Matthew 21:28-30 helps us understand what repentance is. "A man had 2 sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son go and work today in my vineyard.' He answered and said, 'I will not,' but afterward he repented and went." The command was given but the son made the choice not to go. Later, he made the choice to change his first decision and did what the Father had requested. Thisi s really what repentance is-a change of decision. Men and women have decided to serve Satan. However, they learn of God's love and the Lord's sacrifice on the cross. They learn what sin is and the consequences it brings. Now the decision is made to serve the God of heaven instead. Once that decision is made, life changes begin to happen. We do what is pleasing to the Lord whatever that may be for it is no longer about individual desire. A person who has truly repented by making this kind of decision will not argue about being baptized or anything else God has commanded. The decision was made to change our will.

It is no wonder that Peter siad, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promises as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (II Peter 3:9.) He did not say "come to faith" or "come to baptism." Nor did he say that God wanted folks to "come to a good life." God wants everyone to "come to repentance." That is, He wants everyone to make the decision to serve Him-the rest will come naturally. Repentance is the decision to change and a reformed life will be the result of the decision.

Godly sorrow works repentance (II Corinthians 7:10) but so does the goodnes s of God (Romans 2:4.) The prodigal son of Luke 15:11-20 realized how awful sin was and how great and good his father was. He "came to himself" and that was his repentance. That was when he made the decision to go home. We also will have to "come to ourselve" because of godly sorrow and God's goodness and make decisions to go home. We will do so often.

In giving the plan of salvation, we sometimes leave the impression that repentance is something done as one is walking down the aisle and is a one time thing. That first decision to "go home" will certainly find the Father waiting on us. But that will only be teh first among many decisions and the Father will always be waiting every time we wander off.