True Repentance: From Prisoner to Prince

Post date: May 4, 2014 12:27:37 AM

Have you ever considered the meaning of the word “repent? This is a question that has nagged me for days. It is such a commonly used word that if you are anything like me you have already presumed its meaning but despite this assumption I turned to “Google” for a definition. Guess what, it was a fruitless exercise!

2 Corinthians 7:10…For Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

The question of repentance naturally reminded me of my own conversion experience when God intervened supernaturally to spare me from death.  This event was so dramatic that it encouraged me to read the bible, question my personal philosophy of life, to seek for acceptance and to receive salvation. My conversion was an unusual one though because it didn't follow any of the commonly used practices that I have observed within the Christian community. For instance, I wasn't coached by anyone to recite “the sinners’ prayer” nor did I initially recognize Jesus as my Saviour but instead, while alone, I broken-heartedly acknowledged my sinful life to God seeking His acceptance.    

2 Peter 1:9…For he who lacks these things is short sighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.”  

Another experience that I thought could help me occurred a few years after my conversion. My involvement in multiple church ministries had stolen all of my spare time and had slowly diluted the simple approach to faith that I had displayed toward God at conversion. One night while praying my mind took an unexpected twist where, in a vision, I saw myself lying on the floor. A large incision had been made into my chest where I could see maggots crawling out and I could hear a voice saying; “this is what is within”. This statement stunned me at first but after some reflection and being aware of the source of the vision I knew that the maggots symbolized my behavior. It was through this experience that I learned that I was no longer trusting in God’s grace through faith but instead I had slowly replaced the simplicity of faith for self- effort and had ignorantly adopted a philosophy where I felt that I was spiritually justified by my own self- effort rather than through the faith in Christ’s eternal sacrifice. In short, I had replaced simple faith for a religious mindset of which I have since repented.

Romans 12:2…And do not be conformed to this world , but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

The nagging was still persisting so I turned to a Greek translation for further clarity only to discover that the word “repent” means to reconsider and is derived from the root word “metamorphoo”.  This word is translated; to transfigure, to reform or to transform and it is where the English word metamorphosis is derived. We use metamorphosis to describe the transition of a caterpillar to a butterfly.

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, we know that, when He shall appear we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.

This is what I learned; the Christian life cannot be experienced through, what I refer to as, a “drive-by” or a “repent and run” but can only occur when one commits his/her life to Christ. Anyone can repent without commitment but no one can commit without repentance. It is here where spiritual transformation begins for the children of God.

Hebrews 11:33-34…Who through faith subdued, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouth of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

The bible overflows with examples of individuals who have been transformed by the power of God. The Hebrew patriarch Joseph is one such person who, despite tremendous personal hardship, matured in his character and also in his continued faithfulness toward God.  His rise from a confined prisoner to the most powerful person in the Egyptian government, subject only to the Pharaoh, often encourages me when I become overwhelmed due to my own personal limitations and when I am blinded to the purposes of God in my own life. If God can bring His promises to fulfilment in Joseph’s life then I am certain that He can do the same for me and you.