Many have talked of repentance being a 180-degree turn back to God. Throughout Scripture that is one of the major concepts, for sure. The Old Testament is full of verses where God requests Israel to turn back to Him. I am thinking about this today and perhaps noticing something key. Let me know what you think.

The Greek word that often gets translated into “repentance” by modern scholars had the idea of “turn” attached but was from a much deeper place. The Romans used it whenever they were marching into a new province they intended to conquer. They would yell, “repent, repent” and then torch those that refused. Surely this meant “come to us, come to us” but also carried the air of “change your perspective.” One was to change their perspective – they did not know freedom any longer because now they were conquered. They no longer could think like a Gaul, they had to think like the Romans do. One turns when they realize they have been defeated. They turn when they come to the reality that they have little to give and decide to fall into line with the new reality.

This leads me back to the Word and the word, repentance. I think so many of us see repentance as something we DO as opposed to an idea of coming to our senses, and realizing there is no other way out. The prodigal returned because of a thought. Nicodemus could not shake the fact that he had missed something major. One day every knee will bow with the realization that Jesus is King. None of these things are something that is forced or brought about by a conniving spirit. Each of these realizations or attitude changes come from a place of surrender of will and a trust in the one who is capable of being trusted. Is God this to you? As we grow in love to Him, sin doesn’t taste as good as it used to. As we surrender more, this life/world is more and more unsatisfying. His goodness causes us to turn (Rom 2:4).