Tag: Christianity

People Can Change

Four lives took unexpected turns that left lasting marks on biblical history.

People are not always simply good or bad. Some who once did terrible things found a reason to change and chose a different path.

Manasseh: The Wicked King Who Repented

According to 2 Chronicles 33, Manasseh promoted idolatry, practiced sorcery and divination, and even sacrificed his own children. He also led the people of Judah away from God.

His life changed after the Assyrians captured him and took him to Babylon. In his suffering, Manasseh humbled himself and prayed to God.

God heard his prayer and brought him back to Jerusalem, where he regained his kingdom.

After returning, Manasseh removed foreign gods and idols, restored the altar of the Lord, and commanded Judah to worship God.

He could not erase the damage he had already caused, but he did not remain the same man.

Zacchaeus: The Tax Collector Who Gave Back

Zacchaeus was a rich chief tax collector. Tax collectors were widely disliked and often associated with corruption and exploitation.

When Jesus came to Jericho, Zacchaeus wanted to see him. Because he was short and could not see over the crowd, he climbed a tree.

Jesus noticed him and chose to stay at his house.

After meeting Jesus, Zacchaeus promised to give half of his possessions to the poor. He also said that if he had cheated anyone, he would repay them four times the amount.

His change was not just about saying sorry. He was willing to give back and make things right.

The Bible does not tell us what happened to Zacchaeus afterward.

The Criminal on the Cross: A Change at the Last Moment

The Bible never gives his name, but Christian tradition later called the repentant criminal Dismas.

He was one of two criminals crucified beside Jesus. While one mocked Jesus, the other admitted that he deserved his punishment and said that Jesus had done nothing wrong.

Then he asked Jesus to remember him.

Jesus promised that he would be with him in paradise.

Even at the end of his life, it was not too late for him to change.

Saul: From Persecutor to Apostle

Before he became known as Paul, Saul persecuted the early followers of Jesus. He approved of Stephen’s death and arrested Christians.

His life changed on the road to Damascus. According to Acts 9, a light from heaven surrounded him, and he heard Jesus asking, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

Saul was blinded for three days. A Christian named Ananias later came to him, and Saul regained his sight and was baptized.

Paul traveled to spread the faith, helped establish Christian communities, and wrote letters that became part of the New Testament.

His new life was not easy. He faced rejection, beatings, and imprisonment. The Bible ends his story under house arrest in Rome. Christian tradition says he was later martyred.

People can change.

⌨ ᴛʸᡖⁱⁿᡍ α΄α΅˜α΅— α΅’αΆ  ᡗʰᡉ Κ™Λ‘α΅˜α΅‰ α΅ˆα΅ƒΚ³α΅‰α΅ ᡐᡘ˒ⁱᢜ ᡇˑᡒᡍ

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The Story of Sodom and Gomorrah

A story that continues to raise questions about justice, mercy, and the choices societies make.

Sodom and Gomorrah were two neighboring cities that had become deeply wicked. God revealed this to Abraham and said judgment was coming. Abraham pleaded with God, asking if the cities could be spared if righteous people were found there. God agreed that if even ten righteous people could be found, He would spare the cities. But there were not even ten.

God then sent two angels to Lot, Abraham’s nephew, who lived in Sodom. Lot welcomed the two visitors into his home. That night, a mob of men from the city surrounded the house and demanded that the visitors be handed over so they could sexually assault them. This event is presented in the biblical account as one example of the city’s extreme corruption and violence.

The angels struck the mob with blindness and warned Lot that the city would soon be destroyed. They urged him and his family to flee without looking back.

As they escaped, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven, destroying Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot’s wife disobeyed the warning by looking back and became a pillar of salt. Lot and his two daughters survived in the mountains.

The account has traditionally been understood as a judgment against persistent wickedness. Different religious traditions emphasize different aspects of the sins involved, including:

β€’ Widespread violence and injustice
β€’ Sexual violence and attempted rape
β€’ Neglect of the poor and needy (Ezekiel 16:49-50)
β€’ Pride
β€’ Rejection of God’s ways

Many modern biblical scholars also note that the immediate event in Genesis 19 centers on an attempted gang sexual assault and the violent abuse of strangers. Because of this, they understand the story as being about brutality, injustice, and the violation of hospitality, as well as sexual violence.

The cities were overturned, along with the surrounding plain, their inhabitants, and even the vegetation. The Bible never describes Sodom and Gomorrah being rebuilt. Instead, their names became lasting symbols of the consequences of persistent wickedness.

More than the destruction of two ancient cities, the story reminds us that a society can slowly lose its way when violence, pride, injustice, and a lack of compassion become accepted. While these events took place long ago, they still invite us to think about the kind of people we are and the kind of community we are helping to build today.

⌨ ᴛʸᡖⁱⁿᡍ α΄α΅˜α΅— α΅’αΆ  ᡗʰᡉ Κ™Λ‘α΅˜α΅‰ α΅ˆα΅ƒΚ³α΅‰α΅ ᡐᡘ˒ⁱᢜ ᡇˑᡒᡍ

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