Is there a best time to repent? When is it? Recall that repentance occurs when the Lord God “calls” us through His Word.
The best time to repent; therefore, is when you hear the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Jesus tells us about such a time.
He says:
“The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.”
Matthew 12:41;Luke 11:32
Note the time of their repentance: “at the preaching of Jonas”. This means while Jonas was preaching; or at the time of his preaching, they repented, Matthew 122:41; Luke 11:32.
Then, he told them that he is greater than Jonah. This implies that they should readily repent when he preaches.
Best Time to Repent Goes Hand in Hand With This!
Therefore, the time that’s in your best interest to repent is when you hear the preaching of the Word of God.
You believe the Word or not at the time of the hearing. This is when repentance occurs.
It was for this reason that he was so unhappy with the following cities. They heard him preach on more than one occasion yet they refused to repent when they heard the call of God.
“Woe unto thee, Chorazin[;] woe unto thee, Bethsaida[;] for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.”
Matthew 11:21
The preaching of the Gospel is Christ’s call to humanity to repent. This is the only time that we have an opportunity to repent. When we hear and receive the Word of God that’s our personal time to turn to Him.
The Lord God Gives Us Time of Repentance
We don’t repent at will. We could never feel remorse and turn from our sins. The Lord must aid us in this. Consequently, He sends His Word.
He supplies us with a time of repentance! Thus, if we don’t repent the first time then, He sends it again, and again, and again……
In doing this, He gives us time to repent.
The Time to Repent is Over If…
“And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass.”
Revelation 2:18
“And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.”
Revelation 2:21
Just as how the Lord gave them “space to repent” or time to turn from sins and turn to Him, he affords each of us the same privilege in our lives.
Remember this, whenever we hear the Word of God that may be the last opportunity we had to repent. Why?
We don’t know how much time He has allotted to us, to stop sinning and turn to Him! But if we die before we do, we are eternally lost; there is no repentance in the grave.
“He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.”
Luke 10:16
Therefore, when one hears the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is the most opportune time to repent. It’s then that the Lord’s calling us to repentance.
These 3 Incidents Demonstrate the Optimal Time to Repent!
Leroy A. Daley is an author, blogger, YouTuber, and Bible teacher. Globally, he's helped hundreds of Christians understand the Bible better. He has been studying and teaching the Bible for more than forty years. He is passionate about the Lord and spends quality time with the Word of God every day.
His Books are available for purchase wherever books are sold.
