19/12/2015 - PROOF OF REPENTANCE

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I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.” Luke 15.18

We make many precipitated attitudes. After some time, whether we have success or failure, we get to the conclusion that they were not good choices. However, many people, even after noticing that they were wrong, because of shame, pride, or any other reason, choose to eat the food of pigs instead of returning and asking for forgiveness (Luke 15.16). They do not understand that this foolish action keeps them in spiritual slavery, and thus they suffer in the hands of the enemy.

Repentance leads a person to ask for forgiveness. If the request comes from the heart, it means: “I recognize my mistake and will pay for what I have done. I am repented and I promise to do nothing similar again. So I ask for help, mercy, and to do whatever may be necessary”. This attitude restores the offender to the communion with the Almighty and other people. To repent and believe in the Gospel are Jesus’ orders.

Behind every wrong procedure, there is an evil spirit that won a battle for that person’s life. The demon is there to kill, rob, and destroy that person (Jo 10.10a), and not only to hide behind his sin. We cannot close our eyes and pretend that we do not know this. On the contrary, we must face the battle with the weapons of righteousness and free this life. Many people, even though they are being used by God, still remain in a way under the yoke of evil.

Some mistakes are easily forgiven; others are not. We should follow the same pattern of the prodigal son: rise, go towards the father, tell all the truth, recognize we are unworthy of being called a son, and ask for the treatment of a servant. These attitudes allow the love of God to restore our communion. Additionally, we need to exert mercy in the same way with those who sinned against us.

When he returned, the prodigal son discovered what he had never noticed: his father was really good, although the young man had made him suffer with his wicked choice. This story, told by Jesus, is a strong and powerful message of how the divine love deals with those who walk astray, for the Most High desires to recover every sinner like this young man. The restoration of a life is a much greater miracle than the healing of an incurable disease.

The heart of the father could not be contained with so much satisfaction when he saw his son, who had been lost. Now the son had clean clothes, new shoes, and was prepared to trample in snakes, scorpions and over all the power of the enemy (Lk 10.19). Besides, he was given a ring, the symbol of family power. It is not only God who is glad with the sinner’s restoration, but also the angels in Heaven. The importance of this attitude leads the angels to make a party of praise to the Omnipotent (Lk 15.7).

It is necessary to show this proof of repentance to the person whom you betrayed. Thus, the most unworthy sinner will also seek to get things right with the Most High, and therefore, He will be glad and fulfilled. Your decision of repenting or granting forgiveness to someone is the most important act of your life. Therefore, honor the Lord.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares