The Path- Conviction & Repentance

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9

If you have been following along in this “Path” series, either on the blog at graycollinsweeklywritings.blogspot.com, or in the e-mail group; it is likely you have identified with one of two things.  The person you are or the person you once were.  Whether you care to admit it or not you either are a sinner or you once were a sinner, and the only difference between the two is Jesus.  Up until this point we have only talked about the devil, and sin, and all the power that sin has over people, and frankly, I’m tired of talking about that.  Let’s get to the good stuff, the good news, the gospel; let’s talk about Jesus Christ and how he is mighty to save!

Simply put, Jesus Christ can save you from all sin.  He has the power to take the broken and make it whole, to take the lost and present them found, to heal the hurt, right the wrong, bring life from death, and change the sinner to a saint.  Your conversion from sinner to saint begins with conviction.  Conviction is not complicated, it is a realization that you have disobeyed God and stand condemned before Him.  This realization (while not pleasant) is actually God’s grace working in your life, because you now realize that you are lost and you can now make a change.  You see, being lost is bad, but being lost and not knowing you are lost is far worse.  When you realize that you are a sinner and not where you ought to be, it is an element of God’s grace to you.  He is calling you to himself.    Repentance, in my opinion, will naturally follow conviction if you let it.  I am convinced that, now more than ever, we need good old fashion Holy Ghost conviction to sweep this nation.  When you are a sinner and you see the Holiness of God and His Son, the only thing you can do is fall before Him and beg for forgiveness; plead with Him and vow that you will change.  The beginnings of repentance and your step towards God, is brokenness and yielding.  This is completely contrary to the world, the world wants to know what you can do for them and then they will accept you.  God just wants you to fall before Him and ask of him.  He wants you to fall before Him and recognize His abundance and your lack.  The end of your will marks the beginning of His.    

Repentance is realizing that you are wrong, admitting that you are wrong, and resolving that you are going to do it God’s way.  Furthermore, and let there be no confusion on this matter. If you want to go to heaven, the “death route” is the route you must take.  So, what is this death route?  It’s that point when you know in your heart that you have given it all over to God.  That point when you say “Lord, I don’t want to be the man or women I used to be.  I want to be the man or women YOU want me to be.”  Perhaps when praying the Spirit will bring specific vices to your mind, like cigarettes or drinking (for me it was unholy music) and you say “God I don’t want that anymore, I want you.”  Sometimes, he brings a memory of when you did something mean or hateful and you say “God I don’t want to be that way anymore; Lord I am sorry.”  You are dying out to the world, sin, the devil, you are “crucifying the old man.”  A complete death is vital, leave no stone unturned and no road block remaining.  Let God search every dark corner of your heart and when he finds something and asks “this also?” you say “Yes Lord.”  Dying to the world, means dying to yourself, and I think that’s why it can be so hard for people; but you must understand, God loves you more than you love you, and yielding your will over to Him is a major upgrade.          

Dying to sin is a crisis experience, a painful experience, and a necessary experience.  You must repent to be forgiven, and must die if you want to live.  A new life eternal is the goal and full fellowship with the Father the promised position to mankind.  This lay beyond the bondage of sin, and if your path has brought you through conviction and repentance then you are well on your way.  To what are you on your way to?  The answer to that lies further down the path.