“For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10 NLT)
At the age of seventeen, I experienced a profound sorrow over my sin, a terrible temper that was rooted in my desire to run my life the way I wanted. As the evangelist spoke to an auditorium of teenagers, I grew convicted that something inside needed to change. I repented, and experienced the beginning of eternal life. My sorrow led to new spiritual life.
New life came to the apostle Peter as well. He was an ordinary fisherman, brash and impulsive. When Jesus noticed him along the shore of Galilee, he called out to him and to his brother, Andrew, “’Come, follow me’… “And they left their nets at once and followed him.” (Mark 1:17, 18 NLT) Jesus accepted him despite his ordinariness and humble occupation; He saw something in Peter that could be transformed to accomplish great things for the kingdom of God.
Peter consequently stuck close to Jesus; his name is the most frequently mentioned among the disciples. During the last supper Jesus ever had with His disciples, where He spoke about things that were to come, Jesus predicted that all His disciples would eventually desert Him. He even predicted that Peter would deny Him. “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I had to die with you, I will never deny you.” (Matthew 26:35 NLT)
A few hours later, Peter had done that very thing. Not only had he denied that he knew Jesus once, but three times. When the rooster crowed the next morning, “Suddenly Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.’ Peter felt a deep remorse and sadness as “he went away, weeping bitterly.” (Matthew 26:75 NLT)
Peter’s deep sorrow led to repentance, and Jesus forgave him. Three times Peter denied Jesus, and after the resurrection, Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him. Peter responded positively, affirming their restored relationship. Again Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me.” (John 21:19 NLT)
Judas Iscariot, on the other hand, also felt remorse over his action, his betrayal of Jesus to the authorities. His remorse, however, did not lead to the same end. Instead of turning to God in repentance, Judas fled in despair and hanged himself. Judas was “the one headed for destruction.” (John 17:12b NLT) His hopeless sorrow resulted in physical as well spiritual death.
May our own sorrow, genuine sorrow over sin, lead to repentance and a new life.
Alice Burnett
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
