"Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand". These were the familiar words of John the Baptist as he called Israel to turn right round in their way of life. God's people were travelling in the wrong direction. In spite of their professed piety and clinging to the fact they were children of Abraham, they were heading for destruction. God had sent them a prophet and they did not believe him. He sent them a Messiah and they killed Him.

John warned the people to whom he spoke that it was no good claiming to be descendants of Abraham ‑ their family connections would not save them. God could raise up those who were worthy of the promises made to their fathers. It is a familiar problem. We all bask in the glory of the more successful members of our families. What is much worse, we like to feel spiritually safe with certain 'church connections'. The right group or fellowship; the right doctrine and Christian work; these are the things we cling to for salvation. No matter how good our Christian upbringing or Church education, we all need to start in the same position before God ‑ we are all sinners - in utter contrition of heart we must repent. If we have not a contrite heart ‑ then now is the time to do so.

John however made it clear that what his listeners really needed was to "bear fruits that befit repentance". This meant that the change in their lives had to be so radical that they began to produce behaviour that matched their protestation of change. So they asked John what they should do. The ordinary people were told that they must be willing to share with their neighbour what they had got and he lacked. If you have food and clothing that another lacks you must give him half. This was a remarkable preparation of the ground for Jesus' teaching ‑ yet it is the teaching of a prophet. The tax collectors were next to confront John and he told them that they were not to defraud those from whom they were supposed to collect taxes. Those words were to have their harvest in the lives of Matthew Levi and Zacchaeus. None were outside the fold of Israel's God ‑ John didn't turn away from those supposed to be outside the Law. But they must all change their way of life. The soldiers, probably the Jewish Temple guard, asked John what they should do. They worked for the priests, they must have been counted within the Law so were they in need of reform? They were instantly told that they were to live contented lives, not forever seeking more of this world's wealth; "godliness with contentment is great gain" might have been their new slogan.

The lessons never grow old ‑ the need today for Christians to seek the way of repentance is as great as ever. There can be no true discipleship until the heart is fully repentant nor can there be consistent growth in the Spirit while ever the human will is not broken at the foot of the Cross and God's will is not being fully done in the life. This is not a turning again to dead works but is fully consistent with the teaching of 1 John 1.9 where we are told to confess our faults and be forgiven through the blood of Jesus our Saviour. This is the true repentance, a continuous attitude of 'brokenness' of the human will and recognition that Christ and Christ alone is our Master. Total contrition of heart is a prerequisite of commitment to Christ, and following Him as a real disciple is not possible until that state of affairs exists in every department of our lives. The Call to discipleship comes when we have exposed the real nature of the wilful 'I'.

There is a foe whose hidden power the Christian well may fear;

More subtle far than inbred sin and to the heart more dear.

It is the power of selfishness, the proud and wilful I,

And ere my Lord can live in me, my very self must die. ‑ A.B.Simpson

Perhaps there is no better description of repentance than that which Jesus put into the mouth of the 'prodigal son' in His most wonderful allegory. "I will get up and go to my father and I will say to him, 'Father I have sinned before heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son, treat me like one of your hired hands'…But while he was still a long way off his father saw him and was filled with compassion.".

Have we really heard the 'Father' say those words of us "for this my son was dead and is alive again". He is more ready to forgive than we are to say 'I'm sorry'

DN