Title: Repentance and Heaven/Matthew 4:17
Content This country is very difficult right now. The sluggish exports, the increase in unemployment, and the hearings due to the Hanbo incident, the resulting corruption of the leaders, the North Korean threat of cold coldness, the starvation of the North Korean people, the loss of morality, various selfish ills, overconsumption by the haves, etc. Looking at it, we can't help but think it's really painful.
The difficulties we face today are similar to those of Israel at the time of Jesus. At that time, as the first words of Jesus' public life, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17).
Humans have lost their happiness because of their sins. Heaven was taken away because we left God. However, we must restore the lost happiness and joy and the lost heaven through Jesus Christ. Let's find out through the Bible what our way of life is to have heaven in our hearts, to overcome national difficulties, and to live happily in each family.
First, we must thoroughly repent of our past mistakes.
Now is the time for us to repent. It is the responsibility of all of us that the country has become so difficult, politically and economically confused, and in a moral and ethical crisis. Fortunately, the repentance prayer movement, which is currently being conducted by elders and clergy at Yoido Full Gospel Church, is actively spreading. At such a time, including Mr. Jeong Tae-soo, who is in charge of the bankruptcy, all practitioners and politicians involved in this matter should all kneel before the God of Justice and repent. And the North Korean leaders who are still preparing for war while starving tens of millions of North Koreans, and the North Korean leader Hwang Jang-yop, who recently defected, must thoroughly repent of their sins against the nation.
Also, we must repent of our sins of failing to fulfill our responsibilities before God, not loving our neighbors, not caring for dying souls and the poor and needy, failing to care for dying souls and the poor and needy, Instead, we should take it on our backs, confess the sins of this country to God in every detail, and offer an intercessory prayer of repentance. Then God will forgive us all our sins and transform us.
The people of Israel had a very strong sense of common destiny. Therefore, when the nation was in a difficult and crisis situation, Israel's spiritual leaders confessed the mistakes of the political leaders and the people's disobedience to God instead and offered a way of repentance. So Daniel, who was taken captive to Babylon after the fall of Israel, confessed the iniquity of his people and said, “I pray, Lord, pursue your justice, and turn your wrath away from your holy city, Jerusalem, and from your holy mountain. For our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors, Jerusalem and Your people are reproached by those all around them] (Daniel 9:16).
Also, Nehemiah, who was an official of King Artaxerxes during the Persian captivity, when he heard that Jerusalem was in a difficult situation, he said to God, “Now listen to God, for your servant prays day and night for your servants the children of Israel, and confesses their sins before you, the children of Israel Open your eyes and hear your servant's prayer: I and my father's house have sinned and have done exceedingly wickedness toward you, and have not kept the commandments, ordinances, and ordinances you commanded your servant Moses.] (Nehemiah 1:6-7) I prayed earnestly for repentance.
In order to overcome difficulties even now, to make our hearts and our side into heaven, and to make this society clear, bright, and bright, we must bear our sins, your sins, and the sins of our nation, and repent of the mistakes of the past. is.
Second, how should we repent?
Repentance is a thorough repentance of past sins. The devil always makes humans have distorted ideas about the God of justice and the God of love. However, we must not sin because God is a God of justice, and because God is a God of love, no matter how great our sins in the past, we must repent and receive forgiveness.
Repentance is turning in the wrong direction. So unbelievers must turn to the Lord. Those who believe in Jesus and are saved must turn away from the Word and return to the Word. Repentance is also looking to the future and hope. German theologian Bornkam explains 'repentance', saying, "It is holding on to the salvation that is already in your hands and giving up everything for it." And repentance is submission to God's will, like Jesus, who took upon Himself the sins of mankind on the cross. (Matthew 26:39). Without obedience there is no repentance, and without action there is no obedience. Repentance is walking on the right path.
In addition, repentance is rejecting the temptations of the devil and receiving the guidance of the Holy Spirit. You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit when you repent of your sins to God and the fullness of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says, [Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, and get sinners, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit] (Acts 2:38) The Holy Spirit is the one who makes known God's will for us, knows what sin is, and shows us the best way. Therefore, those who are filled with the Holy Spirit and live according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit can bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit every day and live a life of service that is shared and given through the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Repentance opens the way for us to live. Therefore, the Bible says, [If the righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he will die in it; if the wicked turn from his evil and do law and righteousness, he will live by it] (Ezekiel 33:18-19).
Third, if we repent, the kingdom of heaven will come.
When Jesus said, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17), it means that the kingdom of heaven is near enough to be grasped by the hand. And the Lord said, "The kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21). For those who repent, the heaven of peace of mind, the heaven of family happiness, the heaven of physical health, the heaven of social order, and the heaven of national development will come.
If you repent, the kingdom of heaven will be established in your heart. For those who have cleared up their past mistakes, joy and peace will settle in their hearts, and stability in life will come. Therefore, you can live a blessed life with health of mind and body. The Bible says, “Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, that days of rejoicing will come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). A peace of mind broadens hope and motivation for life. So, tomorrow may be better than today, and the next year may be better than this year.
If you repent daily and follow God's will, you will enter the eternal kingdom of heaven. The eternal heaven is a place where only those who repent can enter the grace of God. It is a new heaven and a new earth where there will be no tears, no worries, no poverty, no devils, that is, a new world of hope created by God. Now is the time for us to bear the sins of this nation and repent.
Sincere repentance brings salvation, forgiveness, and hope. For those who truly repent, the kingdom of heaven in this world and the next life will come.
- Prayer -
Heavenly Father, if we truly repent from the Son, through God's help, He will give us a heaven of hearts, a family heaven, a social heaven, and a national kingdom even while we live on this earth. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.