A deeper reflection

It is fascinating once we see something about ourselves even if what we see is rather horrific. I know this is a statement that covers the majority of society but many would take offence to such a comment, therefore let me dissect this reality as my actuality and if the glass slipper fits put it on for the powers that anthropomorphizes the encounter will of a certainty bring with it freedom in Christ. I am now beginning for the first time in my life to understand just an inkling of what John the Baptist meant when he called for repentance; “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."” (Matthew 3:1-2) – There is a wealth of information we can draw out of this statement and there would be no immediate end to our adventure exploring the depths of the author’s intention and why such a statement was preached.

There are two points I wish to explore, “repent” and the “kingdom of heaven at hand”. Firstly what does “repent” actually mean and how does that concern me? Secondly, why state in the same sentence “for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”?

Last night as I layed awake in bed with my mind galloping toward the realisation of a truth that has now become my own. I am very thankful for the work of God the Holy Spirit in my life.

I had a question that needed answering, “what defines a man”? Surely it is a man’s character which defines him. What defined the Lord Jesus? It was his ability to accomplish everything His Father asked him to accomplish and he did it as a man, wow! I will concede that he had seen heaven as he was sent from heaven. I will not claim any authority in understanding the convolutions on that in its entirety, but what I will say is the scripture teaches us that he laid down his heavenly authority and became a man, God became a man and he took on a flesh and blood body and entered this world through the womb of a woman. Mary, a virgin, found God’s favour, conceived, and then gave birth to the child Jesus. He grew like every other child and was subject to his earthly parent’s authority. Let the reality of that sink in for a minute. The only true and living God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob humbling Himself to the level of mortality for the sake of mankind, WOW! Jesus lived and died no differently to our journeys. Except for one vital truth: he lived a life without sin attached to it, praise his name! That is what feeds us hope in him and obviously because God raised him from the dead. We too shall be raised in newness of life, what a hope the Christian has that one day we shall be like our glorious Saviour.

What now defines us as men or women for that matter? The Apostle John nails it; “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?” (1 John 3:16-17)

What does the word “repent” mean? Simply put it means to reconsider. Why does John the Baptist tell us to reconsider and what must we reconsider? He tells us to reconsider because the kingdom of God is at hand, there is a time coming and it is just around the corner when God will reveal Himself. Our eyes shall see another dimension; we will all become privy to this element. Therefore we are to reconsider everything life had to teach us and to look deep within ourselves against His reflection. And where do we see His reflection? The Bible reveals everything we need to know about him. Study it and you will soon see the flaws in your life and then we will have it in our power to repent as we ought to.

Signing off

Tyrone