Repentance will not make you see Christ; but to see Christ will give you repentance.

This quote suggests that the act of repentance, or seeking forgiveness for one’s wrongdoings, does not necessarily lead to an understanding or vision of Christ. Instead, it is through the recognition and acceptance of Christ (or a higher power) that one feels compelled to repent and seek forgiveness. In essence, it’s not guilt that brings you closer to divinity; rather, it’s your connection with divinity that makes you realize your mistakes and pushes you towards repentance.

The concept behind this quote can be applied in today’s world in various ways. One interpretation could be about self-improvement and personal development. Often people believe they need to rectify their flaws before they can achieve success or happiness (the equivalent of seeing Christ). However, this quote suggests the opposite: by first envisioning our ideal selves (seeing Christ), we become aware of our shortcomings (repentance).

In other words, by having a clear picture of who we want to become or what we want to achieve – whether in terms of personal growth, career aspirations or moral values – we are more likely to recognize our faults and work on them.

Another perspective could be related to societal change. Many people think society needs massive correctional actions before progress can occur. But if society first envisions where it wants to go—that is its version of ‘Christ’—it will naturally start recognizing its flaws and working towards correcting them.

In both instances—personal development or societal change—the idea is not about feeling guilty for past mistakes but learning from them after recognizing a higher goal or purpose.