I remember sitting and listening to a youth group leader give a talk many years ago—probably at least ten years by now. He shared how at that time, he had recently spoken to an older relative, and in that encounter he asked the older man what he thought about his life.
The man said, "I have no regrets."
I remember the youth group leader share how we should live without regrets... how on the Cross Jesus not only took away our Sin, but he took away guilt, and shame, and regret. That is wonderful news. But it doesn't seem "real" sometimes because in my life I don't feel it experienced. One of the most haunting areas of my life is my regrets. I don't at all regret situations that I have been in, or grades I've made in school, and I don't regret what others have done (or haven't done) to me. But I regret a great deal what I have done to others, and how my poor and selfish decisions have hurt others.
"But I am a worm and not
a man,
a reproach of men and
despised by the people."
Ps. 22:6
I do have hope that there is redemption... here, and now.
"I would have despaired
unless I had believed
that I would see the
goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living."
Ps 27:13
The greatest hope of all is that one day, we will live perfectly. There will be no sin, no pain... "no curse" (Rev. 22:3). We will be glorified into a state of perfection... and I can't wait for that day. We will be redeemed, together, with all those that we have hurt, those we have cast aside and forgotten, those with whom we have regrets.
But I am sorry for these regrets. I wish I did not have them; I wish I could say like that man did, those years ago: "I have no regrets." But as long as I am me, I will be unable to say such a thing.
The man said, "I have no regrets."
I remember the youth group leader share how we should live without regrets... how on the Cross Jesus not only took away our Sin, but he took away guilt, and shame, and regret. That is wonderful news. But it doesn't seem "real" sometimes because in my life I don't feel it experienced. One of the most haunting areas of my life is my regrets. I don't at all regret situations that I have been in, or grades I've made in school, and I don't regret what others have done (or haven't done) to me. But I regret a great deal what I have done to others, and how my poor and selfish decisions have hurt others.
"But I am a worm and not
a man,
a reproach of men and
despised by the people."
Ps. 22:6
I do have hope that there is redemption... here, and now.
"I would have despaired
unless I had believed
that I would see the
goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living."
Ps 27:13
The greatest hope of all is that one day, we will live perfectly. There will be no sin, no pain... "no curse" (Rev. 22:3). We will be glorified into a state of perfection... and I can't wait for that day. We will be redeemed, together, with all those that we have hurt, those we have cast aside and forgotten, those with whom we have regrets.
But I am sorry for these regrets. I wish I did not have them; I wish I could say like that man did, those years ago: "I have no regrets." But as long as I am me, I will be unable to say such a thing.
