The Bible is filled with people whose hearts were changed because they repented. Repentance is turning from your sin and turning toward God where our true hope is. The prophet Jonah preached a short message to the people of Nineveh the capital of Assyria and the people repented. Their hearts were changed. Jonah 3:4 On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!” 5 The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow. [1]
The parable of the prodigal son from the Gospel of Luke tells us about a young man who came to the end of himself and repented. His heart was changed. Luke 15:17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” ’ [2]
God had plans for the criminal on the cross.
In our story a criminal is far from God and he was headed for hell! But God had other plans. Luke 23:39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” 40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” [3]
What happened to this criminal? He turned from his sin and turned toward God. He repented and now had hope. He had hope on the last day of his life as he encountered the love of Jesus. By the time the sun went down, he would be enjoying heaven. His worst day took a dramatic turn and it was all because of Jesus.
Don’t wait to repent.
Don’t wait until your last hour. What is the Lord calling you to repent of? Whatever it is, the Lord wants to free you from sin that entangles you. As we call on his name, he will give us the strength to repent. We do not have to fight this battle alone. Philippians 4:13For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.[4]
To hear more about Hope in the Last Hour, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/hope-in-the-last-hour
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.