This morning as I sat down with my computer, the cursor was doing some strange things. It was moving all over the screen and I was not moving the mouse. Not being a computer Geek, I restarted my computer and that fixed the problem. At least it has so far.

Most of the things that happen in life we can use as illustrations. Especially we can make a spiritual application out of them. So what can we learn of an uncontrolled cursor and restarting a computer? Let's see....

Sometimes in our lives we may not live them according to the word of God. We sin. Paul said, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. We think of those who do not know Christ and say we know they are sinners. But Paul wrote this to believers. He wrote this letter to the "beloved of God in Rome" (1:7).

So when we sin what can we do? We can restart our lives, just as I restarted the computer. How can I do this? John the Baptist preached repentance and remission of sins to the multitudes that came to him. Jesus told those that He was speaking to, "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will likewise perish." (Luke 13:3,5 NASB). Peter, on the Day of Pentecost, told those who had asked, "What can we do to be saved?" "Repent each of you and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:37,38).

The Greek word for sins means "to miss the mark." Think of one shooting at a target. To miss the bulls eye is missing the mark. For us it is not doing what the word of God teaches us to do. We sin, we miss the mark and we need to repent.

Sometimes people equate "getting caught" as sin and then saying "I'm sorry." We have to ask, however, is one truly repenting because of the sin they committed or are they sorry they got caught? There is a difference.

Repentance is changing directions. It is changing from a life of sin to a life of holiness with God. It is not superficial, but a change from within that can be seen by the fruit that you are bearing. And when we repent of our sins we know that God is always ready to forgive us so that we may live a new life.

Restarting the computer has worked well. So will repenting of sin in your life.