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Answer
God has instructed the sinful world, unequivocally, to repent (Mark 6:12;Luke 24:47;Acts 3:19;Acts 17:30). Repentance involves changing one’s mindset from embracing sin and rejecting Christ to rejecting sin and embracing Christ. Those who refuse to repent and turn to Christ in faith will face eternal consequences. Considering the reality of hell, humanity in its sinful state is in a desperate situation. Why would anyone postpone repentance? Nevertheless, many do so, despite acknowledging their sin and recognizing their need for salvation.
There are several reasons not to postpone repentance. Firstly, the Bible’s call to repent is coupled with an urgent plea to do so immediately: Paul cites Isaiah 49:8, referring to “the day of salvation.” He then emphasizes the need for prompt action: “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” «(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, And in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) », (2 Corinthians 6:2). Repentance should occur as soon as the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins, as stated in John 16:8. In essence, today is the day of salvation. “Today, if only you would hear his voice, Do not harden your hearts” (Psalm 95:7-8).
Another issue with delaying repentance is the uncertainty of the day of one’s death. Following death is judgment «And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: », (Hebrews 9:27). The rich fool in Jesus’ parable Luke 12:16-20 thought he had plenty of time to enjoy life, but God had news for him: “This very night your life will be demanded from you” (verse 20). We have today—we have the present moment—and we should use it wisely.
Another reason to not delay repentance is that every time we refuse to repent, we continue to sin, and our hearts get harder (see Hebrews 3:7-8). Every time a person says “no” to what’s right, it becomes a little easier to say “no” the next time, too. There’s a gradual hardening of the heart, a searing of the conscience «speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; », (1 Timothy 4:2), that can numb an unsaved person to the point of being past feeling. This is a dangerous spiritual condition to be in.
Also, the harder a person’s heart becomes, the more “force” God will have to apply to bring him to repentance. This is illustrated in the increasingly severe plagues in Egypt. As Pharaoh continued to harden his heart, the plagues continued and worsened until culminating in a loss of life in every Egyptian household (Exodus 7-11). “It is hard for you to kick against the goads” «And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. », (Acts 26:14).
Tragically, there is a point of no return. God may eventually stop trying to bring the chronically rebellious to repentance and give them over to their ways «And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; », (Romans 1:28). We never know when this point of no return is, so the wiser choice is timely repentance.
By postponing repentance, we are delaying certain blessings from God. At least three verses shed light on this: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” «Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; », (Acts 3:19). “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy” «He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. », (Proverbs 28:13). “Your wrongdoings have kept these [showers of blessing] away; your sins have deprived you of good” «Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. », (Jeremiah 5:25). Therefore, by delaying repentance, we miss out on God’s refreshment, we may not prosper (in God’s eyes), and we may be deprived of God’s goodness.
It is true that God is gracious to us and that a person may be able to repent up until the day he dies. But we should not live presumptuously. We are not guaranteed tomorrow. Commentator Charles John Ellicott expressed it well: “For each church and nation, for each individual soul, there is a golden present which may never again recur” «(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, And in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) », (Commentary for English Readers, entry for 2 Corinth
James 4:17 states, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” Once we are aware of what is right, we have a responsibility to act accordingly. Similarly, once we recognize something as sin, we are accountable to repent and turn away from it. We must not postpone repentance. There was a moment when the Lord closed the door of the ark, and the flood carried away all those outside the ark «And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in. », (Genesis 7:16). There was also a time when the wedding celebration began, and those who were unprepared for the arrival of the bridegroom were left outside (Matthew 25:1-13).
