The Repenting Heart

 

My dear friends,

I ask you with the purest of intentions, when do we as a collective, proclaim aloud, and not just with words, but with our actions, that we believe? When do we turn from the snake that openly slithers among us, and return to the lamb? When do we stop allowing our world to be smothered by filth, and instead make a clear path for the return of the Messiah?

There are so many times when we treat our redeemer like a drunken booty call; where we are only Sunday Christians; where we only pray when terrible things happen, or when we have a desire that we want met. We often treat our Lord like a genie in a lamp who grants wishes, and then we get upset when our wishes are not fulfilled. Let me ask you a question: why would you get a 100% God if you only give 25% of your heart to Him?

The Almighty created all things visible and invisible. He created you, me, and everything in between. We need to stop the foolishness and lift our hearts to Him so that we are at least attempting to be worthy of eternal life in his grace and mercy.

Today’s reflection is on the enduring wisdom found in the book of repentance, Ecclesiastes. Its pages contain the journey of King Solomon, who, in his pursuit of meaning and purpose, experienced the highs and lows of life. Ecclesiastes teaches us about the futility of worldly pursuits and the importance of repentance.

Illuminated in Ecclesiastes is the turning away from the fleeting pleasures of this world, (alcohol, gambling, clubbing, sexual immoralities, drugs, etc.) and turning towards God. Solomon’s introspection reveals that true fulfillment is not found in wealth, success, or pleasure, but in a genuine connection with the Divine.

Take a moment to learn from Solomon’s acknowledgement of the limitations of human endeavors. Repentance begins with recognizing the emptiness of chasing after the wind and those pursuits that promise satisfaction but leaves us wanting. Ecclesiastes urges us to redirect our hearts towards God, seeking a meaningful relationship that transcends the temporal.

Even more so, repentance involves a change of perspective. Take me for an example. I used to chase the feeling of forgetting. The enemy spoke and I listened. The enemy told me I was not attractive enough, I was not attractive enough, or that I would never reach my goals, so why bother to try. I resorted to vices that some of you may indulge in as well. The excessive use of alcohol, a cocktail of pills, marijuana, tobacco, music that promoted violence and objectification of women, and pornography are just the tip of iceberg for the personal hell I was living in. I lost myself in a cloud of smoke and ran away from the Lord with a woman I had no business being involved with in the first place. I let the enemy shield me from the light, and lead me into the darkness, and I am not going to lie, it felt good, and it was fun, until it was not. The truth is that during the twenty plus years that I was dancing with the devil, I was flat out miserable. I had no idea who I really was, and I had put my body through a multitude of torture. I started developing health problems, and I hurt a lot of people along the way.

I rejected members of my family, cursed my friends to the point where we still do not speak to this day. I could not hold down a job because I always had the idea that there was something bigger that I would be missing. I burned every bridge I had the privilege to cross. I can be a real piece of shit sometimes.

The reason I shared part of my story is to show you that repentance works. I was cast into the light, I was lost, am now found – amazing grace indeed. If you have an open and honest conversation with Jesus, and you tell him that you are sorry, and more importantly, you ask him for forgiveness, His salvation will wash over you like a midnight rain.

Solomon, in his reflections, reminds us of life’s uncertainties and the inevitability of death. Repentance prompts us to prioritize eternal values over the transient. It calls us to reevaluate our priorities, investing in what truly matters – our relationship with God and our fellow human race.

In Ecclesiastes, we find solace in the message that Christ’s grace allows for transformation so powerful, it can turn sinners into saints. Repentance is not merely remorse; it is an acknowledgement of our shortcomings, coupled with a sincere desire to align our lives with God’s purpose.

I want to make it clear that through the wisdom of Ecclesiastes, we must embrace repentance as a continuous process. I pray that we learn from Solomon’s wisdom to turn away from the distractions of this world, and the tempting whisper of the serpent, and seek a deeper connection with our Creator. Through repentance, let our lives reflect the eternal joy that comes from living in harmony with God’s divine plan.

As always, I leave you with hope and peace in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

God bless,

Steve