JOURNEY BACK TO JOY:
Rediscovering Repentance
By Dai Hankey
10Publishing. 64 pages. £2.99
ISBN 978 1 911 272 816
Repentance isn’t simply the way into the Christian life. Repentance is the way on in the Christian life. As John Calvin wrote: ‘God assigns to believers a race of repentance, which they are to run throughout their lives.’ That being the case, we all need examples of and encouragers in repentance. In Dai Hankey’s latest book we have both in abundance.
The book retells what is probably the Bible’s most famous story of repentance. The story of King David’s fall from grace into adultery and murder and his journey back to joy through the prophet Nathan’s rebuke and his own repentance.
Sin exposed, confessed, forgiven
Hankey’s book charts David’s experience in four short chapters. Through the tragedy and agony of sin committed and exposed, to the humility of sin confessed and the joy of sin forgiven. I have heard this story taught many times, but it did my soul good to read it so well told again.
Central to the book is the theme of joy. Hankey exposes the pleasures of sin as deceptive and fleeting. He also reminds us that the joy of restored relationship with God is eternal, unshakable and truly satisfying – and received when you ‘turn to Jesus and confess your mess’ (p.45). If you, like me, want this joy to be yours then this little book will be a great place to start. You’ll find vivid illustrations (Nelson, the slobbering Dalmatian, was a personal favourite), honest personal testimony and clear Bible teaching.
As I continue to run the race of repentance I’m glad to have had Dai Hankey in my ear urging me on to make David’s journey back to joy my own.
