Repent

“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, toward the sea, on the other side of the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, and the ones who sit in the land and shadow of death, a light has dawned on them.” From that time on, Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matthew 4:15-17 NKJV)

How can God reach out the people on earth who sit in complete darkness? God is invisible, yet had to be made known to humans. If the people know that they are in darkness, it would be a different story. But the hardest thing humans can accept is that they are in want, let alone in darkness. Everywhere humans live exalts and commends themselves in their small and light achievements with a greater scale and magnitude. If someone says that humans are in darkness, then they would be immediately intolerable and persecuting.

This is human dilemma. Although they are in want even badly, they almost instinctively refuse to accept the fact that they sit in the land and shadow of death. In fact, they do not have life and so are dead in spirit.

What’s happened to humanity? The devil, the master and father of lie, deceived the woman who consequently gave the fruit to Adam and he deliberately ate it. The monstrous and diabolic power of the devil infiltrated into humanity. That’s what has been gone wrong terribly from the beginning. Situation is hopeless, absolutely depressing. So, no matter how much they polish and sparkle themselves, it’s still fallen race shut up from life completely.

Therefore, Immortal God became a human according to the scriptures and shone a great light out of darkness and shadow of death. The coming of the Son Jesus Christ was a world-shattering and revolutionary moment in time and eternity.

In this way, people who sit in darkness and shadow of death begin to respond to the genuine call of love from heaven. It happened in the first century in the land of Palestine and all throughout the land on earth centuries over centuries. Thousands and tens of thousands come to see this marvelous light and have life in the fullest degree beyond what they ever imagine.

So, Jesus Christ says, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near.” God demonstrated His unconditional love through His Son who died in public on the cross for the sin of the world. God loved us first. This is the year of Lord’s favor.

God in longsuffering beseeches the people to change their minds and come back to the Father of Jesus Christ. We come unto Jesus Christ over and over again and by faith take His life in full in order to live worthy of calling.