Turn or burn

Turn Or Burn

Luke 13:3b (NIV) "But unless you repent, you too will all perish."

Matthew 4:17 (NIV) From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

Matthew 3:2 (Phi) "You must change your hearts and minds, for the Kingdom of Heaven has arrived!"

Mark 6:12 (TEB) So they went out and preached that people should turn away from their sins.

Acts 2:38 (NIV) Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of
your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

The Two Ways
The "way" we are looking:

1) will make sense if we look long enough;

2) will create desire to move in that direction; and

3) will lead to something. First, we will look at how this applies to man's way.

Proverbs 14:12 (NIV) There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

If our line of sight is along our own way, or the way of the world, then this will begin to make sense to us as we continue to meditate on it, even if the way we are looking is really stupid. With this mindset, desire will spring up, which is the fuel that will lead us to destruction.

James 1:14-15 (NIV) But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire
has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Ezekiel 18:23-31 (NIV) "Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?" declares the Sovereign Lord. "Rather, am I not
pleased when they turn from their ways and live?...

Because he considers all the offenses he has committed and turns away from them, he will surely live; he will not die... Repent!

Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel?"

Ezekiel 33:11 (NIV) ... "I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!..."

Turn Or Burn

2 Tim 2:19 (NIV) "The Lord knows those who are his," and "everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away
from wickedness."

When at first we hear "repent or perish", it seems harsh.

But as we turn, we see that it is an incredible gift to have something to turn to.

If not for God's love, our only option would be to perish. But the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has appeared. To have the option to turn is sweet indeed.

Acts 3:19 (NIV) "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."

Hebrews 12:2a (NIV) Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.