A genuine apology does not come with strings attached.
You sincerely admit your mistake, you agree it was wrong, and you stop there. You don’t get to manipulate the other person’s response.
A real apology does not require anything from the other person.
You confess your failure and accept their reaction—even if you don’t like it.
It’s the same way with God. True salvation only comes after true repentance. Have you truly recognized your sin? Do you OWN it? Do you admit it, and accept whatever God’s holy judgment says or does in response? If not, how can you be saved?
How can God give new life to someone who comes to Him with strings attached?
After all, the “strings” tie them to their old life, their sin.
You must come to Him with your heart absolutely open to whatever He has to say, whatever His Word requires.
We live in a world at war. I know you don’t see that (speaking to my own children here). Praise God that He has been so kind, He has spared you and sheltered you from so much darkness. But the war is going on all around you, every day. It’s a battle for souls. The enemy’s plan for you is to make you useless for God’s kingdom. If he can convince you to believe lies, even just one lie, he can neutralize you. One lie may be all it takes to put your life on the sidelines. Because only those who are wholly committed to God’s truth will have an impact for the kingdom.
Imagine this: at the end of your life you stand before God’s throne and He says, “What did you do with the life I gave you?”
And you say, “Well, I tried to be a good person. I went to church and I was nice to people.”
And God answers, “Didn’t you know I had an amazing plan for your life? Why did you let the enemy fill your head with lies, and half-truths, and compromise?” And then He shows you a movie of what your life could have been. And He says, “Look at all the joys you missed out on. Look at all the people who remained in darkness because you were not prepared to share your faith? Look at the difference you would have made if you had been truly committed to Me.”
John 1:5 is my prayer for you: “the Light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it.”
I pray the light of Christ will triumph over everything else in your life. Pray that with me–Pray God’s light will illuminate everything in you, shining into the darkness and replacing every lie with His truth.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 