“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2)
John announces that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. But the people aren’t ready for it. They first need to repent. They need to change their attitude towards God. Their lives contain obstacles against the coming of God’s kingdom in their hearts, and therefore their thoughts and deeds should “turn around”.
Repentance results in confession of sin (verse 6) and admitting that one needs God’s forgiveness. That is not only relevant for the people in John’s day. It is equally relevant for us – since our lives need change too. Naturally, we are not ready to receive God’s grace. We don’t even like to admit that there is anything wrong or missing in our lives. As long as we live that way, we are not open to receive God’s kingdom. And that’s a serious problem, since Jesus doesn’t just come to offer forgiveness. He also comes to judge people who reject Him.
Are there sins in your life that you need to repent from? Is your heart ready to receive God’s healing grace?
