The theme, in this season of Lent, begins with “Let us Repent”. It is a call for us to repent of something. But, exactly what does it mean to repent?
Repent is a verb, a doing word, and so, this is an
invitation to act. Simply put, to repent is to change course or direction but
more so, it is a profound change of mind, involving the changing of the
direction of your life from that of self-centeredness, to God- or
Christ-centeredness.
Today’s theme, “Let us repent of…self-assurance”, may be somewhat
puzzling as there are many publications that encourage us to be self-assured,
so now to have to repent of it seems unusual. But exactly what does it mean to have
self-assurance? The simple definition, to have confidence in one’s own
abilities and character. I’m sure you’re beginning to see that the theme isn’t
so farfetched after all.
Many people think that the stories in the Bible aren’t
relevant for our modern world, but everything written in the Bible is for every
age.
In Genesis chapter 15:1-12 and 17-18, we see Abram, before
his transformation to Abraham, having an encounter with God. A revolutionary
concept 4,000 years ago, since in those days, that was unheard of. A human did
not have a relationship with a divine being. Humans, to find favour, were
required to perform certain sacrificial acts to appease the wrath of distant,
detached, petulant gods but in this story, here is a God who wants to, is
willing to, and plans to do something for a person.
Abram is being invited to believe God, trust God, have
confidence in God, to know, without a doubt that this God is good, faithful to
His word and has his best interest in mind.
Abram need not have confidence in his own abilities or his
character but can rest assured in God’s abilities and God’s character. This God
would be faithful to Abram even if he makes a grand mess of things.
And guess what, Abram changed his mind and believed God and
God “credited it to him as righteousness”. (see Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3,22, Galatians
3:6,James 2:23)
Abram and God cut a deal. It was an agreement with a twist
because God, represented by a smoking fire pot, goes through the process alone
while Abram falls into a coma-like sleep. (see Genesis 15)
God commits to uphold both ends of the agreement, so even
if Abram fails to do his part God will still be faithful to the deal. That
speaks to God’s indescribable character.
Most certainly, by the time of the New Testament era, this
was a story that would have been told and retold over and over again. So how
come Jesus’ audience just didn’t get it? A story worth telling and preserving
throughout antiquity was lost on His listeners. A story of a God who willingly
provides for us, calling us into a better way of life was indeed a giant leap
forward but by that time they should have understood, but then again, in this
time, do we?
Do we truly understand what it means to be in a binding
relationship with a God who insists that we trust Him and His assurances and
are not dependent on ourselves?
Do we understand that it’s about a human being having a
relationship with a living God?
A particular type of relationship with a particular type of
God, in Abram’s time, this was a new idea, but today this ought to be
understood. A God who is good, all the time, generous, kind, merciful,
trustworthy, faithful, caring, dependable, and oh so loving should not be a
strange concept.
In this relationship, there was no need for self-assurance
then and there is no need for self-assurance now.
For Abram, it was, and for us, it is, an evolution in human
thinking about the Divine. We can continue in our anaemic understanding, to
limp along life’s journey in our self-assurance, or we can take that leap
forward in a new direction – a change of mind, and a change of course – into
the blessed assurance that God offers.
Let us make a U-turn, moving away from self-assurance to
having complete confidence in God, His abilities and His character.
Amen†
Shelley Johnson “Let us Repent of…Self-Assurance” ©
February 16, 2022
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