In order to understand this blog posting, you will need to view this video on GodTube.com (http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=d14827b8c55d8411d821-recommendation, when it starts playing, click on the pause button and allow the entire video to download first and then play the whole thing-it'll avoid all the annoying stops while the computer catches up with the internet - if you'd like the lyrics, they are here - http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Everything-lyrics-Lifehouse/B9F68F70ACCC57D248256A0700086332). Go ahead…I'll wait :)
Lifehouse's video and song, Everything, sums up well what we've been talking about over the past several weeks. Confession and repentance. What good are they? How do they help us? In what way are they used by God in order to mature us in our faith in Him?
The video starts out with the girl walking along with Jesus-enjoying Him, enjoying His presence, enjoying the wonders that He points out to her. But before long, she is lured away-lured away slowly by affections that seem sincere to begin with. It is a breach of trust. She has been lured by that which is not Jesus and in doing so, has committed herself to another who does not truly love her.
She is drawn further away as she begins to pursue-scramble for-something that will fill her and before long she finds herself on her knees captivated by something that is worthless. She catches a glimpse of what she looks like and attempts to cover up who she is-trying to cover up with something else the beauty that has already captivated Jesus-something that is neither her nor what Jesus created her to be. In an effort to dull the pain that has slowly seeped into her life, she searches for pleasure.
But what she is learning all along the way is that all these activities that seemed to hold such promise are really a disguise. Many of them are not wrong in themselves. But when pursued apart from Jesus, they are death-death in disguise. She finds herself engaging in activities that she never would have imagined when she walked that sunny, hopeful time with Jesus.
Jesus.
She remembers Him. She confesses her entanglement in her sins. And yet, even after her confession she cannot seem to break free. Knowing the mess she is in, she wrestles harder to liberate herself and return to Jesus. But it only results in a constant sense of practically making it-and failing.
In a last, desperate attempt all she does is stretch her hand to Jesus-a reach of trust. It is then that Jesus steps in rescues, redeems, and restores her to Himself.
The alcoholic can confess his sins and turn from alcohol, but if that happens apart from Jesus, has he really been freed? The materialist can confess her sins and turn from her pursuit of things, but if that happens apart from Jesus, has she really been freed?
If we believe that we can confess our sins and turn from them in our own strength, have we simply exchanged one deception for another-is it still death in disguise? Or, is the act of repentance-the turning away from our sins-less an act of the will and more a reach of trust?