“I’ve Told You on Many Occasions to Repent, but You Refuse to Listen”

By Lou Yeboah

Okay, no more warnings! Have it your way. But you ought to know that there will be terrible consequences for those who refuse to repent- those who choose to do their own thing. Choosing the creation, but refusing the Creator, what’s wrong with you? You will perish [Luke 13: 3, 5] even though that is not what I desire- [2 Peter 3:9). Even now you are filling up a “store house” of wrath that will one day be poured out on you – [Romans 2:5. Acts 17:30] “I have sharpened My sword; I have bent My bow and made it ready [Psalms 7:12]. Since you have refused to repent, now it’s my prerogative, and I will do what I want, says the Lord.

I tell you, making decisions without considering the consequences is foolish and dangerous. The price to pay is always catastrophic. Listen, God in His justice and forbearance has given you opportunity after opportunity to turn to Him, but you refuse, but God will not be mock; you will suffer the consequences of your choice. If a sinner can be sent to hell for all eternity, this clearly demonstrates God’s full hatred toward disobedience.

As people whom God deeply cares about, he wants us to deal with disobedience wisely. Remember, nobody can ever please God while living in rebellion. Rebelling against Him is equivalent to rejecting Him and His Word. Repent or Perish! The choice is your!

A warning about a coming day: In [Revelation 6:8] one-fourth of the world’s population are killed, and the remaining three-fourths of the people survive. In [Revelation 9:18] one-third of these survivors are killed. Even after half of the world’s population has been killed, the survivors refused to repent of their sin and idolatry – [Revelation 9:20-21]. Later, God let the sun scorch them with a burning heat. At this time, they not only refused to repent and glorify God, but they also cursed him – [Revelation 16:9]. Then God sent darkness, along with pain [pain from the burns and sores of the previous judgment]. The people still refused to repent of what they had done – [Revelation 16:11[. At that point, there is nothing left for God to do, except to return and bring judgment upon them, at the final battle of Armageddon. [Revelation 16:21]

Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades.

Even though God has brought correction to a rebellious people to turn them back to truth, they would not listen but instead hardened their hearts to remain in opposition to God. Failure to repent while still able seals their doom when they die. [Luke 10:13-15].

[Revelation chapter 16] man’s last chance to turn.

They didn’t want to hear what God had to say. They refused to apply the words of prophesy to themselves and to take the shame for what they had done. They had no remorse, no guilt. The prophet’s words did not move the people to a place of repentance. Their hearts were too hardened, and their necks were too stiffened to take heed to the forewarning of impending doom. They didn’t want to hear that they were not right in the eyes of God. They didn’t

want to hear words of rebuke that lets them know they have fallen short of the glory of God. They didn’t want to hear sound doctrine. Therefore, they refused to listen at all. They wanted their ears tickled with words of blessings and peace. Doom and gloom was not the type of prophet they wanted so they refused to hear and obey.

“As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, 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! Why will you die, O house of Israel?” [Ezekiel 33:11].

Now is the time of God’s favor. Now is the day of salvation.” [2 Corinthians 6:2]. Repent! And do this, understanding the present time: The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. [Romans 12:11-14].