63. FATE CAN'T BE CHANGED WITHOUT REPENTANCERepentence turns fate upside down. If you don't repent, then you have no right to be in heaven.
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What makes someone religious? Better yet, what makes a person a Jew, Christian, or Muslim? Is it determined by the place they grew up or live, what their parents say, or what is written on their identi cation card? Is it based on how we look? Is a religion just a category that we put ourselves into based on the results of a checklist?
Based on what we have learned thus far, it is safe to say that the answer to our first question, "What makes someone religious,” would be faith. Religious people have faith in God. Well what about the second question? Is a person a Jew, Christian, or Muslim because they grew up in a certain place, it is written on their identi cation card, or because their parents say so? No, it is something more; it is a choice. We chose to obey God's laws. We chose to treat others with respect and love. We chose to accept that God is holy and greater than us. A Jew, Christian or Muslim's choices should be based on fundamental principles that are unalterable and the basis by which they choose to live. Throughout the Bible we have learned that one of the most basic principles of God's truth is that every person must repent of his sins to be forgiven. Let’s explore this truth further.
Tuba always dreaded going into her seventh grade class. Of course there were some good students, but overall the group never wanted to do their work, always complained, and only wanted to talk to their friends. As a teacher it was unbearable. But despite her previous experiences, before every class she still had hope that the students would act better, be interested, and show respect.
For the most part, she enjoyed teaching. But lately she had noticed several things that bothered her. Students were cheating, lying, and being disrespectful to one another. When she rst started teaching years ago, these were isolated incidents. But they were becoming more frequent and the students didn’t seem to show any remorse when they were caught.
On that particular day, Tuba was giving a test. Before the test she reminded the students not to talk, to cover their answer sheets, and to raise their hands if they had a question. Then she passed out the test papers.
Within ve minutes, Tuba noticed a student looking at another student’s paper. Tuba decided to ignore it and give the student another chance, but shortly thereafter he did it again. At the same time, she saw two girls whispering to one another.
“Girls stop talking.” She demanded.
“We aren’t talking.” They responded.
“What do you mean you aren’t talking? I just saw you whispering to each other. I should take your tests and give you zeros for cheating.”
“No teacher. We are sorry.” They pleaded. •
“Okay, but don’t do it again. Atıl, come here!” “Yes teacher.”
“Atıl, you need to stop looking at Bahar’s test or you will get a zero.”
“Teacher, I didn’t look at Bahar’s test!” he emphatically replied.
“Do I look blind? I just watched you look at her test and write an answer.”
“No I didn’t.”
“Atıl are you saying that I am lying and I don’t know what I am talking about?”
He just stood there looking at the teacher.
“Give me your test. You are getting a zero and I am going to call your parents. Now, go back to your seat.”
Just then, Tuba looked over and saw the two girls talking again. It was obvious that they were helping each other on the test.
“Girls! I thought I said no talking.”
“Sorry teacher.” They simultaneously replied.
“If you were truly sorry, you wouldn’t have started talking again.”
Tuba told the students to put down their pencils, close their test books, and listen very carefully.
“Kids, when a person says they are sorry they are acknowledging that what they did was wrong. But feeling sorry doesn’t end with acknowledgement. The next step is to not do it again. If you say you are sorry, but continue to do the same thing, what does it show about your character? It shows that the sorrow you expressed wasn't real! It makes you look like a liar.”
Tuba then walked over to the girls and took their tests.
“Do I need to tell you the rules again?” Tuba asked the class.
“No teacher.”
We all know that teachers are responsible for teaching our children math, history, science, and foreign languages. Perhaps we sometimes forget that they also have to teach our kids morals like being honest, being respectful, acknowledging wrong, and showing remorse. In the story we just read, although she didn’t use the exact word, Tuba found herself teaching kids about repentance.
In the New Testament, there was a powerful, charismatic teacher and prophet who also had a message of repentance. His name was John the Baptist. Although his father was from the tribe of Levi and a priest in the temple of Jerusalem, John didn’t attend the religious schools of his day. He was educated at home and in the wilderness of Judea.
