In Turning, I Turned

The seven congregations of Asia Minor, listed in Revelation were dealing with some dicey issues. The very same issues we see in our congregations today.  What did the Apostle John have to do in order to find a way to lead those churches out of the messes they found themselves in?   John tells us what he did; turned.  He used the phrase, “And in turning I turned.”  Then went on to say, “and when I turned, I saw...” and goes on to describe seeing Jesus in His current state; as Lord of lords and Keeper of His people.

John had to turn away from looking at the problems to see The Solution. Turn from the Jesus he had known so well in order to see the Jesus who now sits at the right hand of the Father.  Turn from seeing things as they appeared in order to see them as they could be when people walk in the ways of God's Kingdom.  When people turn, people repent.

Repent, now there's a word that's lost its punch these days.  It's become only applicable to sin; making repentance ineffective in our lives.  A quick search of the word repent in the New Testament finds that sin is rarely the issue.  Although some modern translations have added 'your sins' in an effort  to help clarify our understanding of the concept, in this case, their 'help' hinders.

So, if repenting isn't about sin, what is it we are called to turn from?  Great question!  Short answer: our allegiance to the World's system – The Kingdom of Darkness. Jesus taught the principles of the Kingdom of God.  Teaching us that we must turn from is our adherence to the Kingdom of Darkness which is governed by the laws of sin and death.  He called those who failed to do so, “Whitewashed sepulchers”.  Yuck!

What part does sin play in our lives? It brings death.  Always has.  Always will.  It buys our citizenship into the world's system but Jesus paid our way out of that miserable existence, freeing us to walk in God's system.  An existence where there is no place for manipulation, shame, fear, intimidation, coercion, force, gossip, or trying to outweigh bad with good.  There's no room for I'm

-going-to-do-it-my-way-because-that's-best-for-me.  It's time to turn.  And in turning we will see what John saw; our Solution.