2 Corinthians 7:10 – “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” NKJV

Over the years, I have heard less and less preaching on the Cross, sin, conviction, and even guilt than in my previous years of Christian service.  I have heard a lot about self-awareness and been entertained in the services with the same flare that I would expect from a Hollywood or Broadway production and while there can be a place and benefit for that many times, I went away wondering how many lives were brought to an encounter with God that addressed the root problem in their life – SIN!

Some years ago, I had a man come forward during the service sobbing uncontrollably.  He expressed his guilt and wanted me to make him feel better.  Those were his words, not mine.  Sadly, he had been caught or exposed in an illicit affair, and some bad business practices and was now publicly exposed. 

He was embarrassed.  He did not like the feeling of embarrassment and the public humiliation that he was experiencing and anticipated it to continue for some time and wanted it to go away.  His concept of my duty was to make him feel better and give him a justification for his actions.  He had sorrow but it was sorrow that he had been caught.  He had no heart change as was later demonstrated.  Once the issue died down, he reconciled with his wife through counseling sessions and convinced everyone that he was truly repentant he went back to the same old practices. 

This is clearly identified by the Holy Spirit through Peter in 2 Peter 2:22 – “But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”  NKJV If there is not a genuine change of heart all the counseling, crying, praying, confessing, etc. will avail nothing.  There must be a change of attitude toward the sin and a 180-degree turn taken.  Please do not say it like I heard a preacher once tell his congregation – “You need to do a 360-degree turn.”  HEAVEN FORBID that would bring you right back to where you were….

Godly Sorrow is sorrow that is produced by the conviction of the Holy Spirit not because you have been exposed but because you see with the heart of the Spirit of God how that sin hurts God.  You see how detrimental it is to your relationship with the Lord.  You see how it prevents you from being able to have a compelling testimony before the world.  You see how it prevents you from entering into the presence of the Lord and drinking in of His beauty, wisdom, knowledge, power, and presence.  The sorrow of the world leads to death but the sorrow from the conviction of the Holy Spirit leads to life spiritually.

If the Spirit of God is pointing to something in your life and you feel the twinges of conviction as Saul of Tarsus and find it difficult to “kick against the pricks” of that conviction.  Then know that God is more willing to forgive than you are to repent.  He longs for you to accept His pardon and enter into His presence and develop that intimate relationship with Him.  So, as you go through this day and every day make it a determination of your heart that you will quickly run to the Cross when God opens your eyes and heart to any sin in your life.  Anywhere you miss the mark you take it to the Lord and lay it on the altar before Him.

May God bless you as you go through this day!