Matthew 11:20-24
Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."
I've often heard that "I will believe in God once I see a miracle!" Actually, miracles cannot turn the hearts of people towards God. Back in the Old Testament days, the Pharaoh of Egypt witnessed many miracles, but his heart still didn't turn to God. His heart actually grew more hardened. It is the work of the Holy Spirit that truly make us repent from our hearts. The Gospel of John says that "When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment." Have you ever tried to clean a room in the darkness? No matter what you did, you'd think that the room is nice and clean, right? As soon as there's light, however, you'd see dust everywhere in the room. Why didn't you see the dust before? It's not because you couldn't see, but it's because there's no light. When people are in darkness, they cannot see their own darkness. Therefore, when Holy Spirit shines into our lives, we'd see our own darkness, and thus turn back to Jesus Christ.
Before God, the righteousness of men are merely a filthy rag; only Jesus Christ is the sunlight of righteousness. In the Bible, when people went before God, they were always fearful and trembling. If people cannot recognize the holiness of God, they cannot see how filthy they are inside. When the Holy Spirit shines inside us, we'd see that the Lord is holy and glorious, and we'd see how filthy we are inside. When Isaiah saw the Lord sitting high up on the throne, he said "Woe to me! ...I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips." Why did Isaiah specifically mention about his unclean lips? That's because he's a prophet, and he's supposed to speak the work of God. When he came before God and saw His holiness and righteousness, he'd realize that even though he thought he was the cleanest, before God he was merely a filthy rag.
People don't want to repent because they don't realize the severity of the judgment of God. The Lord said many times that that if we don't repent, we will face horrible judgment. When we see the painful outcome of judgment, our hearts will turn back to God and acknowledge that we need the savior. Today, we need to come before God, let the Holy Spirit shine inside us to see what our hearts really need, and we also must cultivate the fruit of repentance in our daily lives.
Lord, we ask that your Holy Spirit shine inside us. If there's any darkness or other things that displease you inside us, we ask that you shine insides so that we can turn back to you. May the precious blood of Jesus cover our sins so that our relationship with you may be restored. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
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