“10Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11’I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’” — Matthew 3:10-11 (ESV)
John the Baptist is carrying out the baptism of those coming to him. He is very open and transparent with his actions in that it is no secret that he is baptizing in the name of Christ who is coming after him. John is carrying out the work he has been tasked with by God and makes sure that everyone knows there is more to this than just the baptism with water.
Jesus is to come and in his work will wash away all of the sins of the world. He will provide something that the waters of baptism cannot, the Holy Spirit. When baptized and taking on repentance as an ongoing action, the Holy Spirit will walk with me in any and all situations. I have a guide and a protector with me and that guide is there in the name of Christ.
Now there are those that repent in words only and then are baptized for the world to “see” and then they enter back into the deceptive world from which they came. For these, there is no ongoing action of repentance and therefore what they receive in return is fire and devastation.
“12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” — Matthew 3:12 (ESV)
Jesus knows who is with Him in their heart and who is only there on the surface. At first glance the numbers are great and the bounty is overflowing, but with the threshing of the wheat, the outer husk is cast away and burned up and that which is on the inside is cared for and harvested for the good of all and the glory of God.
I have to remember to do the search of my heart each day and repent for all that I have done and all that I will do. Yes, all that I will do, for as I know, I am human and will continue to make the mistakes humans make. No matter how hard I try, I will still fail and will sin for that is what I am, a sinner. I seek repentance at every turn to be sure that I am in line with the tasks that God has for me and that I will have the Holy Spirit walking with me all the way.
What does your repentance get you? Are you repenting on the surface only to have that surface destroyed, leaving you wondering what is next? What if you truly repented to have the Holy Spirit walk with you in any and all circumstances?
Trevor's Thoughts 