We can all disagree on eschatology and the timing of Christ’s Second Coming, but we cannot disagree on our need for repentance. My concern as a pastor for many years is that most don’t have a full understanding of what they need to repent of and more importantly how to properly repent. Most people qualify their need for repentance by what they see in others. If they see others on the news or social media with what they perceive as a much greater sin, then it often leads them to overlook the sin in their own lives. It’s very easy for the self-righteous to look down on others while ignoring their own so-called little sins. Therefore, our goal is to stop judging others, so that we have ample time to examine our own sins. Yes, it will take a great deal of time and effort to look within to examine our own character, our own thinking, and our own behavior. If we are honest, then we will soon discover that we all need repentance, including ourselves. Let’s look at the process together on how to look within to discover every unknown sin that has clouded our eyesight, then we will discuss the process of true repentance.

There are two methods to unearth those hidden or unknown sins in the believer’s life. The first method is the most familiar and has been used since the time of Christ. This has been referred to as God’s law or His will. This method has always been taught by spiritually gifted men and women in the church. In the beginning, these teachings, including the teachings of Christ, were written down through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to become the Bible. It is the anointed Bible that shows us God’s holy law along with the many additional 127 commandments in the New Testament to help the believers to identify the trespass or sins in their lives. The first time I read the New Testament I became immediately aware that I was not following its many beautiful principles and immediately became aware of my own sins against God’s holy law. The second method of unearthing our sins is the conviction we receive from the indwelling Spirit. Although this is good news that the Spirit is given to every true believer who has been called, we must learn to listen to the convictions of the Spirit leading us to look within ourselves. It’s essential that we spend ample time studying God’s Word along with extended periods of prayer and meditation listening to the voice of God through the Spirit.

If you spend ample time in prayer and meditation you will soon discover that most of our unknown sins reside in our thinking. Jesus Christ brought this point out very clearly in His teachings that what a man thinks in his heart (or mind), then the trespass has already been committed. Jesus said, “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart (Matthew 5:28). I believe that most Christians understand this and try to cast out the evil thought, but typically not soon enough thereby committing the trespass in their mind. They relish the thought and hang onto it way too long. They rarely repent of the trespass allowing the devil to bring it back into their mind again and again. Although most of these thoughts are evil, some thoughts are not so clear to the thinker as being evil, thus leading them to horrific consequences. I say horrific consequences because they will even be judged for the unknown sin against God. I call this unknown sin vain imaginations. The mind is capable of imagining nearly everything, even the impossible. What makes this even more dangerous is the imagination can take on a life of its own producing many long hours of unproductivity eventually leading us into an alternate reality where everything is permissible.

Since the beginning of time, humanity has become experts in creating their own reality through vain imaginations. Most of these vail imaginations centered around being popular, rich, or famous. You can imagine yourself being extremely intelligent solving all the world’s problems. You can imagine yourself being with the most beautiful partner creating a great life together having amazing children and living in the most luxurious home imaginable, spending hours living out every detail of your fantasy or imagination. The mind can imagine yourself having great charisma and knowledge attracting a huge following of people to hear your every word. The mind can imagine that you can become the greatest world leader that’s ever lived. Or you could just imagine something far simpler but just as captivating to the imagination. These vain imaginations can lead an individual to embrace the sin of pride, greed, and a lack of trust in God’s providence. There is an unwillingness to accept what’s seen as a dull and mundane life leading people to create an alternate reality in the metaverse. On the other hand, God created us to live in our current reality by becoming all that He has created us to be, which is impossible if we are carried away into our own make-believe world of imagination or alternate reality. God wants us to walk in the Spirit expressing our love to others in the real world.

Now, here is the problem, Satan and the powers of darkness know your propensity to sin either directly or in our minds. As we grow closer to the end the power of evil will be greatly magnified. We have already seen a great increase in unimaginable lawlessness. We have already seen the vain imaginations of humanity walk aloof in the real world and also create an alternative reality in the metaverse. It will become ever more difficult to stay the course, so we must learn how to repent. We must put a sentry on our minds and the moment an evil thought or vain imagination attempts to enter, then we must cast it out immediately, do it less than a nanosecond. We must refuse to think about anything that would not bring glory to God. Then, we must repent! Turn from the sin completely, confessing it to God that it is a sin, and promise to never commit the trespass again. Beware, the old devil will bring the trespass back to our minds as quickly as we cast them out. This will become even more difficult as the whole world is led into the metaverse or they simply rely on their own vain imaginations to occupy their time. It will become more difficult because they will not accept your love and fellowship or have any desire to hear about Jesus Christ. Dear children, if we are serious about removing all of our sins through repentance and confession, then we need to study and apply all the sacred teachings in the Bible to our lives.

Recently, I have been writing a series of prophetic articles about how close we are to the end of days or the Day of the Lord, which should motivate everyone to understand their need to repent immediately. We may not need to agree on eschatology or the timing of Christ’s Second Coming, but we do need to agree that we must cast out all the sins in our lives through repentance. We must agree that we don’t want to meet Christ being full of unconfessed sins and walking in an alternate reality, either through the metaverse or our own vain imaginations. Let me conclude with the words of the Apostle, who wrote, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (II Peter 3:10-13). The point is, knowing what we have to look forward to, should motivate us to repent of all of our sins and walk as true children of God. When we do, then we will clearly see the things to come.

Let me suggest that you get a copy of my latest book about the Metaverse and the Christian response. Please Click here for my online bookstore