Heb 12:17b “… for he found no chance to repent, though
he sought it with tears.”
This short passage, in full context, reflects upon Esau’s
inability to endure in his suffering. Thus, he was willing to sale his
birthright without fore thought to his pain being but a moment of discomfort,
which only led to sorrow in his spirit later. According to the Bible, there are
two kinds of sorrow (though he sought it carefully with tears): (1)
worldly; and (2) Godly. Of the two, only Godly sorrow leads to true repentance
(2 Cor 7:8-9,10). Repentance may include “remorse” (made you sorry – vs 8), but
remorse is not repentance. Judas may have been remorseful over what he had done
to Jesus, but he did not “change his mind”; he only regretted what he had done
to an innocent man; in Esau’s case himself. Hell is full of sorrow, but only
for the consequences of sin. The rich man who died and went to Hell uttered not
a word of sorrow for his actions, only sorrow for his pain (Lk 16:19-31). You
can weep over sin and even express great sorrow, but until you “change your
mind” and agree with God there’s no repentance. Esau's story shows us that
mistakes and sins sometimes have lasting consequences (Gen 25:29-34; 27:36).
Even repentance and forgiveness do not always eliminate sin's consequences. But
sorrow that leads to true repentance repairs the soul and strengthens our
Spirit for tomorrow.
People on earth hate to hear the word repentance, those in
hell wish they could hear it one more time… HSAY
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