What I told the barber.

I walked into the barber shop the other day and immediately the barber called my name. "What's God saying in all that's going on in the world?" It's a question I've gotten a few times lately. My answer is not original to me (nothing really is).

What's God saying? "Repent."

On the good days when everything is nice and we enjoy the beauty of creation, the joy of friends and food, and the love of family, God is saying, "repent."

"...do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?" (Romans 2:4).

On the good days God is saying, "repent."

On the tragic days when troubling things happen in our world or in the world delivered to us on the news channel (as it was on the barber shop television), God is saying, "repent."

"Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus said to them, 'Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:1-4).

This is what God desires of His people (or those who would be His people): a humble, contrite, repentant heart. No justifying ungodly lifestyles, worldviews, behaviors, decisions, etc. Acknowledging sin and sinfulness and humbly confessing them. He desires this when "all is well." God desires this when the doctor's news is bad, the waves crash, the earth trembles, the sky is filled with smoke, and when our loved ones break our hearts.

"Repent."

This means we turn away from the ways and thoughts of faithless humanity, since the way that seems right to humanity leads to death (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25), and God doesn't think like we do (Isaiah 55:6-9). He offers forgiveness to the repentant in Christ alone: "This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:5-9).

"Repent."

Last night when I came home Jupiter and Mercury were together low on the western horizon. The Greco-Roman king of the gods and his messenger. Tomorrow night we'll be observing a full moon that is at its closest approach to Earth - called a "super-moon." What does it mean?

"Repent."



Jupiter (lower left) and Mercury (upper right) after sunset.