2 Timothy 2:25
correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
No one can come to the truth without first repenting of the life they are living. John the Baptist said as much in making a way “in the wilderness” to find salvation. Wilderness is a place of natural dangers, alone and vulnerable.
What must be understood is that repentance is more than feeling sorry. If we look to the opening passage we will discover that repentance “may” be granted. Since the judicial side of God has to be satisfied in order for mercy and grace to be found in our lives, then God’s heart must be touched in order for the death sentence to be overturned.
This is one area in our lives that cannot be faked. Mere words cannot convince this God that knows us through and through.
There is this issue of turning from sinful acts and chasing after God. The warning came to Lot as salvation was offered to him and those that believed his testimony. “Do not turn back and look.” Just looking back was enough to turn Lot’s wife into a pillar of salt.
What is difficult to understand is how sin and temptation still exists in our lives and that at any moment we might discover that we are in danger of what happened to her.
Luke 17:31-33 English Standard Version
31 On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.
Have we given our life to Christ? If so, then we have died with Him in His death and we have risen again with Him in the newness of life.
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When this is true, then when the judicial side of God comes looking for us, all He will see is His Son Jesus Christ.
If we are living this life for Christ, following Him, we will not find ourselves seeking sin.