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“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:1,2).

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

The Bible is full of warnings which tell us that we must repent. But what does it mean to repent? Let me give you an example. Imagine you’re driving down an unfamiliar, lonely two-land road and you see a sign that says, “Road Closed 1 Mile Ahead.” You think to yourself, “that looks like an old sign that somebody forgot to put away: I can probably ignore it.”

Pretty soon you see another sign that says, “Road Closed 1/2 Mile Ahead.” Frustrated at the highway department for leaving so many signs around, you continue driving. Cresting a slight hill, you come upon temporary barriers which have been placed across the road, and as you slow to a stop you see why the signs were there. A bridge has been washed out by a flooded stream, and there is no way to continue driving without plunging into the raging torrent below.

At that point, you “repent”; you decide that driving forward doesn’t make sense anymore, and you turn around and head back the other way. Then you begin to wonder, “what if I had driven this road in the dark? What if I hadn’t seen the barrier in time to stop?”

Jesus said that we never know when we’re going to reach the end of our road here on earth, and that we need to repent in order to be ready for what’s after this life.

“There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:1-5).

What do we need to repent of?

1: We need to realize that living our way (as opposed to God’s way) leads to eternal separation from Him in the Lake of Fire.

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone” (Revelation 21:8).

2: We need to agree with God that we are sinners who need to be forgiven.

“Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee” (Acts 8:22).

3: We need to remove our trust from any religion, work, or other person—and put our trust completely in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose again.

“Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).

What’s next? When we turn from our way to God’s way and put our trust in Jesus Christ for salvation, our lives will reflect the change of direction.

“Repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance” (Acts 16:20).

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