Westside Story Newspaper – Online The News of The Empire – Sharing the Quest for Excellence
Lou Coleman-Yeboah
By Lou Coleman-Yeboah
(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Thus saith the Lord, “Unless you repent, you too will all perish!” [Luke13:3]. Loud and clear, Jesus declares: “Unless you repent, you too will all perish!” It is a call for radical inward change toward God and man. None is excluded! All need repentance! And the need is urgent! Jesus, the Son of God, is warning us of the judgment to come, and offering escape if we will repent. If we will not repent, Jesus has one word for us, “Woe, to you” [Matthew 11:21].
You know, God said to the prophet Ezekiel, “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore, hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me” [Ezekiel 3:17]. This demand of Jesus to repent goes to all the nations. It comes to you, whoever you are and wherever you are. This is the demand of Jesus to every soul: Repent! Be changed deep within. Do not sit idle and wait for His wrath. The hour is urgent! Return to the Lord with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning; and rend your hearts. Do not delay your decision. Do not think about this message overnight. Immediate action is required! Repent Now; and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” [Acts 3:19]. For “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” [2 Corinthians 6:2].
I implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” [2 Corinthians 5:20]. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ [2 Corinthians 5:10]. Ezekiel said, “Repent and turn from your transgressions” [Ezek. 18:30]. John the Baptist said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” [Matt. 3:2]. Jesus said “Repent and believe in the gospel” [Mark 1:15]. Peter said “Repent and be baptized” [Acts 2:38]. Joel calls for deep and thorough repentance [Joel 2:13–17]. The Old Testament thunders, “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin” [Ezekiel 18:30]. The New Testament vigorously exhorts men and women to repent. “Repent … and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,” said the Apostle Peter [Acts 3:19]. The Apostle Paul said, “Now [God] commands all men everywhere to repent” [Acts 17:30]. The Bible commands it, your wickedness demands it, justice requires it, Christ preached it and God expects it.
The signpost reads, “Stop! Look! Listen! Danger ahead!” The Spirit of God, your conscience and your better judgment all join to warn, “Detour! Change! You’re on the wrong road!” God is waving the red flag. His patience is coming to an end. Do not take God’s patience for granted or think lightly of it. Will you repent now? Will you receive Him as your Savior? Christ demands an immediate and unquestioning response. Not an answer, but an action. Not a saying, but a doing. Christ’s call is clear and simple. “Follow Me,” he says. Be changed forever. Not just made a better person, but made new.
“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” [Isaiah 55:6-7]
The prophet had the duty to deliver the sobering message: Unless the citizens of Israel and Judah acknowledged their sins, turned from them, repented and began again to obey God’s law, they would die in their sins. Regardless of how individuals responded to the warning, if they heard the message, the prophet had done his job and was no longer responsible. Only if the prophet did not deliver the admonition would he be judged along with the wicked. [Ezekiel 3:18-19].
You have been warned to repent, in advance of God’s judgment to come, through this article. It is now your move.
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:That thou mayest love the Lordthy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lordsware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them [Deuteronomy 30:15-20].
