An article by
Molly Noble Bull
Who's Sorry Now is the title of
a popular song recorded by Connie Frances back in 1958. But for me and perhaps
other Christians, the title has another meaning. I’m talking about repentance.
I
was raised in a liberal, mainline denominational church but back when sin was a
big deal—back when bad was bad and good was good. In fact, we always repeated
word-for-word from the prayer book what was called the General Confession
(confession of sin) before taking Holy Communion/The Lord’s Supper. So I got in
the habit of repenting of my sins at an early age.
But
after I married and my husband and I joined an evangelical church, I noticed
that sin didn’t appear to be as serious a mistake as it had been at my previous
church. The church seemed to be saying that repentance came before salvation,
but after salvation, it was optional.
Someone told me that once you were saved you didn’t need to repent anymore because
your sins were forgiven—past, present and future. I can and do believe that
because the Bible says so, and I believe the Bible. Nevertheless, I continued
to repent of my daily sins at my new church—24/7, and I am still doing it
today.
Why?
Call
it habit, if you like. I call it love and respect for the LORD and his only
begotten son, Jesus.
Christians
are in a marriage relationship with their future spouse, Jesus, and I think we
should think of that relationship like marriage between one man and one woman.
When wives burn dinner, husbands often take the family out for a meal at a restaurant,
and most wives tell their husbands they are sorry for burning the meal even
though they aren’t required to do so via the marriage license. It is simply the
kind and polite thing to do, and it shows love and respect for the husband.
Can
you imagine a proper wife thinking or saying, “Okay. I burned supper. But if
you think I am going to say I’m sorry, you have another think coming.”
I
repent of all my evil thoughts and deeds that are not in line with the God’s views
found in the Holy Bible because I love the Lord and want to please Him, and it
is hard to miss the importance of repentance all through the Bible. I am
especially aware of what the Book of Revelation has to say on the subject.
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Revelation
chapter 3 and verse 19, KJV
See what I mean?
I find this verse important because, to me, it
leaves the impression that even at the end of the world, repentance would have
been possible if sinners had simply repented—told to the Lord in prayer that
they were sorry.
And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
Neither repented
they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their
fornication, nor of their thefts.
Revelation
9: 20-21, KJV
And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God,
which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
Revelation
16: 9
Who Is Sorry Now?
Those that refused to repent of their sins and
follow the Lord with their whole hearts.
Molly
Postscript:
I cannot go into the entire world and preach the
gospel of Jesus Christ, but as a Christian author, my books and articles can.
Take a look at the cover of my newest western romance novel, When the
Cowboy Rides Away.
By the way, you can read the first few chapters for free if you visit my web site at www.mollynoblebull.com. Once there, scroll down and click Molly's Free Downloads, and allow a minute or two for the chapters to load.
Or
The Cowboy Rides Away has two companions--two study guides for home school families based on my western novel and written by Jeanette Pierce. Take a look.
To find all my novels, write Molly Noble Bull in the search slot at online and walks-in stores.
