DID you ever do anything for which you were very sorry? Children often have little accidents which trouble them; and older people, too. All know what it is to have that unhappy feeling that we experience after doing something which we wish we had not done.
What do we call this feeling? It is repentance. When we are sorry that we have done a certain thing we repent having done it. So repentance is sorrow and regret for wrong or failure.
How unhappy this little girl looks! On the floor is her broken slate, with the pencil and slate rag lying near.
Do you think she is afraid of being punished? Perhaps so. Perhaps she was displeased about something and threw her slate down in anger.
When we do such things we are sometimes punished. Sometimes, when we are sorry for what we have done and express feelings of repentance, our parents forgive us.
How is it, dear children when we sin against God? Does He punish us or does He forgive us?
When we sin against our parents, our teachers or others in this world, sometimes we are punished, even when we repent. And sometimes we escape punishment when we do not repent.
But it is different when we have to do with God. We have all sinned against God and we all deserve to be cast into the lake of. fire. But God is ready to forgive everyone who repents and turns to Him for forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9). He will not turn anyone away.
But if we do not repent, our punishment is certain. We cannot escape from God’s punishment, though we often escape from man’s. Jesus said,
Dear sinner, if you are still in your sins, turn to that loving, forgiving Saviour. If you do not, you will certainly perish—you must spend an eternity of misery with all who reject the blessed Son of God.
He offers forgiveness, life, and a home with Himself forever. Repent and be saved before it is too late! Tomorrow the door may be shut.
ML 01/17/1904