Turn Around Bright Eyes...


Stevie Nicks once sang the words, "Turn Around Bright Eyes, Every Now and Then I Fall Apart..."

And I think falling apart is part of the human condition...a surety that every one of us (those who don't believe in God, and Christians alike) will make mistakes and do things that cause us guilt, shame and anguish.

But those first two words, "turn around," are the ones that can save us...

The Greek word for repent - ἐπιστρέφω [epistrephō] literally means "turn around".

Now remember the day Judas finally decided to turn Jesus over to those who wanted to kill him? Jesus knew it would happened and warned, "The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him.  But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man!  It would be better for him if he had not been born." - Matthew 26:24

Then later while Jesus and his disciples were in the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas came with "a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people."  Judas had said, "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him."  Then "going at once to Jesus, Judas said, 'Greetings, Rabbi! and kissed him." - (Matthew 26:47-49)

Well we all know that when Judas felt the guilt, shame, and anguish of his actions, he hung himself - but what if at any point before Jesus was crucified, Judas had turned and repented?

After all - as soon as he kissed Jesus, Jesus said, "Do what you came for, friend." (Matthew 26:50) 

To me, this verse means that even when Jesus KNEW the fate that awaited him, the fate Judas helped to seal by betraying him with a kiss -

Jesus called him "friend."

Think about that.  Let it sink in.

God does not love us because we are inherently loveable.  He loves us because He is good.  And as a good, loving father he gives us chance after chance to turn back toward Him and repent when we have sinned.

So when are hearts are heavy with sadness over the wrongs we have done to others, let us remember that God STILL considers us "friend," and He hopes we will turn back toward Him and repent.

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." - 2 Peter 3:9

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