Matthew 3:11-12, New International Version

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

When we read the parables, we can understand that these are for followers of Christ. Jesus is actually speaking to people who are following Him...and He is speaking to us too. There will be those who know Jesus and are known by him, but there will also be those who believe they know Jesus but who Jesus will say He never knew. I was struck by the scripture in Matthew 3:11-12 (NIV). John the Baptist is speaking, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” John was speaking to the Pharisees and Sadducees because they had come to see what he was doing. John rebuked them in a strong way because their hearts were not in the right place. They may have been seeking understanding or even curious about this baptism that John was offering, but they didn't follow Jesus. When John speaks to them, he is referencing how Jesus was separating those who truly believe in and follow Jesus from those who are seeking to reach heaven by their works: he will clear his threshing floor, gather his wheat into the barn and burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

I share this for us to do a self-checkup, myself included. When Jesus comes back for His church, He is going to be looking for a bride without spot or blemish. I want us all to be ready for His return. Repentance is something we must take part in to have salvation. Repentance means to turn away from. If we have sin in our lives, we turn away from it...we bear fruit that we have turned from our sin. In Luke 3:9-14 (NIV) John says “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.’ ‘`What should we do then?’ the crowd asked.  John answered, ‘Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.’ Even tax collectors came to be baptized. ’Teacher,’ they asked, ‘what should we do?’ ‘Don’t collect any more than you are required to,’ he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, ‘And what should we do?’ He replied, ‘Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.’” Repenting is not just asking for forgiveness, it is followed by an action to show repentance.

In Matthew 25, Jesus gives the parable of the sheep and the goats. When Christ comes, He will separate the sheep from the goats. He will say to the righteous, “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’” (Matthew 25:34-36, NIV) A repentant heart shows two things, first, a love for God and second, a love for people. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands.” (John 14:15, NIV)

What sin are we living in that we need to take before the Lord? What do we need His forgiveness from? And what action can we take to bear fruit into repentance? Jesus is coming back again. It is never too late to take that sin to the Lord. You are never too far gone that God cannot deliver you. John 3:16 (NIV) says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Do you accept Christ today? Do you accept what He has done for you? Do you accept what that means, that Christ died for your sins...? He was the perfect sacrifice, once for all time, so that you could be redeemed, so that you could have salvation.

I feel we live in a world where humility is a scarce thing to see. But without humility, will we make it to heaven? It was pride that got Satan kicked out of heaven. The scriptures say: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” (James 4:6, NIV) “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7, NIV) He cares for you. He desires you to let go of the sins that hold you back from living your best life in Christ. As John the Baptist said, and Jesus also, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matthew 3:2, NIV)