John’s parents were dedicated followers of God and in the deepest sense very religious. While John’s father, Zacharias, was serving in the temple an angel appeared and told him that he would have a child, a child with a special mission. Let’s read about it in Luke chapter 1 verses 15-17:
15 For he (John) shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be lled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
John’s purpose was clear. He was to be a prophet and teacher much like Elijah the prophet 800 years earlier. In a previous lesson,14 we studied a prophecy in the book of Malachi. God told Malachi that a messenger or prophet would come to prepare the way for the Lord. In the verses we just read, we see the ful llment of that prophecy. John's purpose was to prepare the people for the coming Lord! He was the messenger who would come before the Messenger.15
John was to lead by example. He was to abstain from alcohol and encourage people to turn to the Lord. Remember, his message was for the children of Israel who were already supposed to be believers. If they needed to turn, or return, to the Lord it meant they obviously weren’t obeying His commandments. In other words, John’s message would be one of repentance. Let’s continue with Luke chapter 3 verses 1-3:
1 Now in the fteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judæa, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, 2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
We know from the details provided in these verses that John was preaching by the Jordan River in 27 AD. At the time, John was living in the wilderness of Judea, a dry and desolate place far removed from worldly distractions and the in uence of corrupt religious leaders. Yes, unfortunately in John’s day, just as ours, there were people acting like they were religious but living like everyone else. We are told a little more about John’s lifestyle in Matthew chapter 3 verse 4:
4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
John was living in a wild place dressed in a simple garment of camel's hair. On the outside, he may have looked rough and uncivilized compared to the priests living in the city. But on the inside he was spiritually re ned. He was dedicated to God and the message he had been given, a message that didn’t pull any punches and cut straight to the heart. Let’s continue with Luke chapter 3 verses 7-9:
7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to ee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Some people believe that because their father is religious, they are religious. Some people believe that because they live in a Muslim, Christian, or Jewish country, they will eventually go to heaven. In John’s day, the idea that descendants of Abraham automatically had a place reserved in heaven was common. It was John’s responsibility to correct this false belief. In essence, he said that it doesn’t matter who your ancestor is, if you aren’t producing good fruits you will be destroyed. So what was the solution to the problem? Repent and be baptized!16
The one who wanted to save his life had to repent of his sin, ask for God’s forgiveness, and be baptized. It was a message that many accepted. But there was still one thing that many wondered. After repenting and being baptized, what did they need to do? Let’s read John’s answer in Luke chapter 3 verses 10-14:
10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? 11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. 12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? 13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. 14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
If you have been blessed with material wealth, give to others. If you are in a position of power, don’t abuse it. Don’t intimidate people or take advantage of them. In other words, share, be honest, don’t physically hurt others, don’t lie, and don’t be sel sh. Did you notice that the prerequisite for these righteous actions was repentance? God can’t help you do those things if you don’t ask for His help. The first step in asking for help is admitting that you have a sin problem.
When the angel Gabriel spoke to John’s father, he said that John would go before the Lord. What do you think Gabriel meant? Perhaps the next several verses can give us some insight. Let’s read Luke chapter 3 verses 15-17:
15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; 16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with re: 17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
Based on what the people thought and what John said, it is clear that the angel Gabriel was referring to the Messiah. It had been prophesied hundreds of years before that a prophet would emerge right before the Messiah appeared. We can read about it in the book of Isaiah chapter 40 verses 3-5:
3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all esh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
John’s message of repentance was to prepare the hearts of those who would meet the Messiah whom John said was much greater than he. John didn’t even feel worthy to untie his shoes! According to John’s statement, the Messiah’s coming would have mixed results. For some it would be a great day, while for others it would be terrible. What will be the biggest factor in determining who is ready for the Messiah? That’s right, repentance!
Before we close this lesson let's analyze a common misconception. Many people think that there are varying degrees of sin. For example, murder is worse than gambling, drinking alcohol is worse than stealing, and charging interest is worse than lying. But in God's eyes, sin is sin.
On the surface, it is easy to think that murdering someone is worse than stealing. But if you look at sin from God's perspective there is no difference. When you murder someone you are taking their life without permission. Most dictionaries would define that act as stealing. From this angle, the root of both murder and stealing is the same; namely the sel sh desire to have something that doesn't belong to you (e.g., money, a woman, revenge, etc.). How about gambling? Why do most people gamble?
