Repent

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:19-21

Reflecting on the chaos, wickedness and uncertainties of these times it is hard to make sense of the world and how we are to live in it.

But one thing that has been on my heart with increasing clarity is this: whenever we encounter wickedness and its effects, we know with certainty that God’s desired outcome is repentance.

Yet as a society we are not only failing to repent, but we are doubling down on our sinful rebellion against God and his ways.

We could enumerate a long list of prevalent problems: COVID-19, injustice, abuse of authority, rejection of authority, economic inequality, abuse of liberties, reduction of liberties, and on and on. God is deemed to be “nonessential” while materialistic commerce is “essential”, truth is rejected for lies, and true love is rejected for shallow self-serving perversion.

In an abstract way we know that all of these are symptoms of living in a fallen world. In a practical way, we know that we must endure or perhaps work to overcome these symptoms according the specific callings and contexts we have received.

But sometimes the proverbial trees can obscure our view of the forest: the individual problems do not exist in isolation, but instead they have a common root cause in our sinful wicked hearts.

Worse, the proverbial trees can obscure our view of The Tree, on which our Lord Jesus bore the punishment of all our sins and wickedness–winning not only our forgiveness, but overcoming all of these problems that he might redeem and restore all of creation.

God is the giver of every good gift, yet we refuse to receive that which he graciously gives us.

We ask, “Why, Lord?” but we don’t really want to know the answer. We ask, “What am I to do, Lord?” but we ignore the clear direction he has already given to us. We wonder, “How, God?” but fail to recall the rich history of how he has worked in history and in the lives of his people.

Very succinctly, he revealed his answers to these questions in scripture: “Sin and wickedness”, “Repent, believe, endure.”, “By my power: I have overcome.”

According to the specific callings God has given us, there are any number of things each of us might pursue as we seek to live out our lives as his faithful children. But if we lose sight of God’s purposes, we run the risk that we impede what he is trying to accomplish.

Privileged white racists? Repent. Lawless black activists? Repent. Immoral abortive parents? Repent. Doctors, police, and politicians that would kill rather than serve? Repent.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Eph. 6:12

This is not just an abstract theological idea, but a statement of reality and a plan for how we are to live.

Do I pray for the end of injustice? Not before I pray for repentance. Do I pray for the end of abortion? Not before I pray for repentance. Do I pray for an end to the coronavirus pandemic? Not before I pray for repentance.

For God always works through means to accomplish his purposes–even through shocking, lowly means like the unjust death of the naked God-man Jesus upon a cross. Should we be surprised that God is working even through pandemic and injustice to call all men to himself that they might be saved?

So according to our callings, we work to heal, provide, assist, right wrongs, and serve. But as we do these things we should keep God’s objectives in mind. We should pray and work that people would repent, turn from lies and return to God and his truth. Or as Churchill said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.”

Come, Lord Jesus.

Refrain
Lord God in heaven, bring us to our knees:
Turn our stubborn hearts to you.
Lord God in heaven, glorify your name
in earth, and in all our ways.

You made us, Lord, and freely gave
all that we need for our salvation.
Still we fret, and war against you;
we strive for life apart from you. Refrain

Wicked, unjust and self-absorbed
we toil for the things that do not last.
But you forever, almighty art.
Draw us to your holy hill. Refrain

Your saints and angels, gathered ’round your throne
sing endless praise unceasing.
Bring us at last into that holy throng
that there we may see your face. Refrain

Protect us from evil, without and within;
purge from our hearts every ill.
Into the darkness ever shine your holy light,
dispelling evil, gloom and sadness. Refrain

In all places and in every time
your Spirit gives gifts supernal.
May we receive with ever joyous hearts
your supper, faith and forgiveness. Refrain

Your love so great, make ours the same.
Through us let all the world know your love.
Make us as sons who proudly bear your name
and honor you through our doing. Refrain

David B. Rueter 7/21/2020