“I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to you, O my God, my God, for our iniquities have gone up above our heads, and our iniquities have gone up to heaven” (Ezra 9:6).
Ezra did not doubt God’s readiness to forgive, but he also did not doubt the necessity of repentance. His suffering was indicative of his deep reverence for God, as well as his belief that sin is never a trivial matter. It must be dealt with boldly, bravely, and with a commitment to return to God’s will.
In 2 Corinthians 7:10, Paul contrasted “godly sorrow” with “worldly sorrow” or mere self-pity: “For godly sorrow produces repentance that leads to salvation, not repentance; but worldly sorrow produces death” (NKJV). While selfish suffering will certainly produce sorrow, it does not produce repentance. Only divine sorrow does this. When we recognize the gravity of our offenses toward God and how much He loves us, we are strongly motivated to turn away from our sins and obey Him.
The lack of godly sorrow is one reason why many people’s “repentance” disappears so quickly. They have never considered how seriously their sins have affected their Heavenly Father and His work in this world, they are not powerfully moved to repent. If they make any commitment to repent, it’s little more than “I think I’ll try it.” But divine sorrow is a stronger force. As Paul says, it produces “repentance that leads to salvation.”
In an age when feeling good is a top priority, the process of godly grief often remains incomplete. Many of us know how much God values a “broken and crushed heart” (Psalm 51:17), but we pass that stage too quickly. Eager to be happy again, we fail to mourn our sins in a way that will lead us on the path to true and profound improvement of our character.
If repentance is an essential part of God’s plan of salvation (and it certainly is), then the godly sorrow that leads to repentance is extremely important. This definitely requires humility. But if we are willing to bow before God, honestly acknowledging the gravity of our sins, we can rest assured that He is ready to help us and heal us.
“It need not be a formal prayer: the most faltering and broken cry—a sigh, a whisper, anything that tells of the heart’s loneliness and need and repentance—can find its way up to God” (Phillips Brooks).
Gary Henry – WordPoints.com AreYouaChristian.com