Most people gamble because they want to get rich with little effort. Of course, some people become addicted. Is it possible that when we gamble, we are actually showing a distrust in God? After all, He is in control. He is able to provide all our needs. Is it possible that the simple act of gambling says to those around us that we don't think God can take care of us, that we need to help Him by taking
control of things? If so, gambling would be worse than murder!
The point is this, sin is sin. Everyone sins! Thus everyone needs to repent! If you don't repent, then you have no right to be in heaven. Heaven is not a place for unrepentant sinners! So how do we repent? Let’s look at an example.
Tolga’s father was always late. He was late for work, dinner, and even movies. He tried turning his clocks forward 15 minutes, but it didn’t work. His friends and family even told him to be places 20 minutes before it was necessary. But it was all to no avail. It was like Tolga’s dad was in his own time zone.
One day Tolga had an important swim competition. He had been preparing months for this event and if he won, he would go to the regional championships. The meet started at 7pm.
“Dad are you coming to my swim meet on Friday night” he asked. “Of course son, I will be there.”
“Dad, my race is one of the first ones. Are you sure you can get there on time?”
“Don’t worry son, I will be there,” he reassured him.
The night came, Tolga got ready, and scanned the audience to see if his father had kept his promise. But unfortunately he didn’t see him. He went through his mental preparations and proceeded towards the diving platform. Before he stepped onto the platform he took one last look. His father wasn’t there. In spite of his absence, Tolga said to himself,
“I will win this race and make him proud.”
When the buzzer sounded, Tolga dove into the water and swam as fast as he could, all of his turns were perfect, and when he reached out he was the first to touch the wall. He made it to the regional finals.
Later that night, after the race, Tolga sat in the car with his father who had come late.
“Dad, I really wanted you to be there tonight.”
“I know son, I wanted to be there too. I am sorry.”
“Dad, you always say you are sorry. But you never change. One of the reasons I race is to make you and our family proud. But it is like you don’t care.”
Tolga’s words pierced his father’s heart. In a flash, he thought about all the times he had missed important events. It was at that moment that he made up his mind to be different.
“Son, I am truly sorry. You are right, I have been irresponsible. I know it will be hard to believe me this time, but I promise to never be late again. I will try my best to always keep my word and be on time, especially to your races.”
Guess what? Tolga’s dad was at the regional championships early and cheered his son to victory. What do you think impressed Tolga the most: his father’s apology or promptness? Of course, it was his promptness because it showed that he truly was sorry. As the saying goes,
“Actions speak louder than words.”
As simple as it sounds, true heart felt repentance consists of two parts. The first part is acknowledging the wrong you have done and saying you are sorry. The second part is trying to make up for the wrong by doing something good or just simply not committing the same offense again. In our first story, Atıl wouldn’t acknowledge his wrong and he had no intention of admitting that he did something bad, much less apologize for it. And while the girls did acknowledge their wrong and apologize, they showed that they weren’t truly sorry by continuing to disobey. Just as Tuba told the students, they didn’t deserve forgiveness and they suffered the consequence of their wrongdoing. Perhaps they thought that the teacher would let them continue to do wrong. Or maybe, they knew she was kind and were taking advantage of her kindness.
Well, God can’t be taken advantage of. He knows the true intentions of our hearts. No matter how hard we try, we will never successfully hide anything from Him. So let’s stop trying! Repent and ask God to help you stop sinning.
Discussion Questions
1. In your opinion, was the children’s behavior good or bad?
2. In the Bible we have seen many examples of prophets communicating with and learning from God in the wilderness. Why do you
think that is?
3. If you continue reading John’s story, you will see that his message wasn’t popular with many of the religious leaders. What were
some reasons?
4. Why is repentance so important when we want to be forgiven?
5. Is there anything in your life that you need to repent of? Lying, gossiping, greed, pridefulness, laziness, coveting, stealing, swearing, etc.?
6. John’s message of repentance was to prepare the hearts of the people to meet their God. Remember, the Lord was coming and
John was proclaiming it! We also understand that the prophecies were referring to the coming Messiah. What does that say about who the Messiah is?
14 Fate Changer Book 3 Lesson 20
15 Malachi 3:1
16 In a later lesson, we will explore the symbolism and purpose of baptism. For now, we need to now that it was a symbol of cleansing. Interestingly, we don't see any objection from the priests to John's baptizing people. On the contrary, we only see that they didn't think he had the authority to do it. In John's day, it was common for heathens to be baptized when they converted to Judaism and for the Essenes to baptize themselves after they came in contact with non- believers.
