Dancing in the Rain

The Fruits of Repentance

For you know that afterward, when he (Esau) wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. Hebrews 12:17

The third thing that will cause God to withhold His mercy is lack of true repentance. The above verse says that you can actually be unable to truly repent, and so be rejected by God. You might even be crying a bucket of tears, yet there is no real repentance involved.

The best way to understand what constitutes true repentance is to look at the "fruits of repentance" that manifest in the life of anyone who has truly turned away from sin.

…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

This verse, spoken to Solomon by God in a dream, contains the essence of repentance in a few simple words. First, we see people who are "called by My name". At the time, this meant Israel. But, today, it means anyone who seeks to identify himself with God through Jesus Christ. This is the first step of true repentance: understanding the need to be on the same side as God. Next comes humbling yourself, which is the admission not only of sin, but also of responsibility for the sin. Saying, "I know I sinned but it wasn't really my fault" or "I couldn't help myself" isn't being humble, it's being irresponsible. Humbling oneself also includes the acknowledgement that you are unable to forsake sinful behavior by your own power. Then comes prayer and seeking God as a priority in your life, which will give you the power to turn from your sin. There is tremendous power in having your sin forgiven, if you will truly let God work in your life (John 8:11). Finally, God's response to repentance is to heal. The life of someone who has truly turned from sin shows this in the degree of healing and restoration that takes place. I speak from direct experience. For years, I struggled with sinful actions and attitudes, never really repenting of them. When I finally did reach the point where I threw myself on God's mercy, admitting that I was not nearly as "good" as I had fooled myself into thinking I was, God began to move in my life in tremendous ways. I could devote a whole website just to the ways God has healed my life and blessed me in ways I never imagined. This, not because I deserved it, but because of His promise as given in 2 Ch. 7:14.

To sum up, a repentant person will display a humble yet fervent devotion to God, through a life of constant prayer and worship. Above all else will be a desire to become more like Jesus Christ, not out of constraint or fear of judgment, but out of a true desire to please the Father. The grace that manifests in the life of such a person is evident, and can literally spill over into the lives of others.

So, where did Esau miss it? First, let's back up a bit to Hebrews 12: 15-16, which explains some of the reasons why Esau could find no place for repentance.

…lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. Heb. 12:15-16

There are a couple of things evident about the character of Esau from this passage. He was profane, which means he gave little regard to righteousness, holiness or anything that might please God. He was a fornicator, which in a spiritual sense means pursuing unrighteous pleasure and idolatry instead of a pure relationship with the Father. Esau had so little regard for the blessing of God on his life that he sold his birthright for a bowl of soup. To a Christian, this means preferring worldly pleasure and self-gratification to the things of God. When a Christian starts to suffer the consequences of such a life, bitterness can take root. He ends up blaming God for his troubles, rather than turning to God and humbling himself. He may spend some time playing at being a Christian, maintaining a façade while inside he is turning farther and farther from the Lord. Eventually, what is festering on the inside will come out. He is unable to repent because he is no longer willing to identify himself properly with God, and so humble himself and seek God's grace, forgiveness and power to deliver him from his sinful state.

Have you ever known someone who was once a solid believer, but came to a point where she was living a life no different than any non-believer you can think of? She refuses to admit to her sin, living in denial that she is out of fellowship with God. Her life is one of constant self-justification. When asked, she will give some vague comments about trusting God, but there is no true life in her. She responds with anger and bitterness toward anyone who tries to speak to her about the need to turn from her sin. To her, it's all someone else's fault anyway.

Yet, God's mercy is still apparent in such a person's life, even if she doesn't know it. Someone who backslides often knows, down in her heart, that she's not right with God. Not so with those whose self-righteousness has blinded them to their sin and lack of repentance.

Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men-extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 'I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' "And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Lk. 18:10-14

This passage speaks volumes without any need for me to elaborate. But, I will use it to tie together what I have been discussing in the last few articles. Jesus makes the same point here that we see in 2 Ch. 7:14. Humble yourself. Unforgiveness, lack of mercy and an unrepentant attitude all share the same root: pride. Because the desire to please and glorify self exalts itself against the will of God and the nature of Christ, the only way to avoid these pitfalls is to remain humble and meek before God. Remembering always that it is only the grace of God that separates you from the Jeffrey Dahmers and Osama bin Ladens of the world. (see Lk 13:2-5). One of the greatest evidences of humility, and thus the fruit of repentance, is not just willingness, but an earnest desire to show mercy on others and to petition God on their behalf for mercy. I've lived on both sides of the fence. Believe me, a life of humility and prayer, seeking always to repent of my sins and forgive others their sins against me is much, much better than one of bitterness, anger and self-righteousness. Being merciful to others is simply easier on you than being unmerciful. This isn't just a good idea: it's a commandment from Jesus:

You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' "But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. "If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. "And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. "Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. "For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? "And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. Mt. 5:38-48

Again, there is nothing more I can add.
Blessings.