and declared, “from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly” (Mark 7:21-22). But He didn’t offer an escape clause for anyone claiming, “that’s just the way I am.”

 

Our personalities and proficiencies may be hard-wired, but sinful, ungodly behavior is not. That’s why the Scriptures give us a term that’s too rarely emphasized these days: Repentance. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising for someone to ask, “What does ‘repentance’ mean?” 

 

In its purest form, the word means to turn from one thing and to turn toward another. Today we hear a lot about “asking Jesus into your heart,” but repentance isn’t always mentioned as a necessary part of that life-altering process. 

 

Biblical repentance involves a change of thinking as well as a change in behavior. Let me offer a personal example. Years ago, I had a penchant for reading horror novels. I loved a good scare and would eagerly devour works of authors like Stephen King, H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe and others. (I actually interviewed King once while I was a newspaper editor.)

 

At times the books would explore the realm of the occult fairly deeply, but I figured that was part of telling the story. ‘What’s the harm in that?’ I reasoned. Then one Sunday our pastor gave a sermon about the dangers of becoming involved in any aspects of the occult. At times it seemed he was speaking directly to me. It wasn’t one of those hellfire and brimstone, “heaven or hell, turn or burn” messages, but it felt convicting just the same.

 

So, I scheduled a lunch meeting with him to discuss this. I told him I read horror novels just for fun; I enjoyed the tingling feelings of suspense and spiritual conflict. My pastor listened and then, without any trace of judgment or condemnation simply asked, “When you read those books – are they pointing you to God, or pointing you away from Him?”

 

Soon afterward I realized I had to repent. Even though some of the novels would refer to God and present tales of the battle between good and evil, I realized they were not pointing me to the Lord. If anything, they were filling my mind with more information about the occult and satanic practices than anyone would possibly need to know. As much as I had enjoyed reading those kinds of books, they weren’t enhancing my walk with God.

 

I stopped reading those novels, discarded my horror collection, and began reading uplifting books that would enhance my spiritual growth. I began to practice the apostle Paul’s exhortation to believers in ancient Philippi: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).

Each one of us has things for which, sooner or later, we must repent – habits, thoughts, or behaviors we know are contrary to God’s will and standards – turning from those and choosing to go His way instead. As the apostle Peter stated, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19). 

Love Means Having to Say You’re Sorry

“Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” Do you remember that phrase? It was the most memorable line from a popular 1970 film called “Love Story.” Based on a best-selling novel by Erich Segal, the movie was a classic rendition of the star-crossed-lovers theme. Even today it ranks No. 9 on the American Film Institute’s list of most romantic films.

It was about Jenny Cavalleri (played by Ali MacGraw), a working-class student of classical music, and Oliver Barrett IV (played by Ryan O’Neal), the heir of an upper-class family – as the Roman numeral at the end of his name implied. Despite their  differences, the two fell in love and married against the wishes of Oliver’s father.

 

For a while it seemed the couple would overcome their obstacles to live happily ever after, but then Jenny was diagnosed with an incurable blood disease. As Oliver struggled to cope with the hopeless situation, his wife uttered the words that became a catch phrase for the era: “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”

 

It sounded clever at the time, but experience and wisdom have taught me that just the opposite is true. Love at times does require a willingness to say you’re sorry. In a marriage, a sincere apology or asking for forgiveness is the fastest way to begin healing hurts when one or the other partner is wronged, intended or not.

 

A parent will often insist that a child say “I’m sorry” for words or actions of disobedience, but the parent should also be willing to admit when he or she has spoken or acted wrongly toward the child.

 

In the working world, expressions of contrition can likewise mend damage caused by arguments and conflict. In a competitive environment, colleagues can quickly become at odds. A timely, genuine “I’m sorry” can restore much-needed cooperation and synergy.

 

We find the ultimate example in our relationship with God. We know that when Jesus Christ died on the cross, He suffered the penalty for our sins. In Jesus’ last words He declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30), His word in the Greek was tetelestai, which means “paid in full.” However, His offer of total forgiveness – what theologians called “justification” – demands that we say those words that are often so hard to utter, “I’m sorry.”

 

More accurately, it requires repentance, a conscious decision to turn from going in the wrong direction and embarking on a journey of following the Lord instead. Declaring the beginning of His public ministry, Jesus said, “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the Good News” (Mark 1:15). The implication is clear: If we don’t repent, do we truly believe that, as Romans 3:23 asserts, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”?

 

After Jesus’ resurrection, He told His disciples, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations…” (Luke 24:46-47).

