Pig or Lamb (A Concept of Repentance)

"Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7)

The Bible says that if anyone be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away and all things are become new. This means if we believe in God, we must change our lives. This is metamorphosis. Like a change from larva to butterfly. This changing of  physical appearance means becoming new. A totally new person. If all professing Christians in the world says that they believe and accept God, then a change should be manifested in their daily lives otherwise what they professed was nothing. Nothing but a mere belief and mere acceptance of God.

 

The Bible says that there should be fruits. There should be output. If there is no output or fruit, there is no change. Changing one’s self is impossible without repentance. Repentance is crucial. The meaning of repentance in the Bible is "to change or to turn." It was mentioned seventy times in the New  Testament. It is a command. It is imperative. Jesus said “except ye repent, ye shall likewise all perish.” To be sorry is not enough in repentance. One may admit a guilt or mistake without repentance. Judas hanged himself but he did not repent.

 

Take the case of a Pig and a Lamb. Though how much effort you do to change the appearance of a pig: bath him, polish his hoofs, put some perfume, tie a ribbon around his neck, still the pig will look for a mud puddles. The pig had been changed outwardly but not inwardly. He was still a pig at heart. Take a lamb on the other hand. Put a lamb in the living room then turn him into the yard, and he will try his best to avoid some mud puddles. Why? Because his nature is that of a lamb. Question. Are we pigs or lambs?

(Taken from the book Peace with God by Billy Graham pp 140-143).