- I grew up in _____________.
- My father is a _____________.
- Our prophet is _____________.
- Result _____________.
Based on what we have learned thus far, it is safe to say that the answer to our first question, "What makes someone religious,” would be faith. Religious people have faith in God. Well what about the second question? Is a person a Jew, Christian, or Muslim because they grew up in a certain place, it is written on their identi cation card, or because their parents say so? No, it is something more; it is a choice. We chose to obey God's laws. We chose to treat others with respect and love. We chose to accept that God is holy and greater than us. A Jew, Christian or Muslim's choices should be based on fundamental principles that are unalterable and the basis by which they choose to live. Throughout the Bible we have learned that one of the most basic principles of God's truth is that every person must repent of his sins to be forgiven. Let’s explore this truth further.
Tuba always dreaded going into her seventh grade class. Of course there were some good students, but overall the group never wanted to do their work, always complained, and only wanted to talk to their friends. As a teacher it was unbearable. But despite her previous experiences, before every class she still had hope that the students would act better, be interested, and show respect.
For the most part, she enjoyed teaching. But lately she had noticed several things that bothered her. Students were cheating, lying, and being disrespectful to one another. When she rst started teaching years ago, these were isolated incidents. But they were becoming more frequent and the students didn’t seem to show any remorse when they were caught.
On that particular day, Tuba was giving a test. Before the test she reminded the students not to talk, to cover their answer sheets, and to raise their hands if they had a question. Then she passed out the test papers.
Within ve minutes, Tuba noticed a student looking at another student’s paper. Tuba decided to ignore it and give the student another chance, but shortly thereafter he did it again. At the same time, she saw two girls whispering to one another.
“Girls stop talking.” She demanded.
“We aren’t talking.” They responded.
“What do you mean you aren’t talking? I just saw you whispering to each other. I should take your tests and give you zeros for cheating.”
“No teacher. We are sorry.” They pleaded. •
“Okay, but don’t do it again. Atıl, come here!” “Yes teacher.”
“Atıl, you need to stop looking at Bahar’s test or you will get a zero.”
“Teacher, I didn’t look at Bahar’s test!” he emphatically replied.
“Do I look blind? I just watched you look at her test and write an answer.”
“No I didn’t.”
“Atıl are you saying that I am lying and I don’t know what I am talking about?”
He just stood there looking at the teacher.
“Give me your test. You are getting a zero and I am going to call your parents. Now, go back to your seat.”
Just then, Tuba looked over and saw the two girls talking again. It was obvious that they were helping each other on the test.
“Girls! I thought I said no talking.”
“Sorry teacher.” They simultaneously replied.
“If you were truly sorry, you wouldn’t have started talking again.”
Tuba told the students to put down their pencils, close their test books, and listen very carefully.
“Kids, when a person says they are sorry they are acknowledging that what they did was wrong. But feeling sorry doesn’t end with acknowledgement. The next step is to not do it again. If you say you are sorry, but continue to do the same thing, what does it show about your character? It shows that the sorrow you expressed wasn't real! It makes you look like a liar.”
Tuba then walked over to the girls and took their tests.
“Do I need to tell you the rules again?” Tuba asked the class.
“No teacher.”
We all know that teachers are responsible for teaching our children math, history, science, and foreign languages. Perhaps we sometimes forget that they also have to teach our kids morals like being honest, being respectful, acknowledging wrong, and showing remorse. In the story we just read, although she didn’t use the exact word, Tuba found herself teaching kids about repentance.
In the New Testament, there was a powerful, charismatic teacher and prophet who also had a message of repentance. His name was John the Baptist. Although his father was from the tribe of Levi and a priest in the temple of Jerusalem, John didn’t attend the religious schools of his day. He was educated at home and in the wilderness of Judea.
