“So, my enemy, you have found me!” Ahab exclaimed to Elijah. “Yes,” Elijah answered, “I have come because you have sold yourself to what is evil in the LORD’s sight. So now the LORD says, ‘I will bring disaster on you and consume you. I will destroy every one of your male descendants, slave and free alike, anywhere in Israel! I am going to destroy your family as I did the family of Jeroboam son of Nebat and the family of Baasha son of Ahijah, for you have made me very angry and have led Israel into sin.’ “And regarding Jezebel, the LORD says, ‘Dogs will eat Jezebel’s body at the plot of land in Jezreel.’ “The members of Ahab’s family who die in the city will be eaten by dogs, and those who die in the field will be eaten by vultures.” (No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the LORD’s sight as Ahab did under the influence of his wife Jezebel. His worst outrage was worshiping idols just as the Amorites had done—the people whom the LORD had driven out from the land ahead of the Israelites.) But when Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothing, dressed in burlap, and fasted. He even slept in burlap and went about in deep mourning. Then another message from the LORD came to Elijah: “Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has done this, I will not do what I promised during his lifetime. It will happen to his sons; I will destroy his dynasty.” [1 Kings 21.20-29]
Ahab was about as bad as a person could be. His wife, Jezebel, was even worse because of her influence upon him. And yet, as evil as he was, his genuine repentance drew upon God's mercy.
Think of it... If wicked Ahab repented and God relented, what might God do for us?
There is simply not enough to be said for genuine repentance before God in our cursed situations. And, eternally more so because of Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf.
Here is a valid question: In our cursed situations, should our repentance be for sin committed against the Law of God or for the sin of not believing in Jesus?
In answer to the question above, we must reconcile with this:
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. [John 3.16-18]
Based on Jesus' own words in John 3.16-18, regardless what sin we have committed, our repentance should be for not believing in Jesus.
In an unprecedented twist then, our desire to repent to God for our violations of His Law, distracts us from repenting for not believing in God's chosen Deliverer.
Our devotion to Christ then, should guide us away from anything deemed sinful by the Law or by conscience that would distract us from faith in Christ alone for our complete deliverance from sin, curses, and the fallen nature of man.
There is a deep revelation from God in this if we will hear it.
Father, help me to process Jesus' words correctly!
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