 

Early on we find the disciples carrying out this mission. Speaking to astonished onlookers after a crippled beggar has received healing, the apostle Peter admonished them, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19).

 

As we strive to maintain and strengthen our relationship with the Lord, however, repentance isn’t a one-off event. Just as a healthy marriage is marked by times of apology and requests for forgiveness, our sins – even though paid for once and for all – must be acknowledged. Failure to do so disrupts communication and a harmonious relationship with God.

 

This is why we’re instructed in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  To love God is to desire to please Him, to honor Him and obey Him. As we learn in a verse later in the same book, “This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).

To enjoy a healthy marriage, a nurturing relationship with our children, and a growing relationship with God, love means sometimes having to say you’re sorry. 

Now Is the Time for Humility, for Repentance, and for Prayer

If you are a fan of chaos, you must be enjoying this year. A global virus pandemic. Protests. Riots across the country, which may or may not really be related to racism. The usual political blather, only amped up multiple times over. Shutdowns, businesses ruined, and economic turmoil. Schools closed, sports seasons in limbo. Having to wear masks, the first time that’s happened since “The Lone Ranger” enthralled TV fans more than half a century ago.

 

In considering root causes of many of these issues, it seems fairly evident that, as the Scriptures tell us, we’re experiencing what happens when you “sow the wind and reap the whirlwind” (Hosea 8:7). We keep hearing about the “new normal,” but many of us are longing for the old normal. Can’t we rewind to Dec. 31, 2019, or bypass 2020 altogether, start fresh with 2021, and see if that works out better?

 

For those inclined to be “fixers,” seeing a problem and wanting to get it resolved as quickly as possible, it’s frustrating. The COVID-19 restrictions were only supposed to last a few weeks until we “flattened the curve.” Those have expanded to months, with no certainty of ending anytime soon. What can we do?

 

Some folks believe politics is the answer. Get the right folks elected and before we know it, Kumbaya! The problem is, we’ve pursued the political solution for many decades; despite how “enlightened” our society supposedly has become, we’re still wrestling with many of the same problems.

 

Then we have the “Pollyanna people,” believers that the essential goodness in people will suddenly emerge, that we’ll all spontaneously become unselfish, kind and loving, generous, and all the other nice traits and values we can imagine. Sounds wonderful, right? Utopia, coming to a town near you! Except it’s been tried and failed, time after time. Why? Because, as the Bible says, “There is no one righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10-12). And in case we think that verse doesn’t mean what it says, Ecclesiastes 7:20 asserts the same truth: “There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.”

 

Pastor Jonathan Cahn is calling
for a time spiritual turning, repentance,
awakening and revival.

So, if politics/government and inherent human goodness aren’t the salve needed to salvage the current malaise of our nation – and the world – then what is? I think the answer’s found in a verse we often hear at community prayer gatherings, and once in a while in our churches: 

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

 

Sounds simplistic, I know. But are we doing it – right now? We’re wringing our hands, mumbling, complaining to one another, debating on social media, and maybe even sending out a pitiful prayer flare: “God, do something, please?” But are we, God’s people, humbling ourselves and praying and seeking His face – and turning from our wicked ways?

 

Our tendency is to stare at people outside our faith circles, point and say, “It’s them! They’re the ones who need to repent!” Ah, but that’s not what this Scripture says. The onus, it would seem, is on those who profess to be genuine followers of God, who manifested Himself on earth in the person of Jesus Christ.

 

Full disclosure: Anything I write here, if it seems I’m pointing a finger, there are several fingers pointing back at me, okay? So I’m not judging. 

 

Are we truly humbling ourselves, solemnly acknowledging and reminding ourselves daily that apart from the grace of God and redemption through Jesus Christ, we’re just as deserving of God’s condemnation and wrath as anyone?

 

Are we truly seeking the Lord, or are we merely giving Him lip service, devoting maybe an hour or two – if that – every week and living the rest of the week as if He didn’t exist? Coronavirus restrictions on church attendance aren’t an excuse. Were we genuinely, zealously seeking God even before all of that?

 

Are we turning from our own wicked ways? ‘What wicked ways?’ some might ask. Well, for starters, recognizing where we may be failing to serve as ambassadors for Christ in our communities, reaching out to others in His name, both tangibly and spiritually? Are we giving deference to the god of materialism, buying and accumulating far more stuff than any human really needs? (Again, fingers are pointing back at me, too.) Finding other “idols” to worship, ranging from our favorite sports teams to our spouses, children, jobs, achievements, entertainment, or our status in the community? Feel free to add to this list if you like.

