“So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.” (Hebrews 6:1 NLT)
While faith and repentance are fundamental to our understanding of how to respond to the Gospel, they are like the “milk” of our walk with Jesus, we never outgrow our need of them.
In the early stages of our Christian faith, we struggle with lots of issues that require we change our mind about them. That’s basically what repentance is – a change of mind brought about by a change of heart that longs to be more like Jesus. But a change of mind must lead to a change of direction, thus, the need for faith.
At its core faith is a conviction of the truth of something. That conviction is what allows the door of our heart to open to the Holy Spirit in the first place. Faith stretches our mind and heart to allow the Lord to do things in and through us that we’d previously never dared believe were possible. That’s why it’s an ongoing process.
Joe Holland gives us insight into why this is so important when he wrote: “Faith is being honest with ourselves about God. Repentance is being honest with God about ourselves.” Honesty requires we see ourselves with a clear mind and open, obedient heart. If we can’t be honest with ourselves about God, we’ll likely never be honest with God about ourselves.
We must want to change (repent) before the Lord will enable us to activate the faith it will take to move in the directions we need to move as a new believer. On some levels faith is like walking in the darkness when all you have is a lantern. The Psalmist reminds us: “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” A “lamp,” not a floodlight, typically providing light for only one step at a time.
As a rule, the Lord doesn’t give us a map of His whole strategy when He calls us. I think of Abraham when the Lord told him he was to become the father of a great nation. He was an old man, married to an old woman. Imagine the questions that must have flooded their minds? Like “That’s impossible!” Yes, exactly, like many plans the Lord has for us – impossible without faith and a willingness to repent – change the way we think about certain things.
What is it in your life today the Lord is asking you to believe Him to accomplish in and/or through you that seems utterly impossible? Healing? Salvation for a lost loved one? A new step of faith that may entail a move to a different location, perhaps a new Culture? Regardless of your age or station in life, never underestimate what God can do through a willing vessel.
Faith and repentance are lifelong avenues of greater development in and dependence upon the Lord Jesus. Faith challenges us to believe the impossible and repentance is often the avenue upon which we learn to wrap our mind around new thoughts or ideas that guide us in the walking out of those impossible plans God has called us into.
The adventure of faith is what keeps my heart alive and longing for more – more of Jesus, more faith to see Him more clearly, and more willingness to change my mind to conform my thoughts to His.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 