Living in light of eternity

When we think of the term "repent" we may remember a bearded fellow carrying a sign which says, "Repent, the end is near."  It has somewhat of a comical connotation. However, "repentance" and "repent" are certainly terms that were frequently used by Old Testament Prophets, John the Baptist, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Apostles.  So, what did they mean by these terms, and how should it apply to us?  "To repent" basically means to turn.  Often the prophets exhorted the people to "turn from their wicked ways” Two classic examples are Jeremiah 25:4-6 and Hosea 10:12. The Prophets       4      “And the Lord has sent to you all His servants the prophets again and again, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear,     5      saying, ‘Turn now everyone from his evil way and from the evil of your deeds, and dwell on the land which the Lord has given to you and your forefath...

In recent days we have been hearing reports of revival springing up on Christian colleges across America.  Many are asking, "What is revival, anyway?"  It is nothing new, although it might seem new to us, because the U.S. has not seen anything like this in 50 years.  Throughout church history there have been seasons of revival that have transformed society and revived the church.  Some have been small and localized, others last many decades and spread like wildfire.  You may want to do your own research on this topic, but for now the question remains, "What is revival, and is it found in the Bible?"  In the days of Solomon, God appeared to him in a dream and gave this promise: "If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven...