"For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt."
~Hebrews 6:4-6, ESV
re·pent
to feel or show
that
you are sorry for something bad or wrong that you did
and that
you want to do what is right
~ Merriam-Webster
It is easy to repent. In the right moment, in the right setting, overwhelmed by the right emotions, it is easy to fall on our knees, sorry for what we have done wrong, and promise never to do it again. Yet, temptations come; sooner or later, we may be tested by the very circumstance that we repented from.
~
There was a rich man. Jesus said he wore purple and feasted daily. Jesus does not mention his name.
The rich man did not consider himself a heathen; he even called Abraham his father.
There was a poor man who sat at the gate of the rich man, longing to be fed by whatever fell from the rich man's table. Jesus called poor man, "Lazarus." Jesus said that those who cared for Lazarus were the dogs who licked his wounds.
Yet, when both men died, the poor man was taken by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man found himself in Hades.
The rich man could see Lazarus at Abraham's bosom: He cried to Abraham to have Lazarus bring water to quench his thirst, as the flame was too great of torment for him to bear.
Abraham's response was that while the rich man enjoyed great pleasure on earth, Lazarus lived in torment; now, the tables were turned.
The rich man, thinking of his five brothers, asked, then, to have Lazarus go to warn his brothers, so they did not end up in his torment, as well.
Abraham responded that they had Moses and the Prophets.
Understanding his brothers, the rich man said that they needed someone to rise from the dead to tell them.
Abraham said, "If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead."
~
Jesus rose from dead. Yet, instead of repenting from the wrong they do to follow Jesus, many choose to ask Jesus to okay their wrong and follow them. Sometimes, I fear that I have done this, and that some day, Hebrews 6:4-6 may apply to me. Dear LORD, let it not be!
I am sorry for what I have done wrong. May I not repeat it with an unrepentant heart. May I always feel sorry for that which I do that is not pleasing to you, lest I crucify you again, to my harm, raising you up to contempt.
References
Crossway Bibles. (2001). The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). Retrieved November 17, 2015, from http://biblehub.com/esv/hebrews/6.htm
Repent. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2015, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repent
