The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Multitudes of people carry the wrong beliefs when it comes to establishing peace with God. Of course, the gist of the problem is they’ve created their own formulas in creating this peace.
Somehow, they’ve realized they need peace with God. They work at formulating their own special path, maybe something like eating fried dandelions for an entire month.
Do that and they’re good. Peace with God has been established. No change of heart, but especially no need to change anything about how they live. They believe their formula works perfectly, and everyone is happy, including God.
David, one of the greatest sinners of the Bible, tells us differently. In Psalm 51:3-4, he writes these words: “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge.”
Flip Wilson, a famous comedian from long ago, had a recurring skit motif in which he was accused of some wrongdoing. The skit always ended with Mr. Wilson exclaiming, “The devil made me do it.”
David says otherwise. He holds himself responsible. Furthermore, he declares his wrongdoing the worst kind because he has sinned against the Holy God.
Sometimes we excuse ourselves from our sin because we see it only as a wrong committed against the guy across the street. In our minds, the guy probably deserved it.
David’s words provide a horrible conclusion: When God issues His judgment against me, I have no defense nor hope. I deserve everything He hits me with.
Sometimes, when a person arrives in a similar spot like David, he resorts to another tactic.
He resolves to purge himself from all sins and temptations. From this day forward, he will only be good, and God will honor him for it.
His promise happened on Friday. By the following Monday, he has committed another dozen sins. He hangs his head in despair, believing God would never want anything to do with them.
Again, massive sinner David says differently. In verses 7-12, he focuses on the only Person who can restore peace with God. It’s God Himself. That’s incredible. David has sinned against God, yet he declares God is the only one who can restore peace between them: “Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing heart.” (Psalm 51:11-12)
What does David bring to the bargaining table with God? Verses 16-17 reveals it: “For you do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”
That works for David, and it works for us. The answer to repentance always lies in God Himself. He does so in the most impressive manner. He sends His Son Jesus as the sacrifice for all of us and all our sins.
All we need do is adopt the same attitude as David does in verses 16-17—possess a broken and contrite heart. God will not despise a broken and contrite heart.
From the broken heart, we turn our eyes and heart to Jesus. He does the rest. From Romans 10:9: “…that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”
Also, listen to 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
People believe repenting is difficult. Truly, what is difficult is letting your heart be broken enough that you realize no other option lies before you except trusting in God.
God has done all the heavy lifting through His gracious mercy and love for us. We are to simply believe and trust in Him. That’s the easy yoke of repentance.