Much has already been observed earlier about "selling all that one has," but there is more to repentance than just turning away from the forbidden things: The habits, thought patterns, actions, etc., that hinder us from truly being learners and followers of the Lamb of God.  This involves a turning to God.  It is true that God must turn us first:

          "I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus;Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God.  Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth." (Jeremiah 31:18-19.)

     Is this not a very vivid portrayal of the experience of many of God's children? When they first begin to bemoan themselves, it is because they have had the law of the Spirit of life written in their minds and hearts (see Jeremiah 31:33 and Hebrews 8:10), and for the first time are fully made acquainted with the deplorable state of their relationship with God.  They become as the children of Israel in Egyptian bondage and begin to cry to God in their afflictions.  Often, very often, those in this condition set out to repent on their own by trying to make a moral reformation, but they soon find that the effort is futile; the bed is really shorter than they can stretch themselves and find the sought-after rest.  God, through his goodness, leads his children to repentance (Rom. 2:4), grants repentance, gives repentance (see Acts 5:31 and 11:18), but does not repent for them.  Someone has well said that true repentance means to be sorry enough to quit doing what is wrong, but it also means to start doing what is right.

     Here also, there is much need for teaching; much learning is required.  For a cannibal who has been accustomed to feasting upon his slain enemies, it will take much instructions to instill in him another set of values which are completely strange to him. 

     This is why the power of God is so absolutely necessary.  "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil." (Jeremiah 13:23.) The inward teaching must occur before the outward instructions are of any benefit.  Peter said of such: "But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."(II Peter 2:22.) This should in no way discourage those who have a desire to live right from trying to do so.  "It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13.) Moral reformation is of no benefit unless it is prompted by the working of God in the heart.  Although it is commendable for anyone to reform and turn from his wicked ways; however, unless it is from God, it is not permanent or helpful when temptations come.  As before stated, when one is set free from being a bond-slave to sin, he is not set free from being a sinner.

     He has been given power to overcome sin in his own life, but he must do it.  Those who have not been set free from bondage will, like the sow that was washed, revert to their sinful ways.

          "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.  And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.  Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter      in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first." (Luke 11:24-26.)

     The chasm that man put between himself and his creator is a barrier that can not be surmounted, except from God's side; but the graciousness of God is such that everyone of his beloved has been carried across the abyss (or will be carried across before time ends) and given the opportunity to repent.

     The question might well be asked: "If repentance is not necessary in order for one to be a son or to go to glory, why is so much importance placed upon it in the New Testament? The answer rings out loud and clear:

          "Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting." (Luke 18:29-30.)

     Life in the world to come is not a product of repentance; it is not a reward, but Jesus reminds us that the blessings of it are such that we can endure the persecutions of discipleship; the pain of denying the body the sating of its sensual cravings; the pleasures that satisfy the flesh which are contrary to God's laws; the hope of eternal bliss which Jesus keeps in view helps to overcome the longing for the leeks and garlics of Egypt.  This last phrase keeps heaven in view for the believer; however, there are manifold more blessings that come through repentance.  We have been told: "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you . . ." (James 4:8.)

     What greater blessing can one have than to "walk with God." "And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." (Genesis 5:24.) True disciples do not really expect to be translated and not have to taste death, but to walk with God gives us that blessed assurance that when that time shall come, it will be almost as it was with Enoch.  Repentance not only means turning away from evil and worldly things, it means turning to the Lord; turning to his word for guidance:

          "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.  With my whole heart have I sought thee: 0 let me not wander from thy commandments.  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."  (Psalm 119:9-11.)

     Also, "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:6.) Then, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13.) When men have been set free from being bond-slaves to sin, unless they turn to God; turn to his word and his laws, it is extremely likely that they will be ensnared again in the devices of Satan and will have the chastening hand of God applied and miss many of the blessings that God has provided for them here in this world; blessings promised upon their obedience to the word and laws of their God.  The "manifold more" promised in discipleship is strictly contingent upon the keeping of God's commandments, but when one can experience the full blessings of discipleship, it is like Sheba said of Solomon's kingdom: "The half was not told me . . ." (I Kings 10:7.) We do not know its blessings until we try it.