 

These steps, it seems, are prerequisites to God’s promise to hear from heaven, forgive our sins personal and societal – and heal our land.

 

Recently I saw a brief video by Jonathan Cahn, author of The Harbinger and the Jewish pastor of Beth Israel, a Messianic congregation in New Jersey. In it he speaks of “The Return,” a time dedicated to “spiritual turning, repentance, awakening and revival.” Cahn talks of “10 days of vigilant prayer” – Sept. 18-28 – with a “sacred assembly,” a National and Global Day of Prayer and Repentance, scheduled for the Mall in Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2020.  

 

I don’t know much about Pastor Cahn, other than having read The Harbinger. But in today’s troubled times, many of us would welcome spiritual turning, repentance, awakening and revival. Perhaps some of us should participate in what is expected to be a large assembly of people. But we don’t have to wait for September to get started. Now is as good a time as any.

 

James 5:16 tells us, “The prayer of a righteous man [and woman] is powerful and effective.” Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24). He also promised, “Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:19).

 

How many of us are willing to take God up on these promises, to trust that our humble, seeking and repentant prayers will be heard and answered at a time when we as individuals – and a nation – desperately need for Him to act? Don’t just sit there; do something: Pray!

The Three R’s (After Wrongdoing)

How do you react when you’ve done something wrong? Do you settle for “Oops!”? Or, “Sorry, my bad”? Pretend it didn’t happen? Blame someone else?

Little wrongs, like accidentally bumping into someone, spilling your coffee, or being late for a meeting, aren’t that big a deal. A quick apology and it’s all good. But what about the times when the magnitude of your wrongdoing can’t be glossed over so quickly? What then?

Chances are you choose one of three options. You’ve heard of the “three R’s” of basic education – readin’, ‘ritin’, and ‘rithmetic? (At least I think they still teach those things in our schools.) There are also three R’s after wrongdoing: Regret. Remorse. Repentance.

It’s often hard to say, “I was wrong” or “I am sorry.” We don’t like to admit we’re wrong. We resent being found out, and if possible, might try to ignore or cover up any wrongdoing. Some of the folks we elect to serve us in Washington, D.C. – on both sides of the aisle – seem adept at the latter.

But what about when wrongdoing is indisputable, our hands caught in the proverbial cookie jar? Do we settle for regret, wallow in remorse, or choose to repent? Each starts with the letter “r,” but that’s where the similarity ends.

When aware we’ve done wrong, feeling some measure of regret is common. “Wish I hadn’t done that.” Like when we misjudge the distance to the car behind us in the parking lot and suddenly hear, “Crunch!” Or put our mouth in gear while our brain is still in park, and say something we quickly wish we could retract. Unfortunately, in oral communications, retractions rarely work.

Other times we feel more than regret – we’re overcome with remorse. Perhaps an action (or series of actions) destroys a relationship. Or a dishonest or unethical act ruins a career and darkens a once bright future. Consequences of the wrongdoing command our attention, immersing us in self-pity.

Lastly, there’s repentance, compelling us to seek to make right what went wrong, accept responsibility, and resolve not to follow that path again. After acknowledging the effects of a harmful habit, negative behavior, or even malicious thought patterns, a moment comes when “I’m sorry” is no longer enough. Genuine, lasting change is required.

Two things the Bible talks about a lot are sin – and repentance. Most of us are familiar with sin, at least to some degree. It’s part of our spiritual DNA, traced back to Adam, and comes naturally. To repent and turn to God in sincere repentance does not.

The Scriptures offer a contrast between remorse and repentance in Judas and Peter, two of Jesus Christ’s closest followers. Both betrayed Him, but their responses afterward made all the difference. An eternal difference.

The gospels offer accounts of Judas betraying Christ. Matthew 27 states it gained him 30 pieces of silver. Judas led a crowd to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, where he boldly identified Him for the arresting officials. The gospels show Peter guilty of a different form of betrayal. He and another disciple, John, had followed Jesus, standing nearby during His mock trial. Then, as Jesus predicted, Peter denied Him three times when confronted about being among His followers.

The degree of the betrayals might have been different, but both were betrayals.

What’s important is what the men did next. Judas, remorseful for what he had done, returned the money to the priests – then hanged himself. Swallowed up in self-pity over what he had done, he chose to end the pain by committing suicide.

The other disciple, however, responded very differently. Distraught over having verbally betrayed his great friend, Peter fled from the scene but later reconnected with the remaining disciples. Broken by his own cowardice, Peter was no longer the brash, impulsive person he once was.

