Repent or Perish

Life is merely a ritual, albeit a challenging one. We’re born, live out our appointed time, and die; and after a while, “…the memory of them is forgotten” (Ecclesiastes 9:5).

Life is like “vapour,” says the book of James, “that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away” (James 4:14).

If life is so short, temporary, and uncertain, why do so many continue to transgress the laws of God? The Bible tells us that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” which means that it’s in our nature to go contrary to the Word of God (Romans 3:23).

Yet, we’re warned, “the wages of sin is death,” and “the soul that sinneth it shall die” (Romans 6:23; Ezekiel 18:20). But that doesn’t stop us from breaking God’s laws. It’s as if sinning has become a ‘ritual’ for some of us. We struggle not to sin; but no matter how hard we try, sometimes we still end up repeating the same old mistakes.

We live in a society where it’s becoming fashionable to substitute wrong for right. We want to set our own standards, our own absolutes to determine “what is right in our own eyes,” despite the warning in Ecclesiastes 7:20 that says, “there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good and sinneth not.”

There’s a popular saying that “life is what you make it.” The Eternal has set before us a choice between life and death. Our merciful God has given us an admonition to “choose life,” so we may live forever (Deuteronomy 30:19). This life to come is not going to be governed like the ‘ritualistic’ way we’re living today. We’ll be in an everlasting Kingdom with Jesus Christ, ruling from Jerusalem in a new age, where there will be no sin, no sorrow, and no death.

How is this going to be achieved? First, we have to understand that no sin can enter into the Kingdom of God (Revelations 21:1-7). We are all sinners and need to repent before God for the remission of our sins, which is made possible by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. That’s what He died for—all our sins, no matter how terrible they may be. It’s God’s desire that all human beings come to repent and submit their lives to Him (1 John 2:1-4). In so doing, we will have turned our lives around, pledging to follow God’s ways until we meet our appointment with death.

As society continues its immoral downslide, many will be deceived believing that to follow is the right way to go. The messages that the mainstream media put out don’t glorify God; they even question His existence. Is it any wonder that many people don’t make time for God, or why evil flourishes?

The sad reality is: true to the Word of God, sin has become a reproach for many nations and people. Nations need to repent collectively; and likewise, so do individual people.
Read the story of Jonah about how God spared a nation from destruction after they repented. Look around you; consider the social decay that has manifested itself in murder, robbery, child abuse, family violence, drug abuse, and pornography. Take some time to read your newspaper or watch the nightly news and wake up to the realities facing this planet, as humanity’s transgressions against God sink us deeper into a ‘bottomless pit,’ of mounting troubles.

Presently, while in this season of Passover, learn more about the true Passover Lamb (see the article From Passover to Easter), and how He stands ready, waiting, and listening for that knock on the door of repentance. He’s ready to receive you when you answer His call. What could be more rewarding than to submit your life to Jesus Christ and live eternally!

The Creator of the Universe and of everything that is good is calling you to become a part of His soon coming Kingdom. He wants you to repent of your sins and follow His prescription on how to make this ‘ritual’ of life more meaningful, with a hope unmatched by any earthly promise. Yes, Jesus will return to give you eternal life. You’ve got to believe this if you’re a true Christian. Remember Jesus’ warning “…except ye REPENT, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).