     Repentance, ceasing to do evil and learning to do well, brings a blessing in ease of conscience and peace of mind.  When one can understand that his own sins were responsible for the agony and death of Jesus, then can feel the chastening of the Lord for his misconduct, when he quits such conduct there is a feeling of well-being just as there was when we were children and kept the commandments of our natural parents while they were away.  When they came home, we ran to greet them with light and happy hearts because we had no feeling of guilt to hide: We did not fear the questioning about how things were while they were away and it was truly a delightful occasion for them to return.  However, if we had failed to do what we had been instructed to do, or had done that which we had been told not to do, we had apprehension about the return and the moment when the truth made itself known was far from pleasant.  God, our spiritual Father, knows everything that we do and will bring every secret thing into view: "for God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:14.)

     All men everywhere are commanded to repent: "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent." (Acts 17:30.) Although only, "Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of (II Corinthians 7:10) all men are under obligation to keep the commandments of their creator, who made them through their father Adam, even though they may be destitute of spiritual life.  The lack of this spiritual life in no way lessens the responsibility to keep the moral laws of God.  The fact that the wicked have no ability to keep the moral laws does not in any sense relieve them of the obligation to keep them; neither does the fact that they are not led to repentance set them free from the requirement to repent.  

     God is in no way responsible for the predicament of man; man fell into sin and away from his creator of his own free will and is in no way able to recover himself; yet the requirement is unchanged. 

     When the great white throne judgment finally comes, everyone who is cast into woe will go there because of his own sins and will be like Esau who found no place for repentance though he sought it carefully with tears. (See Hebrew 12:17.) Esau sold his birthright for a "morsel of meat" because he was of the nature of his "grandpa," Adam, who sold his eternal existence on earth for a morsel of fruit, and carried all of his posterity down with him, but God "who is rich in mercy" gives life to all that he loved and offers discipleship to those of them who are mature and rational enough to understand, and equips them for repentance, but is not going to repent for them.  Those to whom he does not grant repentance in this world will have no desire for it until they face the judge before the great white throne; then there will be no place for it. one of our ministers has said that there are two kinds of sorrow: one is because of inward condemnation; the other kind is because they "got caught." This is exactly what takes place in the ones who are children of God and the ones who are not his children, the wicked.  We are told:

          "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into that city.  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." (Revelation 22:14.)

     No person can ever expect to enter into the city (the church in its organized aspect) unless he is willing to repent.  The blessings that it offers -- the right to the tree of life, the right to the water of life, the right to the fellowship of the saints, and all the blessings of a home away from home -- are available to those who are willing to pay the price.  On the other hand, all the evils of the world are all around God's children who are not willing to pay the price of discipleship and repent of their sins.  The dogs are loose in every place on this globe, and John was not writing about the canine population, he had in mind ungodly men, conniving men who will devour God's children if it is possible for them to do so. When we read this 14th verse, it makes us think of our present environment, but just think of the wonder of the city -- that place of refuge where even the avenger of blood dares not come. (See Numbers 35:11-28.)

     If God has been so gracious to you to give you repentance, to put that desire to turn away from the world and turn to him, you are one of his beloved.  If you will follow the urging of the Holy Spirit, and turn to the Lord, the Lord will abundantly pardon.  "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God for he will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:7.) What a blessing is this repentance.  No longer are we required to lead a bleating lamb or bullock up to the tabernacle to be offered to appease an offended God.  Our God has granted unto us repentance and accepts it as the offering of our hearts and bodies before his throne; invites us into his banqueting house where the banner over us is love and the entrance is ministered unto us abundantly (II Peter 1:11), and all the blessings of our Father's house are ours.  "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!"

(Psalm 107:8.)