The Kingdom of Heaven Is At Hand; Therefore...

REPENT [ri-pent] verb. To turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life; to feel regret or contrition; to change one's mind.

When we repent, we turn and run away from something -- namely sin.

Running from something causes it to recede into the distance until it finally fades away, and what we are running toward becomes closer and clearer -- namely God.

The Christian life consists of this striving.