Turn Around

Turn around, back out! In the first responder world, this phrase signals a clear understanding that the danger ahead outweighs the intention to move forward. It often means conditions have deteriorated to the point where the only reasonable response is to stop and withdraw. Backing out is a decision made by someone who understands the risks ahead and recognizes that continuing forward would almost certainly lead to harm.

Backing out many times requires us to turn back from what we believed was a good plan and start over. Often, backing out leads to a safer outcome rather than continuing into deteriorating conditions. On the fire ground, as temperatures rise and conditions worsen, the initial instinct may be to push forward, to press on in an effort to extinguish the fire and gain control of the situation. However, nearly every traumatic loss of life on the fire ground has resulted from advancing into unknown conditions rather than recognizing the need to stop, turn back, and withdraw.

As police officers, especially in tactical settings, the idea of backing out or turning around can seem counterintuitive to the mission. However, there are many situations where the method of neutralizing a threat requires deliberate tactical planning. Backing out to establish a more favorable position is often critical to mission success.

In the Bible, when God reveals Himself to people through the Gospel, He issues a clear command: “Turn around and turn to me rather than to sin.” Repentance means to change one’s mind. The Gospel teaches that, because of the fall, all people are born sinners and are separated from God. Humanity, by our fallen nature, loves sin more than God. Without Christ, our entire being is inclined toward sin. In our fallen state, sin defines who we are and what we naturally desire to pursue.

"We are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners." -R.C. Sproul

The concept of repentance in Scripture is twofold; It is a call to change our minds about sin and instead, turn to God. When we are saved, repentance involves turning away from our former life (2 Cor 5:17) and turning toward Jesus as our hope for salvation. We turn from our old ways and move forward in new life rooted in Christ. We find true hope in our new direction because Scripture assures us that we are fully forgiven and totally set free by the atoning sacrifice of Christ. Past, present and future sins fully paid for. (Heb 10:14). By God’s grace, our new hearts and minds grant us the ability to see sin for what it is and to turn to Jesus, and away from the life we once lived.

Yet even after we are saved, we still face daily dilemma. Our daily walk as believers reveals a continual issue: we still stumble in sin. (1 John 1:8). Although our spirits are born again, our bodies are still corrupt. The life of the believer can be daunting because while we are now desiring to do the will of God, our flesh constantly wants to pull back to the world and all the empty pleasures it has to offer.  

For a believer, repentance is an ongoing act of turning back to Christ as we navigate life in our imperfect flesh. Our repentance as believers is rooted in a renewed relationship with God. We turn from sin not out of fear, but because our love for God produces a godly sorrow that brings conviction and helps us understand that our sin grieves God. This is true repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10). Though our flesh continues to struggle with sin, our repentance reflects our desire to live in accordance with Gods will. This is real repentance.

Sin should produce a sense of brokenness in the heart of a believer. By God’s grace, He enables us to be broken over our sin and grants us the ability to turn to Him in repentance. As the late theologian Voddie Baucham once said: “Brokenness over sin is the place where God stops us, where He halts our progress, where He causes us to see the end to which we will come if we continue down the road of sin.”

The call to all people is a call of God’s great grace: turn around, turn from danger! repent and believe. 

What is “true repentance”?

• True Repentance is not getting in trouble for “getting caught”. True repentance is Godly sorrow:

  • “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10)

• Repentance is a gift that is granted to us by God: 

  • “. . . with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” (2 Tim 2:25-26)

  • “When they heard these things, they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” (Acts 11:18)

• Repentance is the will of God for all.

  • “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

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