I happen to do a lot of driving and for the most part I am pretty good at following directions and getting where I need to go.  Even though I have a GPS when I drive I am usually prepared with printed directions from a map program as well as an atlas and better yet my wife, Mary.  She usually navigates for me when we are taking trips, but once in a while I am regrettably without her and on my own.  This is more difficult at night when you can't easily read directions or a map.

I remember one night (before I owned a GPS) getting lost on the highways surrounding Los Angeles.  My family and I were staying in the area for a few weeks and living out of our motor home because of some speaking engagements.  Mary decided to stay "home" that particular night with the children while I drove to a scheduled event in Valencia.  I got there just fine when there was still daylight but on my way back I got really confused with all of the highway changes I needed to make. 

If you are familiar with L.A. then you know what I'm talking about. When it comes to changing highways, there seems to be thousands of them and they don't necessarily go the direction that is indicated in their titles.  After several uncertain exits I found myself going in the opposite direction than I needed to.  I was already tired from the night's activities and had spent almost an hour driving up to this point, but there was nothing else I could do but turn around and start my way back. That's not always very easy on a highway, but heading to Nevada would never get me home.

There can be an overwhelming sense of defeat and exasperation when you realize that you have spent time, money and energy going in the wrong direction.  Turning around can be a very humbling experience to face.

Sometimes I'll test a group of people and ask them what the main theme of Jesus' preaching was.  The common answer is "love", which is definitely a good response, but the Bible says this about the preaching ministry of Jesus, "...from that time Jesus began to preach and say, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand'"(Matthew 3:2) "...and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem"(Luke 24:47). 

The preaching of repentance did not stop with Jesus but also continued with His disciples, "...but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance" (Acts 26:20). 

Repentance lies at the foundation of a right relationship with God and it's more than feeling bad or guilty for what you've done.  Repentance means to recognize that you were going in a wrong direction and proceed to turn around and go in the right direction.

"For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death."  2 Corinthians 7:10

"Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance."  Romans 2:4

It is possible that many of you, who are reading this and possible other articles on this website, have been made aware of some media choices and practices in your life that do not follow the footsteps of Jesus.  If you have realized that you have been heading down the wrong road and making ignorant or willfully poor decisions, don't hesitate to begin with repentance, "for if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).  Many of us have been polluted and need to be made clean again with forgiveness offered by God through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus.  We need "...repentance without regret, leading to salvation..."