In the last chapter of the gospel of John, we see repentant Peter humbly interacting with the resurrected Christ. Shorn of bold declarations, Peter no longer was inclined to promise what he might not be able to keep. But in a wonderful demonstration of grace and mercy, Jesus restored the man He had nicknamed “the rock,” telling him, “Feed my sheep…. Follow me!” (John 21:15-19).

What the Lord expects of us often is not what we expect. We think in terms of impressive service, or lavish material contributions to advance His kingdom. But Psalm 51:17 states plainly what He desires: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

When we sin, our lives going off track, the Lord is just as eager to restore us as He was Peter. But He doesn’t want regret; nor is remorse enough. Repentance is what He’s after.

Jesus made this clear from the start of His earthly ministry, “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near’” (Matthew 4:17). Later He declared, “there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” (Luke 15:7). There’s no limit to the wondrous things He can do through someone with a repentant, contrite heart.

Three R’s for Wrongdoing

Back in 1960, pint-sized songstress Brenda Lee had a hit tune called, “I’m Sorry.” In the lyrics, she was “so sorry,” and asked whoever she was singing to, “please accept my apology.” I’m not sure about Ms. Lee, but experience has taught me that when people say they’re sorry, they don’t always mean what we think they mean. There are, we might say, “three R’s for wrongdoing.”

The first R is regret. Confronted with their wrongs, without a defense for their actions, some people react with regret. This is like the child that stares at the floor and mutters, “Sorry.” Lack of sincerity is pretty obvious. The same goes for adults. They may utilize better body language, but in essence they’re saying, “Sorry I got caught. I should have done a better job of covering my tracks.” Not a lot of genuine sorrow in this “sorry” response.

Cain, Adam and Eve’s first son, took this approach after killing his brother, Abel, in a fit of sibling jealousy. God asked, “Where is your brother, Abel?” Cain shrugged his shoulders and replied, ”I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:1-9). Young people today would put it this way: “Oh, man! Busted!” Cain might have been thinking, “You can’t get away with anything around here!”

The second R is remorse. Not necessarily regretting the actions, but hating the consequences. Still not inclined to admit the seriousness of our wrongdoing, we can feel remorse because we know we’re going to the penalty box. Cain used this kind of response, too. Cursed by God to become a lifelong fugitive, without fruitful results from his labors, the first homicide perpetrator groaned, “My punishment is more than I can bear. Today (God) you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth…” (Genesis 4:13-14).

Nowhere in this account do we see Cain acknowledging the gravity of his crime, or feeling the least bit mournful about taking the life of his sibling. Cain’s only concern was the severe punishment he would have to endure.

Maybe the best biblical example of remorse was Judas, who betrayed Jesus. Matters had escalated beyond what he'd anticipated. The Scriptures tell us, “When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and elders. ‘I have sinned,’ he said, ‘for I have betrayed innocent blood'” (Matthew 27:3-4).

Even then, however, Judas’ “I’m sorry” was self-centered. Realizing returning the money wouldn’t stop the chain of events, the next verses states, he “threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.” Overcome with remorse and unable to cope with the guilt, Judas took his own life to stop the pain.

The final R is repentance. Not only recognizing a wrong that’s been committed, but also being genuinely sorrowful for it. The root of the word, “repent,” means, as one dictionary defines it, “to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life.”

Repentance is the “I’m sorry” God accepts. The apostle Paul expressed it this way: “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done” (2 Corinthians 7:10-11).

This form of “I’m sorry” doesn’t apply just to those who have been living apart from the Lord and need to establish a new relationship with Him – although it’s a necessary first step. Repentance applies to all of us who profess to be Christ followers, regardless of how long that has been.

The apostle John, in recording visions he had received from God, addressed this point with the church at Ephesus. Affirming the believers there, he observed, “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance….. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.” However, this was classic “good news, bad news.” Because then John wrote, “You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place” (Revelation 2:1-5).

The Ephesians had been doing good, working hard, and persevering in faith. Then came the big “BUT.” They had “lost their first love,” as another translation puts it. Their zeal and dedication had wavered, and they had apparently fallen into spiritual compromise.

We’d be wise to consider this admonition ourselves, because walking consistently and faithfully with the Lord isn’t easy. Even if we did well yesterday, that doesn’t mean we’ll do well today – or tomorrow. As we’re warned in 1 Corinthians 10:12, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”

Maybe if we endeavor never to lose our first love, the brokenness of repentance might not be needed nearly as often.