The Call to Obedience and Repentance By Major Frank Materu
Key Scripture:
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." – John 14:6
Introduction:
In our walk with God, there are times when we may experience suffering, affliction, and hardship. These moments often cause us to question why we are stricken or brought low. In truth, many of these trials are the result of our own pride, disobedience, and straying from the path God has set for us. Yet, in the midst of these trials, God calls us to repentance and obedience. Through true repentance and intercession, we can be brought back into alignment with God's will and receive His mercy. This message calls us to forsake pride, abandon old strongholds, and move in obedience to God's direction.
The Consequences of Pride and Straying from God’s Path
When we find ourselves in affliction or trials, it is often because we have become proud and self-reliant. We may have chosen our own way over God’s way, thinking we could handle things on our own. The pride of the human heart leads us to believe we know better than God, and this is where the trouble begins. God's Word is clear about the dangers of pride and the necessity of humility before Him.
In Proverbs 16:18, it is written:
"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."
Pride blinds us to the truth and causes us to stray from the path of righteousness. When we deviate from God’s way, we open ourselves up to destruction. Yet, even in these moments, God is still calling us to turn back to Him.
The Call to Intercede for the Lost
In the midst of a fallen world, there are those who have strayed far from God. But those who are truly following Him, those who are obedient to His call, are called to intercede on behalf of the lost. As we stand in the gap for others, we are to pray for those who are prideful and resistant to God, that they may be humbled and brought back to Him.
In Ezekiel 22:30, God says:
"I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one."
Intercession is powerful. Through the prayers of the righteous, God can bring those who are lost to repentance and restore them to a right relationship with Him. We must continue to cry out for the nation, the lost, and those who are caught in their pride and rebellion.
The Danger of Looking for Alternatives to Obedience
God’s command to us is clear: we are to follow Him and His ways, without looking to the left or right, or seeking alternative paths. When we look for shortcuts, for easier ways to accomplish things outside of God’s will, we prove that we are not truly committed to Him. Obedience to God is not conditional, based on our own timing or preferences. It is absolute.
In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus warns:
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
The path of obedience is not always easy, but it is the only way to life. Seeking alternatives to God’s path leads to destruction. We are called to set our faces like flint, unwavering in our commitment to follow His lead.
The Example of Lot’s Obedience and the Call to Leave Wickedness Behind
God called Lot out of the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah, a place of corruption and depravity. Though the city was on the brink of destruction, God spared Lot because he obeyed and followed God’s direction. However, had Lot chosen to stay in the wicked city, he would have perished along with the others. This serves as a powerful lesson for us today. God is calling us out of the places of wickedness, corruption, and compromise. We must leave behind the old ways, the ways that have led us into sin, and follow God fully.
In Genesis 19:17, we see the urgency of God's command to Lot:
"As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, 'Flee for your life! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!'"
The warning was clear—do not look back, do not linger, but move forward in obedience. In the same way, we are to leave behind the ways of sin and follow God without turning back.
The Dangers of Remaining in Wickedness
When we choose to remain in our old ways, we risk becoming like the very things we once despised. God has given us time, opportunity, and grace to repent, but if we waste it, we will be destroyed. The time we have on earth is short, and the longer we delay in following God, the harder it becomes to hear His voice. We must be diligent and quick to respond to His call, forsaking sin and choosing His way.
In 2 Peter 3:9, it is written:
"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
God is patient, giving us time to repent and turn back to Him. But there is a point at which His patience will run out, and judgment will come. We must not waste the time we have been given.
Moving Forward in Full Obedience
God calls us to obey Him completely, without hesitation, and without looking back. We must leave behind our old ways, our pride, and our desire to control our lives. True obedience means casting aside the strongholds that have kept us in sin and fully surrendering to God's will. When we do this, we will experience the freedom, peace, and transformation that comes from following Him wholeheartedly.
In Romans 12:1-2, Paul urges:
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
True obedience involves total surrender—offering our lives as living sacrifices to God. When we do this, He will transform us and lead us into His perfect will.
Summary:
God is calling us to abandon our pride, forsake the paths of sin, and follow Him in full obedience. True repentance involves humbling ourselves, interceding for others, and committing to walk in the way that God has set before us. Just as Lot was called out of Sodom and spared from destruction, so too are we called to leave behind the wickedness of this world and follow God wholeheartedly. The time for obedience is now—let us not delay or look back.
Conclusion:
God’s call to obedience is clear and urgent. We must not allow pride, fear, or disobedience to hinder us from moving forward in His will. As we follow God’s command, we will experience His mercy and transformation. Let us set our faces like flint, choosing to obey Him fully and trust His way, for His way is the only path to true life and peace.
Let us heed the words of Jesus in Luke 9:62:
"No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
May we move forward in full obedience, never looking back, and always following the path that leads to eternal life.
