God believes in second chances, but these opportunities require repentance and change. Individuals must bring forth the fruits of repentance to make good on additional chances from God. John Mark demonstrated evidence of genuine change after repeated desertions by proving himself through later conduct that earned renewed trust from the apostle Paul. King Manasseh exhibited strength of character by making the most of his second chance after reaping the consequences of his evil ways. Hezekiah marred his additional years of life through foolish pride that endangered his kingdom. Warnings emphasize that those rescued from sin must avoid plunging back into former behaviors. God remains willing to grant multiple chances, yet those who receive them must soberly commit to following through with true repentance that changes the outcome to a positive godly result.

One of the primary evidences that transformation is taking place is that a person loves God's law. The carnal mind is at enmity against God for it is not subject to the law of God, but if a transformation is taking place the attitude toward the law of God changes and the person begins to see it in an entirely different light. When Jacob met God his life began changing immediately. From a grasping conniving man he suddenly decides he is going to give God a tithe. His attitude toward the tithing law changed. His attitude toward money was changed. He was still very vigorous in the accumulation of it but a lot of the grasping and conniving was leaving from him. So there was a change in attitude toward law. These people's lives should have changed according to the dictates principles and examples of God's Word. They should have come home singing and exemplifying how love I your law. It is ever with me. It is my meditation all the day. But they were not. The change begins inside. But if there is a real change there it will show in the conduct outside. God gave them the evidence from their social life that nothing was changing. Justice was not rolling out from these people and the trouble was that the people kept their religion in a box with no way for it to be communicated into daily life. Going to the feasts was just like going to a movie. It was like going to a stage play where the people were entertained. They were there. They enjoyed it. But life never changed. It may as well have been a vacation. God expected the Feast of Tabernacles to be the spiritual high of the year. It should be both a spiritual and a physical Feast whose fruit is the rejoicing of both. If a person goes to the Feast purely to enjoy that person is not going to have a very good spiritual Feast. If a person goes to the Feast to really worship the Lord and allow the enjoyment to be the fruit that person will have a good Feast. Whether that person feels it was a good Feast if that person goes there to have a good Feast by putting efforts into the spiritual things that person is going to have one whether that person feels it or not. Feelings are highly variable and what is looked for is spiritual profit. The rejoicing is the fruit of the right approach and use. The emphasis is clearly on the spiritual. God does not want mindless observance. The seeking of enjoyment for enjoyment's sake is not what God has in mind for any of His feasts. A person goes to the Feast of Tabernacles for understanding. The Feast of Tabernacles is the prime place the environment almost like a garden of Eden where a relationship with God can be enhanced more than at any other time during the year. There is the right fellowship. There is the right circumstance. There is spiritual food every day sometimes twice a day. There is all the opportunity for eight days at least to talk about God talk about His Word communicate the blessings with gratitude to one another. The Feast is not a vacation. The Feast is not a gospel concert. It is not a social tea party or a substitute for Christmas or a Christmas shopping binge. And even though some element of each of these may accompany it do not let these things dominate. Make sure that the Feast is a springboard for significant positive change.

Evidence of change appears when a person seeks God diligently with all the heart. Such seeking produces transformation rather than mere performance of religious duty. The transformed person loves the Word of God and speaks of it freely. Relationships shift from using others for personal advantage to humble service of them. Attitude toward law changes so that rebellion and sin become matters of deep concern, leading to efforts to cease sinning. Concern for justice replaces acceptance of bribes and corruption in courts and business. The person openly opposes injustice rather than remaining silent to protect personal advancement. Good is actively done in family, community, and fellowship. Zeal for God and His way replaces apathy, and consistent change occurs across all areas of life.