God Allows U-turns: Embracing Faith and Repentance
As a child, I often saw the back of my aunt’s car and her license plate frame that read, “God allows U-turns.” I must confess that, for the most part, it barely registered in my young mind. However, recent reflections on two different Bible verses, Acts 2:38 and Acts 16:31, have illuminated the profound wisdom encapsulated in that seemingly simple phrase.
These verses recount conversations where apostles Peter and Paul share with others what they need to do to embrace faith in Jesus. In Acts 16, while addressing the jailer of Philippi, Paul encourages belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. Contrarily, in Acts 2, Peter speaks to the people of Jerusalem, urging them to repent and be baptized. This difference between ‘believing’ and ‘repenting’ in their words gave me a deeper understanding of these words, often used synonymously in Christian discourse.
While both words share the common thread of acting after hearing and contemplating a message, they inherently carry unique meanings. To ‘believe’ refers to accepting the message you’ve heard, while ‘repentance’ does not mean pleading for forgiveness as often perceived, but a conscious decision to change your mind, to turn around in light of rethinking what you believe.
The Philippian jailer’s story is a testament to belief, having heard the gospel for the first time and, moved by the events he witnessed, chose to believe in Jesus Christ. In contrast, Peter in Acts 2 addressed people who had witnessed Jesus’s miracles, including raising Lazarus from the dead. Yet, they chose not to believe, denied Jesus, and their passivity or actions led to His crucifixion. These were the people to whom Peter announced, “Repent and be baptized” – a reminder that God allows U-turns, even after denial.
My purpose in sharing these reflections is to reach out to those who, through their beliefs or actions, have denied Jesus in their lives. Like Peter’s call to the Jews in Jerusalem, I want to echo that God allows U-turns. Embrace the message of the gospel: Jesus, the son of God, came to this earth as a human, lived a sinless life, was crucified, and resurrected. His crucifixion was for our sins to be nailed to the cross with Him so we could have a relationship with God. Remember that repentance is possible regardless of whether you’ve chosen not to believe or have walked away from Jesus. U-turns, with God, are very real.
Please take the time to hear this message, contemplate it, and believe in who Jesus is. Whether encountering Jesus for the first time or contemplating a return to Him, know that forgiveness is possible because of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Your belief or repentance in Jesus is the first step on this transformative journey.
Acts 2:38 (CSB)
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 16:31 (CSB)
They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
Thank you for this reminder in essence of 2 Peter 3:9-“The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.”
Believing in the message of Christ and agreeing with God about what He says through scripture as the Holy Spirit reveals these truths to our hearts. All parts through repentance.
2 Timothy 2:25&26-“ Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth. 26Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”
John 16:27-27”For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me (Jesus) and have believed that I came from God.”