5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:
“By the decree of the king and his nobles:
Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence.” – Jonah 3:5-8
The word “repentance” isn’t in this passage; but repentance isn’t really a word, it is something you do – and these people did repentance. One can have repentance without the word itself being spoken, and one can say the word “repentance” and never truly repent. Repentance begins with believing God. As we believe Him and His Word, we have the power to transform our lives as He wills. You can do many other things associated with repentance, but if they do not begin with believing on and trusting God, they are all useless works of the flesh.
You can’t believe God apart from the Word of God. Therefore, any real revival or repentance will begin with faithful preaching and faithful hearing of God’s Word, just as it was in Nineveh. Repentance means doing something. The people of Nineveh fasted, mourned as if for the dead, and they did it from the highest to the lowest (from the greatest to the least of them).
If repentance is anything, it is not business as usual. When repentance comes, something has to change and something has to be different. In their case, the people of Nineveh took off their normal clothes and put on sackcloth – a thick coarse cloth, normally made from goat’s hair. Wearing it displayed the rejection of earthly comforts and pleasures.
Many modern expressions of repentance, making excuses and justifying reasons for the sin, are really not repentance at all. Often they are only attempts to justify and excuse sin. Nevertheless, you sinned or you didn’t; if you did, there is no excuse, and if you haven’t, there is no need to repent. Repentance and excuses simply don’t belong together.
What will it take for you to not continue “business as normal?” What will have to happen to awaken your soul to the reality in which we live? The answer is much more in our face than we think. Jesus had to happen. Jesus died for your sins. Meditate on that phrase, “Jesus died for your sins.” Speak it out loud. Believe it! Jesus is meant to make “business as normal” not normal. Jesus says give when others say take. Jesus says love when others say hate. Jesus is king. Are you willing to turn towards Jesus’ normal business?