Good day dear listeners and welcome again to overcoming temptations, My name is Oyisi Okatahi. Today our topic is titled “True repentance”.
Our Bible reading is taken from Genesis 3, I read from verse 1. Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” 11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
So Adam and Eve were ashamed because they were naked, not because they had disobeyed God. Also Adam rather than accepting responsibility for his sin was quick to blame Eve his wife. And Eve rather than accepting responsibility was quick to blame the Serpent. Even though they both blamed someone else, it did not stop Gods judgment. Eve was judged with labor pains during child birth and also her husband will rule over her. Adam was judged with hard work and labor to cultivate the ground. Both of them will now die and return to dust.
So when we are confronted with our sins, we should not begin to give excuses and blame others for our mistakes. God will not understand that is because of money you cheated others or went into prostitution. Or committed fornication because you are not married. Yes you may be able to explain your sins to others and they will excuse you, but certainly not God. Adam and Eve felt they had a good excuse and explanation for their disobedience, but it did not stand the test of God.
By accepting our sins then the problem is half solved. Even if you are doing what is wrong it is better to accept that you know that it is wrong. Your acceptance of your sin and weakness is the first step to true repentance and then God will also have mercy and forgive. The bible says in Psalms 51:17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. David committed great sins but he also was humble and repented sincerely and God forgave him.
I encourage you, stop blaming others and situations for your sins, in true repentance ask God for forgiveness and HE will show mercy. Have a blessed day.
