Don’t Be Ashamed of Repentance

Isn’t it strange how the things that make us seem most foolish to watching eyes are the very things we are afraid to turn away from lest others think us foolish? Sin makes us look foolish. Yet, when we are convicted because of that sin, we are hesitant to repent. The fear of man makes us ashamed of repentance. But we should never be ashamed to repent. Why then do we hesitate?

Deceit

To repent is to turn away from and change our mind about sin. I think some of the reluctance to repent comes from hiding sin that is in our lives. But that’s a misunderstanding. If you are currently hiding sin, let me tell you, you are only deceiving yourself. You’re not as good at hiding that sin as you think. Maybe folks don’t know the specifics, but they know something’s not right. And even if you’re better at hiding sin, “be sure your sin will find you out.” It will not be hidden forever. There is coming a day when, “according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus” (Rom 2:16). And let’s just say that you have successfully hidden your sin from men. You’ve only succeeded in promoting a false version of yourself. Yes, you are seen as respectable, but it’s a counterfeit version of yourself. You are not actually respectable, you are just a liar.

Pride

We can also be reluctant to repent because we are embarrassed to admit that we’ve been wrong. But how silly is that? If we turn from a sin that makes us foolish, isn’t that the most wise thing that we can do? Won’t people say, “Look how wise he is! He’s turned from his foolishness!” And yet, the opposite is often true. Our pride keeps us from admitting our foolishness. The devil convinces us that we must always be right, and that to admit wrong is weakness. Be wise and be warned: “For all that is in the world–the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life–is not from the Father but is from the world” (1 John 2:16).

Repent – Believe – Repeat

Here’s the good news: Jesus always accepts those who repent and believe the gospel. This is the Christian way. This is how we entered the Christian life (Mark 1:15), and this is how we continue in the Christian life (Gal 2:20). If you are still in your sin, hear this word: “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19). Be wise, and don’t be ashamed to repent. And for the Christian, today is the day to turn from your sin and turn to Christ. Christ has died for your sins. Don’t hide your sin, but rather forsake it and obtain mercy! “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy” (Prov 28:13).

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So don’t be ashamed of repentance. See what Christ has done to secure your eternal redemption, and turn away from your sin. “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil” (Prov 4:14). Daniel Defoe wrote something similar in his book Robinson Crusoe. I’ll leave that here for you to read. May God continue to grant his people a wise heart that repents and believes the gospel.

As to going home, shame opposed the best motions that offered to my thoughts; and it immediately occurred to me how I should be laughed at among the neighbours, and should be ashamed to see, not my father and mother only, but even everybody else; from whence I have since often observed how incongruous and irrational the common temper of mankind is, especially of youth, to that reason which ought to guide them in such cases, viz., that they are not ashamed to sin, and yet are ashamed to repent; not ashamed of the action for which they ought justly to be esteemed fools, but are ashamed of the returning, which only can make them be esteemed wise men.

Jacob Crouch 2024