June 22, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
GODLY REPENTANCE DELAYED IS PARDON DENIED
“For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, not to be regretted [or repented of]; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” 2 Cor. 9:10, NKJV (See verses 8-11).
Even as ‘justice delayed is justice denied,’ Achan’s deadly sin of covetousness produced a “worldly,” not a godly repentance. This is possibly one of the deadliest combinations of sins. Achan lost both temporal and eternal life!
“Achan acknowledged his guilt, but when it was TOO LATE for the confession to benefit himself. He had seen the armies of Israel return from Ai defeated and disheartened; yet he did not come forward and confess his sin. He had seen Joshua and the elders of Israel bowed to the earth with grief too great for words.
“Had he then made confession, he would have given some proof of true penitence; but he still kept SILENCE. He had listened to the proclamation that a great crime had been committed. and had even heard the character (of the crime) definitely stated. But his LIPS were SEALED.
“Then came the SOLEMN INVESTIGATION. How his souls thrilled [trembled ] with terror as he saw his tribe pointed out, then his family and his household! But still he uttered no confession UNTIL the finger of God was placed upon him.
“Then when his sin could no loner be concealed, he ADMITTED the truth. HOW OFTEN ARE SIMILAR CONFESSIONS MADE.There is a vast difference between admitting facts AFTER they have been proved, and confessing sins KNOWN ONLY TO GOD.
“Achan would not have confessed, had he not hoped by doing to avert the consequences of his crime. But his confession only served to SHOW that his punishment was just. There was NO GENUINE REPENTANCE FOR SIN, no contrition, no change of purpose, no abhorrence of evil.” Patriarchs & Prophets, pp. 498, 499.
Repentance and confession because of fear of the consequences, not the sin itself, which is the cause, not the effect is the repentance and confession of the world, not the godly sort! Such are in vain. May the Holy Spirit Guide us unto all truth. NMF