OOPS! NEVER GONNA DO THAT AGAIN!

By Patti Iverson

The intent is there – “Go and sin no more.” Did the woman caught in adultery never sin again? I’m sure it was her “intent”, uttering, “I’m never gonna do that again.” We know what the road to hell is paved with… Oh. You don’t know? Our good intentions!

We choose to change behaviors and attitudes. Paul said, “Repent and be saved.” The world is not all about us, but this part sure is.

A totally clear conscience is the sign of a bad memory (or a sociopath). Self-made men worship their creator – themselves. And look where that gets ‘em… They don’t repent of anything, as they aren’t aware of their inner selves nor feel the need for a Savior.

Woody Allen says, “It’s not that I’m afraid to die. I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” Gosh! I soooo want to be there, with the Lord holding me. The longing almost hurts. One cannot have that experience unless one repents sin and asks Jesus to be the Lord of their life. Love does TOO mean having to say you’re sorry!

Folks get confused. Repentance is a change of heart, not of opinion. It’s more than mere remorse for sins. It’s a change of our very being. It’s turning around and going the other direction. I’m directionally impaired. I get lost going around the corner, but not with the Holy Spirit as my navigator.

La Rochefoucauld described repentance as “Not regret for the ill we have done as fear of the ill that may happen to us in consequence.” That’s pre-school logic. Oops! If I hit Johnny I’m gonna have to stand in the corner, AGAIN! So she’ll hit him when the teacher cannot see. That’s not repentance! God is watching. Surely you’ve heard the Painter’s Repentance story?

A Scottish painter, Jack, always made a pound where he could. He’d thin down paint to make it go a wee bit further. It usually worked.

The church decided to do a big restoration. Jack put in a bid, got the job and started thinning paint.

Jack, on the scaffolding, was nearly done, when he heard a horrendous clap of thunder. The sky opened, rain poured down, washing thin paint from all over the church and knocking Jack to the lawn.

He was no fool. He knew this was judgment from the Almighty. He fell on his knees, crying, “ God! Forgive me! What should I do?”

From the thunder, a mighty Voice roared, “Repaint! And thin no more!” Oh, give me a break! It’s an old joke, but still cracks me up. Repentance jokes are hard to come by…J

Jack got a “do-over”, like we get when we say, “Oops, I’m not gonna do that again!” You won’t get lost when you turn around and go in a different direction. Make a choice to be a better person. Voila! New life, new beginnings, and new joy. So, go, Repaint, er, I mean, Repent, and sin no more!

Patti Iverson writes from Medford, Oregon.