I was reading a book called "Scared" the other day by Ken Davis. It is the story about a journalist in Africa and his encounter with an orphan girl who is starving. Although it is a novel, as I sat in the loungeroom reading, I felt a deep sorrow for the tragedy of her situation, and I could not contain it. Julie was sitting nearby as I began to quietly sob. I was unable to stop. I still find the emotions rising to the surface each time I think of what this young child endured at the hands of adults who were cruel and sinful in their actions. Is this the kind of sorrow of which Jesus spoke? A deep sorrow for sin, a broken heart over evil and suffering?
Is it the kind of sorrow we feel when we really see what it meant for Jesus to die on the Cross, and in brokenness and grief we fall at His feet in the dust, with sobs of repentance as we realize that our sins put Him there?
Do you mourn over your sin? It’s no use just feeling sorry about it. God wants us to do something about it. 2 Corinthians 7:10 (NLT) says that "...the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow."
If you mourn over your sin and fail to repent then your mourning has not meant anything.
2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)says "The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent."