Stop! Turn Around!
True repentance is making a U turn – stopping forward progress and turning to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation and forgiveness.
True repentance is proven by your actions and words – by stopping your momentum and turning in the opposite direction. Face forward toward the Lord Jesus Christ.
True repentance is willing and ready to give up what possesses you and when applicable giving it to others.
Zaccheus was a tax collector for Rome. He was also rich. His heritage was Jewish. He was hated by his fellow countrymen. He was “short in stature” so he climbed into a tree in order to see Jesus as He passed along that route. Jesus looked up into that tree and said, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”
Zaccheus hurried and then welcomed Jesus into his home. (Luke 19:1-6)
Zaccheus was convinced that Jesus was Messiah, the Christ. He believed that Jesus was who He said He was…the Son of Man and the Son of God, Immanuel (God with us).
Zaccheus proved his true repentance by his words and followed through with his actions:
(NASB) Luke 19:8 “Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, ‘Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.’”
The following are rhetorical questions which only you can answer:
1- Have you experienced true repentance by stopping and turning around to Jesus?
2- What are you willing to give up or give to others that now possesses you?
3- When you have experienced true repentance, are you now backing it up with your actions?
4- In what area of your life do you need to Stop! Turn Around! And intentionally follow Jesus Christ?