U-Turn: No Power in Self

A young man I know tried his best to satisfy himself with drugs, alcohol, sex, and such things. One day he found himself in prison for stealing. There, he had plenty of time to reflect on his life. Raised by Christian parents, he knew all about God and Jesus Christ, right and wrong. He became sorry for what he had done and the people he hurt. However, once freed, he returned to the same lifestyle.

Caught stealing again, he was sent back to prison. Feeling sorry again, he vowed never to return to his known wrongdoings. Upon release, he struggled with drugs, alcohol, and crime but failed against strong temptations and landed in prison for a third time.

Who Can Help?

It dawned on him that he had no power of his own to change. In desperation, he called on God for help. He turned over his life to Jesus Christ, confessing his sins and submitting as Lord. He repented!

Repentance is not merely feeling sorry for oneself or past actions; it involves directing regrets towards God first. It's realizing you have sinned against a holy God, making a U-TURN in your heart, agreeing with God about sin and rebellion. Only then can God make a change in your life!

What About You?

God is more concerned than you are about where your life is heading. He says,

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19).

The Lord Jesus Christ states,

“I did not come to call the righteous (those who think they are good but aren’t), but sinners (those who realize they are such), to repentance” (Mark 2:17).

You might feel you've led a fairly decent life—perhaps better than most. But according to the Bible,

“all have sinned” (Romans 3:23).

What Are The Choices?

God gives us only two choices:

As Jesus expressed in Luke 13:3, "Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." This is because "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Continuing in sin leaves God out of your heart and life, resulting in eternal punishment in hell.
The second choice is to repent. Change your attitude and call upon the Lord Jesus Christ. When you trust Him as Savior, God wipes away your sin and gives you eternal life.

“The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). This is possible because Jesus Christ died for each one of us to cleanse us from sin and rose from the grave on the third day.

What Is Holding You Back?

God waits patiently for you to come to Him. He won’t force you; He desires your choice. The Lord “is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Why don't you make a U-TURN in your heart and enjoy the peace and satisfaction that can only be found this way? Then God can make that U-TURN in Your life that you are unable to make!

– T. Hadley