Jesus, after His baptism in water and his victory over Satan in the wilderness, began preaching in the small towns of Israel. His message: Repent, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand (the kingdom of heaven is the government under Christ of mankind). First, here is what the word repentance in the Scripture means. In the Old Testament the word, appearing only a few times, means “to turn”. In the New Testament the word translated from the Greek means to change ones mind. Often we get confused here and think repentance is being sorry and feeling remorse over sin. The truth is, Godly sorrow produces repentance. Many have sorrow for their sins but never repent-change their minds about sinning with faith in Christ, but only have some weak resolve to do better.
Notice further, Jesus preached repentance to the Covenant people, God’s people, Israel. So, Jesus preaches repentance later, Israel having refused His kingdom, to the New Testament churches (assemblies of believers) recorded in Rev.1-3. The need for repentance here assumes one is both a believer and a backslider to some extent (the unbeliever must take the step of repenting and also believing the gospel). Do the churches of today need to repent? Look at the lack of converts; and the numbers of “members” whose whereabouts are unknown. See what churches look to for their success: worldly entertainment rather than the miracle working power of Christ’s Spirit from the teaching of His Word.
Jesus warned His hearers that their house was left desolate because they refused His message (Luke 13:34-35). A few did, but the majority and the rulers did not. They had Him killed. When God leaves a person or a nation as He will when they continually refuse His message, which is merciful because added refusals only add to their sin, the result is horrific. The Destroyer, Satan, comes in.
In 70 A.D. ,Israel, having tried by force of arms to gain freedom from their Roman occupiers, suffered as perhaps few in history have- without food the crazed people began eating their children. And the remnant ended in mass suicide, and leaped off a cliff. When God’s protection leaves the one who has continued to reject Him, Satan takes over. Consider the case of Pharaoh who continued to refuse God’s warning to let His people go free: the first born of all in his nation dead and he and his army drowned in the sea. Consider the case of Judas Iscariot who pretended to follow Jesus for three years and then after pointing Him out to those who would have Him killed with a kiss tried to repent and give payment for his betrayal, 30 pieces of silver, back to Christ.s killers, but finding no help there hangs himself, breaks loose, and ruptures on the ground.
The point is, our God is a consuming fire: a fire of love, forgiveness, joy, fellowship in suffering, peace, everlasting life to those of us who will have Him to be ours through faith in His only begotten Son Jesus Christ; and a fire of judgement on those who continue to refuse Him and rebel against Him. When God leaves, Satan comes in. Satan knows nothing but destruction. As Martin Luther puts it: if left to himself, Satan would destroy every thing and there would not be so much as a leaf left on a tree.
The lesson for today here is: pray for our nation and repent for the coming of Christ draws near. May our hope be that of early Christians, come, even so , come Lord Jesus.
