Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; (Rev. 2:5)
Hoddom Castle is a large tower house in Dumfries and Galloway, south Scotland with the “Repentance Tower” on the hill to the south, as a watchtower for the castle. In the eighteenth century a Scotsman named John Maxwell built his castle home as a defense post for the area. After building the castle, he was bribed to change sides in a battle for the hand in marriage of a beautiful young lady – Agnes Herries. This decision cost the lives of many of his countrymen and even a twelve-year-old nephew. In a move of remorse, he placed an inscription above the door to the tower naming it “Repentance Tower.” It still stands today overlook the hillside and a graveyard.
A good question is, “When was the last time you visited your repentance tower? Repentance is a difficult thing to do but it requires change and we humans resist change. According to Nelson’s Bible Dictionary, repentance is “A turning away from sin, disobedience, or rebellion and a turning back to God.
Repentance is more than just saying, “I’m sorry.” There are unbelievable number of times that I have told my wife that I am sorry only attempting to get out the dog house. Repentance is actually turning from the wrong you have done and planning to never do it again.
This week my two grandchildren where actually sitting side by side on the sofa with their heads leaning in each other. It was such a warm feeling to watch — UNTIL! — until my granddaughter rolling over to her side accidentally did a karate kick into my grandson’s head. He began to cry and she in humble feeling kept saying, “I’m sorry!” But, even though it seems to come deep from the heart, it did no good because he was busy crying and never heard the words. Aren’t you glad you have a heavenly father that hears those words when they come from our heart with meaning.
Some of the hardest words to speak are “I have sinned” or “I have done wrong” and mean them enough to change our minds and actions. In order to become successful servants of God and to become “Christ-like” is to repent.
Bro. Larry
