Christian Living

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Lets Go Deeper
By Gary George


I often wondered why when I had gone to all those men's things, promise keepers and other conferences when I came back I wasn't as changed as I should have been. I had a conversation with a Pastor (John Leeder) at the retreat and we talked about this very subject.
He said that many had came up to him and commented on all the men crying. He told me he wasn’t impressed because many have worldly sorrow and NOT Godly sorrow. I said what do you mean John? At the time I was expressing to him that men need to change from the inside and that I have been told countless times that we need accountability partners. Personally, I didn’t have someone there for me in my recent renewed walk. I had partners during some time in the past but there was no genuine change in my heart. I went on to tell John that unless all these men really want to change the attitude of their hearts, they won’t; lets see what happens when we get down the hill. Not that we want them to fail but true change has to come from within. We can help them be men of God, but true change has to come from within through the work of our very good friend the Holy Spirit. It isn't about hype or manly companionship. It's about 2 Corinthians 7:10, for the sadness that is used by God brings a change of heart that leads to salvation---and there is no regret in that! But sadness that is merely human causes death.
There is more here in the chapter but this verse is key. You see we can be sad that we have screwed up BUT unless we are truly sorry to God we will not change. I was sad at times in my walk but not enough to change. It's kind of like being bummed you got caught doing something you should not have done rather than being bummed you did the act. A personal example - I had slept with a woman for a few week several years ago, we got together just for sex and my friends found out. Needless to say they were upset with me. However, this was one of the few times I was sorry to God and not to man. This among other things was a turning point in my walk. I finally saw I had disobeyed God and turned from Him and went after my own desires and was truly sad.
For the sadness that is used by God brings a change of heart that leads to salvation---and there is no regret in that! But sadness that is merely human causes death.

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