Repentance Is Required!

“If my people] turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us our sins” – 1 John 1:9

In Jeremiah 37, 38 & 39, we read about a King, King Zedekiah who disobeyed God.  He allowed Jeremiah, God’s Prophet, to be put in the dungeon. 

Fortunately for Jeremiah, God sent Ebedmelech the Ethiopian to save him.  And he did.  He managed to get Jeremiah released from the dungeon.  And although Jeremiah was not truly free, he was freed from the dungeon, saved from an agonizing death and brought to the King. 

The King asked Jeremiah to tell him the truth and promised he would not be killed for it.  Through Jeremiah, God warned King Zedekiah to surrender.  He warned him that if he didn’t, he would not only die himself, but his entire kingdom would be burned.  But King Zedekiah refused to listen and he suffered those exact consequences.

In Jeremiah 38, we read of Jeremiah being freed and sent home.  And God also saved Ebedmelech, because Ebedmelech trusted God and saved Jeremiah from the dungeon.

Clearly, God is Merciful, but God is also Just. As human beings, it’s only natural that we prefer to focus on God’s Mercy. But it is also important that we remember God is also Just.

Sometimes we fail to listen and obey our Lord.  We’re human.  But because God is Merciful, He give us the chance to repent and turn back to Jesus.  But since God is also Just, if there is no repentance, there is no forgiveness.