One of the people discussed quite a bit recently has been the golfer Tiger Woods. 85 days ago he was known for his golfing ability and his dominance on the course. However, due to a minor car accident, the personal life of Tiger has been brought to the forefront.
As I read a portion of his apology, I was struck by one powerful statement: “As Elin pointed out to me, my real apology to her will not come in the form of words; it will come from my behavior over time.”(1)
Taking some time to reflect on what he said, this is exactly what Jesus had in mind. Let me give you one example. Take a few moments, grab a Bible and read John 8:1-11. What I want you to focus on is what Jesus tells this woman in verse 11. Let me share it with you from the NIV: “Go now and leave your life of sin” (John 8:11b).
What did Jesus mean? He simply meant that to be truly sorry, to ask for forgiveness and even receive it is not enough. There must be a change of behavior to prove that the apology is sincere. Another word would be “repentance”; word that is simple to define and yet is not as easy to apply. Repentance simply means “to go in the other direction.”
Temptation and sin lead us down the path away from God and His standard and desire for our lives. To repent is to change directions, to head in the direction of pursuing righteousness and holy living. Repentance is not words, but a change of behavior.
In each of our lives, there is sin that we must deal with. If you find yourself sinning, apologizing, and then doing it again, it is safe to say that you did not repent. You may have been sorry for what you did, but until there is a change of behavior, a changing of direction in your life and behavior, there has been no true repentance.
So what about you? Jesus is telling you today, “Go now and leave your life of sin.” Maybe you view your sin as not as bad as what someone else has done. However, as God looks at our sin, it is all equal. So, take the time to take an honest look at yourself and determine if there is something you need to “repent” of. Oh, and by the way, don’t just talk the talk, walk the walk!
(1-Read more: http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1966764-1,00.html#ixzz0g2dSZOec)
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