John’s parents were dedicated followers of God and in the deepest sense very religious. While John’s father, Zacharias, was serving in the temple an angel appeared and told him that he would have a child, a child with a special mission. Let’s read about it in Luke chapter 1 verses 15-17:
15 For he (John) shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be lled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
John’s purpose was clear. He was to be a prophet and teacher much like Elijah the prophet 800 years earlier. In a previous lesson,14 we studied a prophecy in the book of Malachi. God told Malachi that a messenger or prophet would come to prepare the way for the Lord. In the verses we just read, we see the ful llment of that prophecy. John's purpose was to prepare the people for the coming Lord! He was the messenger who would come before the Messenger.15
John was to lead by example. He was to abstain from alcohol and encourage people to turn to the Lord. Remember, his message was for the children of Israel who were already supposed to be believers. If they needed to turn, or return, to the Lord it meant they obviously weren’t obeying His commandments. In other words, John’s message would be one of repentance. Let’s continue with Luke chapter 3 verses 1-3:
1 Now in the fteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judæa, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, 2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
We know from the details provided in these verses that John was preaching by the Jordan River in 27 AD. At the time, John was living in the wilderness of Judea, a dry and desolate place far removed from worldly distractions and the in uence of corrupt religious leaders. Yes, unfortunately in John’s day, just as ours, there were people acting like they were religious but living like everyone else. We are told a little more about John’s lifestyle in Matthew chapter 3 verse 4:
4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
John was living in a wild place dressed in a simple garment of camel's hair. On the outside, he may have looked rough and uncivilized compared to the priests living in the city. But on the inside he was spiritually re ned. He was dedicated to God and the message he had been given, a message that didn’t pull any punches and cut straight to the heart. Let’s continue with Luke chapter 3 verses 7-9:
7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to ee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Some people believe that because their father is religious, they are religious. Some people believe that because they live in a Muslim, Christian, or Jewish country, they will eventually go to heaven. In John’s day, the idea that descendants of Abraham automatically had a place reserved in heaven was common. It was John’s responsibility to correct this false belief. In essence, he said that it doesn’t matter who your ancestor is, if you aren’t producing good fruits you will be destroyed. So what was the solution to the problem? Repent and be baptized!16
The one who wanted to save his life had to repent of his sin, ask for God’s forgiveness, and be baptized. It was a message that many accepted. But there was still one thing that many wondered. After repenting and being baptized, what did they need to do? Let’s read John’s answer in Luke chapter 3 verses 10-14:
10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? 11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. 12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? 13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. 14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
If you have been blessed with material wealth, give to others. If you are in a position of power, don’t abuse it. Don’t intimidate people or take advantage of them. In other words, share, be honest, don’t physically hurt others, don’t lie, and don’t be sel sh. Did you notice that the prerequisite for these righteous actions was repentance? God can’t help you do those things if you don’t ask for His help. The first step in asking for help is admitting that you have a sin problem.
When the angel Gabriel spoke to John’s father, he said that John would go before the Lord. What do you think Gabriel meant? Perhaps the next several verses can give us some insight. Let’s read Luke chapter 3 verses 15-17:
15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; 16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with re: 17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
Based on what the people thought and what John said, it is clear that the angel Gabriel was referring to the Messiah. It had been prophesied hundreds of years before that a prophet would emerge right before the Messiah appeared. We can read about it in the book of Isaiah chapter 40 verses 3-5:
3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all esh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
John’s message of repentance was to prepare the hearts of those who would meet the Messiah whom John said was much greater than he. John didn’t even feel worthy to untie his shoes! According to John’s statement, the Messiah’s coming would have mixed results. For some it would be a great day, while for others it would be terrible. What will be the biggest factor in determining who is ready for the Messiah? That’s right, repentance!
Before we close this lesson let's analyze a common misconception. Many people think that there are varying degrees of sin. For example, murder is worse than gambling, drinking alcohol is worse than stealing, and charging interest is worse than lying. But in God's eyes, sin is sin.
On the surface, it is easy to think that murdering someone is worse than stealing. But if you look at sin from God's perspective there is no difference. When you murder someone you are taking their life without permission. Most dictionaries would define that act as stealing. From this angle, the root of both murder and stealing is the same; namely the sel sh desire to have something that doesn't belong to you (e.g., money, a woman, revenge, etc.). How about gambling? Why do most people gamble?
Most people gamble because they want to get rich with little effort. Of course, some people become addicted. Is it possible that when we gamble, we are actually showing a distrust in God? After all, He is in control. He is able to provide all our needs. Is it possible that the simple act of gambling says to those around us that we don't think God can take care of us, that we need to help Him by taking
control of things? If so, gambling would be worse than murder!
