Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. One of the most common traits
found among humans is remorse and sorrow over the outcome of
their actions. There are few drunkards in the
earth that have not wept bitter tears from time to time when
sober over the things that they have done when they were under
the influence of drink. Those that have beaten their
wives, killed someone in a car wreck, or caused their children
such pain that they have lost all respect for them have tasted
remorse just as much as they have their liquor. When a man
has made a bad investment and lost his money, he will usually
spend time in great regret at such an outcome. A man who has
sown his wild oats and finds himself in a jail cell generally
cannot help but regret the state he finds himself in. Even the
most hard-hearted of killers will often seek clemency and
mercy when he is standing in front of a courtroom judge with
the sword of death hanging over his head, and the list goes on
and on. So natural repentance is not
an unusual thing. Yet this sort of repentance is
not to be mistaken for that repentance which Paul says is not to be
repented of. It is much easier to find a hundred
cases of natural repentance than it is to find even one which
is the result of a supernatural work of the Spirit of God in
a man. This is why the Lord said, I say unto you that likewise
joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than
over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance. Self-righteous
men find little reason for repentance, since they consider that their
adherence to religious duties negates any need for repentance.
Such was the state of the Pharisees, as they considered themselves
to be keepers of the law, taking great pains and manifesting great
diligence in adhering to the jot and tittle of the law of
Moses. Yet the Lord plainly told them
that the publicans and harlots would go into the kingdom of
heaven before they would. Many religious men in our day
are essentially in the same condition. While they might profess the
necessity of repentance, they view it primarily as that which
is needed by others, since most are convinced that they have
repented and believed and therefore gained a spot in heaven. They
see repentance as a single work of the free will of men. They
look upon repentance as a bargaining chip with God. Yet this sort
of repentance is no different than that of Esau. As we examine
the repentance of Esau, we can see a great contrast between
what the Scripture describes that Esau and that which the
Scripture illustrates as true repentance. Esau was only sorrowful
because he realized that he was not going to gain the blessing
of his father Isaac. The repentance that he sought
was that he desired for his father to change his mind, which ultimately
Isaac refused to do. This is why the scripture says
that he saw a place of repentance with tears, but he received it
not. He did not shed tears over despising
this blessing when he had sold his birthright to Jacob for a
bowl of soup. Rather, he was upset that he would not gain
the carnal benefits of his father's blessing. Esau shed tears, but
not of remorse, but rather disappointment that he would miss some benefit.
David, on the other hand, displays the genuine repentance which
is the work of the Spirit of God. David's very first response
to Nathan's rebuke was, I have sinned against the Lord. He did
not make any excuse nor try to justify himself. He declared
that the true heinousness of his sin was that it was an affront
to a holy God. and that he was worthy to be
destroyed according to the justice of God. As he said, against thee,
thee only have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight, that
thou mightest be justified when thou speakest and be clear when
thou judgest. True repentance always magnifies
the justice of God in meeting out the just recompense which
is due to those who are found guilty before it. It seeks no
modification of that justice, but rather submits itself to
it. It has no assumption of clemency nor offers any reason for such.
Rather, true repentance owns the guilt, exalts the judge,
and casts itself upon his mercy. True repentance causes a man
to recognize that the root of his problem is not the actions
of his flesh, but rather the innate wickedness of his heart.
So while there is nothing which is more ordinary among natural
men than the remorse which is stirred by nature, There is nothing
which is more commonplace among those whom the Spirit of God
has quickened than the gift of true spiritual repentance. God
gives to every one of his children a measure of faith, but he works
in each one of his children the same work of repentance. He will
indeed grant repentance unto all who have been given Christ
before the foundation of the world. For the Lord is not slack
concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering
to usward, not willing that any of us should perish, but that
all of us should come to repentance. Do you hate your sin because
God hates it? If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.