Raise your hand if you have ever sinned? Ok. That covers everyone.

Now raise your hand if you’ve ever felt guilty because you’ve sinned? Ok.

We’ve just established that everyone has sinned and everyone has felt guilty at one time or another.

Now, have you ever lost sleep because of a sin? Have you ever felt sick because of guilt? Have you ever given someone the “silent treatment”?

What am I getting at here? Well, I’m trying to help you realize that sin has an effect on your life. And I’m not just talking about consequences here. What I’m talking about is the spiritual corruption and decay that sin causes in our life.

One of the pre-eminent qualities of being a disciple of Christ is repentance. Repentance is one of the best tools the Lord has given to us. I know, you hear the word repentance and you think, “Well, here we go again. Pastor’s going to rake us over the coals and make us feel rotten.” No. Repentance is a gift. Repentance is a tool. Repentance makes us stronger because repentance leads to life. Repentance teaches us to examine our lives and turn from sin. Repentance teaches us to get a new heart and spirit that not only want to follow the Lord but do follow the Lord. Repentance is the tool the Lord has given us to lead us to life.

Listen to what the Lord God says about repentence through the prophet Ezekiel, "I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!" Ezekiel 18:32