The point is this, sin is sin. Everyone sins! Thus everyone needs to repent! If you don't repent, then you have no right to be in heaven. Heaven is not a place for unrepentant sinners! So how do we repent? Let’s look at an example.
Tolga’s father was always late. He was late for work, dinner, and even movies. He tried turning his clocks forward 15 minutes, but it didn’t work. His friends and family even told him to be places 20 minutes before it was necessary. But it was all to no avail. It was like Tolga’s dad was in his own time zone.
One day Tolga had an important swim competition. He had been preparing months for this event and if he won, he would go to the regional championships. The meet started at 7pm.
“Dad are you coming to my swim meet on Friday night” he asked. “Of course son, I will be there.”
“Dad, my race is one of the first ones. Are you sure you can get there on time?”
“Don’t worry son, I will be there,” he reassured him.
The night came, Tolga got ready, and scanned the audience to see if his father had kept his promise. But unfortunately he didn’t see him. He went through his mental preparations and proceeded towards the diving platform. Before he stepped onto the platform he took one last look. His father wasn’t there. In spite of his absence, Tolga said to himself,
“I will win this race and make him proud.”
When the buzzer sounded, Tolga dove into the water and swam as fast as he could, all of his turns were perfect, and when he reached out he was the first to touch the wall. He made it to the regional finals.
Later that night, after the race, Tolga sat in the car with his father who had come late.
“Dad, I really wanted you to be there tonight.”
“I know son, I wanted to be there too. I am sorry.”
“Dad, you always say you are sorry. But you never change. One of the reasons I race is to make you and our family proud. But it is like you don’t care.”
Tolga’s words pierced his father’s heart. In a flash, he thought about all the times he had missed important events. It was at that moment that he made up his mind to be different.
“Son, I am truly sorry. You are right, I have been irresponsible. I know it will be hard to believe me this time, but I promise to never be late again. I will try my best to always keep my word and be on time, especially to your races.”
Guess what? Tolga’s dad was at the regional championships early and cheered his son to victory. What do you think impressed Tolga the most: his father’s apology or promptness? Of course, it was his promptness because it showed that he truly was sorry. As the saying goes,
“Actions speak louder than words.”
As simple as it sounds, true heart felt repentance consists of two parts. The first part is acknowledging the wrong you have done and saying you are sorry. The second part is trying to make up for the wrong by doing something good or just simply not committing the same offense again. In our first story, Atıl wouldn’t acknowledge his wrong and he had no intention of admitting that he did something bad, much less apologize for it. And while the girls did acknowledge their wrong and apologize, they showed that they weren’t truly sorry by continuing to disobey. Just as Tuba told the students, they didn’t deserve forgiveness and they suffered the consequence of their wrongdoing. Perhaps they thought that the teacher would let them continue to do wrong. Or maybe, they knew she was kind and were taking advantage of her kindness.
Well, God can’t be taken advantage of. He knows the true intentions of our hearts. No matter how hard we try, we will never successfully hide anything from Him. So let’s stop trying! Repent and ask God to help you stop sinning.
Discussion Questions
1. In your opinion, was the children’s behavior good or bad?
2. In the Bible we have seen many examples of prophets communicating with and learning from God in the wilderness. Why do you
think that is?
3. If you continue reading John’s story, you will see that his message wasn’t popular with many of the religious leaders. What were
some reasons?
4. Why is repentance so important when we want to be forgiven?
5. Is there anything in your life that you need to repent of? Lying, gossiping, greed, pridefulness, laziness, coveting, stealing, swearing, etc.?
6. John’s message of repentance was to prepare the hearts of the people to meet their God. Remember, the Lord was coming and
John was proclaiming it! We also understand that the prophecies were referring to the coming Messiah. What does that say about who the Messiah is?
14 Fate Changer Book 3 Lesson 20
15 Malachi 3:1
16 In a later lesson, we will explore the symbolism and purpose of baptism. For now, we need to now that it was a symbol of cleansing. Interestingly, we don't see any objection from the priests to John's baptizing people. On the contrary, we only see that they didn't think he had the authority to do it. In John's day, it was common for heathens to be baptized when they converted to Judaism and for the Essenes to baptize themselves after they came in contact with non- believers.