21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.
The purpose of all these disasters outlined in this whole chapter of the book of Revelation is to bring people to repentance. People are running headlong into disaster and God wants to save them from themselves. They are choosing destruction and God wants to offer them restoration. He doesn’t want to have to destroy any, and yet some still choose destruction. By not choosing repentance, they are choosing destruction. It is not just in these end time events that people reject repentance. We see it in the attitude in some churches. They advertise that they accept anyone. Good! Jesus took everyone where they were, but He didn’t allow them to stay there. “Go and sin no more.” God accepts us, but then expects us to change our behavior, attitude and outlook. He expects the adulterer to stop committing adultery. He expects the murderer to stop murdering. He expects the person involved in homosexual acts to stop engaging in homosexual acts. He expects the gossip to stop gossiping. He expects the pessimist to become optimistic. Change is part of the life of a Jesus-follower. Since we are not holy, everything that is not holy in us will be removed. The more that gets removed during this life, the less there is that gets removed when we arrive in heaven. Even believers go through a process of cleansing when we arrive. Our citizenship is not in question, but we have to go through customs, and there are things on the ‘prohibited’ list that will not enter heaven. God is using these disasters, these judgments in the hopes that people will repent, give up the prohibited, and surrender. About what has God been speaking to you? Has He pointed out any particular behavior, attitude or outlook that He wants to change? Have you chosen to turn from it and yield it to Him? Now is the time to do it. Don’t wait. There is coming a time when people will be so stubborn that even these extreme disasters will not convince some to turn. Turn now while your heart is still soft enough to hear the voice of the Lord.
The Arnold Journey 