The Fruit of Repentance

By Devi Titus

Luke 3:7-8

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Repentance isn’t just saying “I’m sorry.” Saying “I’m a Christian” doesn’t automatically qualify you. There is life required. There should be a visible difference in the fruit of your life. The ax is already at the root of the tree; time is of the essence. We only have so much time given to us on this earth to bring that fruit to God, and whoever does not bring forth that fruit is cast into the fire.

What is a lifestyle of repentance? How do you tell true repentance and its fruit? By making restitution and showing proof of the repentance you profess. There is a spiritual and a physical recognition of that “change in the heart.” You turn from that ‘way of sin’ and a ‘zeal’ to do right takes its place – a zeal to do what is right before God and man. Even if it is to your own hurt or humiliation, you don’t care. All pride is gone. All that matters is restitution. You cannot rest; you grieve and cry till all is right, till you prove your change of heart!

David said in Psalm 6:

“Depart from me, evil workers of sin. Help me Lord, have mercy on me. Let me repent, let me grieve, so I can thank You before I die. For who can give thanks to You in the grave?”

When the grave comes, our “fruit-bringing” days are over. Our chance to show God our proof of repentance is gone. Our thanks for His salvation is no longer heard. So what shall we do?

Let us now live and repent and bring God the fruit of our lives while we are still in the earth. Let our enemies be ashamed, and let God be glorified in us!