So Covid-19 hit the U.S. and things started closing down. The response was, “Two weeks to flatten the curve.” I don’t have to remind you how that went. What was supposed to be just two weeks turned out to be much longer. That’s how things go sometimes. What we convinced ourselves would be “Just this once” can turn into a life-changing event. Eve may have thought, “Just his one fruit.” I am sure David thought, “Just this one night” with Bathsheba. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin” (John 8:34). It is too easy to become a slave of sin.
This speaks to the deceitfulness of sin. “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren” (Jas. 1:13-16). We need to be careful about how we view sin. If it is something we are willing to compromise on or try out just this once, then we might not understand the serious nature of sin. That is part of the deceitfulness of sin. The good news is no matter where we are down that road we said we would never go down, we can turn back.
Turning back or repentance is a conscience commitment to renewing the desire of true service to the Lord. We need to confess our sins (1 John 1:9). That can be between you and God. If you want help, fervent prayer of the righteous, and accountability you may confess it to an individual or the congregation if it is a public sin (Jas. 5:16). After that change, we need to “show fruit in keeping with repentance” (Luke 3:8). That is the marked difference in our lives. We need to walk in the light (1 John 1:6-7). We also need to get our life back to be walking by the Spirit. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please… Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal. 5:16-17,24). We accomplish this by building up the fruits of the Spirit in our lives and conducting ourselves in accordance with the scriptures (Gal. 5:19-23).
This new year starts off with a clean slate. Get rid of the burden of guilt and renew your devotion to Christ and His church. It was only going to be two weeks. Don’t let it be an eternity. Make the changes to live your life guided by the word of God. Find someone to help you and pray with you. Revive your prayer life. Come back to the assembly of the saints and the worship of the Most High. Come home.