Lk 19:8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
I believe that most would agree that Zacchaeus truly repented. Our Lord gives testimony in the text that salvation had come to the house of Zacchaeus. His actions not only changed, but his heart changed as well for earthly wealth, suddenly, became of little value to him. So it is with all who truly repent. Nothing matters more than pleasing God, keeping Christ’s commands, and sharing the truth with others. That is why Zacchaeus did not call Jesus “Rabbi” (teacher), but he recognized Him as “Lord” (adonai, sovereign master).
During my forty-three years in the ministry, I have seen many reformations, but not quite as many repentances. Reformation displays a change, a change of course, a “turning over of a new leaf.” But there is no heart change. “Making a decision for Christ” or “allowing Christ in your life” sounds good, but it is not the same as being born again. True salvation gives us a new heart, reformation takes the old heart and tries to do better. Many a teenager or young adult has made a profession of reformation only to find out later in life that they are still empty within. All their reformation has brought them is a false sense of security. Though they have changed in one area of life, the venom of sin has just found a new conduit to spew out from an un-regenerated heart.
2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines reprobate as “abandoned in error, lost in apostasy.” So it is with the reformed heart.
