A Robin Hood-like politician was ruthlessly murdered near his home. He was involved in terrorizing people, amassing wealth, and helping many young people to do their higher education. After fifteen years, he left his underground activities and became a normal person, breaking free from all illegal activities. When he changed his ways, got married, and got a daughter, he was ruthlessly murdered. “Ah, you destroyer, who yourself have not been destroyed, you traitor, whom none has betrayed! When you have ceased to destroy, you will be destroyed; and when you have finished betraying, they will betray you.” (Isaiah 33:1) Reformation is inadequate, there is a need for real transformation. To minimize the consequences of past sin, there is a need for certain steps.
Repentance: Reformation is just quitting some deeds and doing certain deeds to silence the quilt conscience. However, repentance is a radical change of direction. It is a change of mind, feeling sorrow for the sinful past, and a quest for forgiveness.
Receive Christ: Remorse and Repentance are good, but not good enough. For sins to be forgiven, they need a savior. The Lord Jesus Christ took the wages of sin, death upon Himself, died, buried, and rosed again from the dead. He alone could forgive the sins.
Reconciliation: The politician perhaps felt remorse but did not get reconciled with his enemies. Paul sent Onesimus from Rome of Colossae, to be reconciled with his earlier master Philemon. For Paul, though Onesimus was forgiven by the Lord, he had the responsibility to be reconciled with those whom he had wronged. (Philemon 1) If there is no reconciliation, there will be enmity, bitterness, and an attitude of revenge.
Restoration: A thief when caught must pay two-fold. (Exodus 22: 7) Proverbs teaches that a thief, when caught should pay sevenfold. (Proverbs 6:31) Zacchaeus promised to pay fourfold what he had gained unlawfully. (Luke 19:8) All these teach the principle of restoration. Certain monetary loss could be restored to those it was snatched. The politician’s ill-gotten wealth must be restored from those it was snatched.
Have I repented, received, reconciled, restored, and transformed?