[Discoveries] 07-25-08 Repentance -- Isaiah 19:20-22

Inspiration in Your Inbox discoveries at dwightclough.com
Sat Jul 19 13:17:06 EDT 2008


/*When [the Egyptians] cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors,
He will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them. So the
LORD will make Himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will
acknowledge the LORD. They will worship ... they will make vows to the
LORD and keep them. The LORD will strike Egypt with a plague; He will
strike them and heal them. They will turn to the LORD, and He will
respond to their pleas and heal them. -- Isaiah 19:20-22*/

There is a pattern in human history. Sin and rebellion followed by
judgment and pain. Pain ends arrogance and awakens humility and
dependence. Then God sends repentance. But notice the path it takes: God
makes Himself known.

We need to stop here. If God doesn't make Himself known, then nothing
good will follow. You cannot worship One you do not know. You will not
serve One you do not worship.

We want sinners to repent, and we sometimes think that means they must
stop sinning and start doing good. Sorry, folks, that isn't going to
happen. Repentance comes when God is revealed to us in a way we can
experience. (Taste and see that the LORD is good.) Our hearts are
purified by the truth of who God is and who we are. When we encounter
Him who is Truth, sin doesn't make sense any more. It loses its luster
because we have embraced far better.

Abraham Lincoln said, "If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd
spend seven sharpening my ax." The discovery of God sharpens the ax.
After that, the impossible becomes easy.

Be encouraged!
Dwight

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