Matthew 12:40 for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
How long does it take you to repent of your sins? Jonah it says was 3 days and nights yet when he went to Nineveh they repented almost immediately. Sometimes I think believers take longer to repent because we have some understanding of God's GREAT MERCY. We know that God is so merciful that we attempt to take advantage of it. We say to ourselves something like, "He will forgive me so let me take some extra time to convince Him that I am right." I wonder would Jesus have had to spend less time on the cross or in the grave if He was only paying for the sins of lost people? I am not saying this is the case but it causes me to think about Luke 12:48 but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.
Did Jesus suffer a greater punishment because believers who already know the wages of sin don't take it seriously enough? I'm not saying there is a correlation between The time of Jonah who was a Prophet and knew the Lord but still took 3 days to repent and Jesus who is the Lord and paid for the sins of all, but it is an interesting thought. Either way, there is one thing for sure our sins caused a great suffering and we should NOT take them lightly I am praying we will truly strive for sinlessness after salvation.
The fact a person isn't capable of perfection should not keep them from striving for it.
The famous coach Vince Lombardi is quoted as saying. "Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence."
Let me change that quote to "Sinlessness is not attainable, but if we chase the Perfection of Christ, we will please God"
Love Bro. Scott