Today’s blog was written by my worship leader, Mike Warner. I am working on possibly the final draft of my book!
‘The Lifter of Regrets’
Frank Sinatra once crooned “Regrets… I’ve had a few. But then again, too few to mention.”
If he, in fact, emerged unscathed by regret after his 80+ years of life, he would indeed be a fortunate soul! But the truth is that most of us – especially as we age – will begin that backward look, casting a critical eye toward our life’s pivotal decisions, opportunities missed, paths not taken, and the like.
Our most abiding regrets seem to stem from 2 things – unrealized ambitions and relationships neglected.
This first category usually consists of all things “me” – so-called ‘bucket list’ items, destinations unvisited, underinvesting for retirement, perhaps a deferred career path. Maybe it was a dream unrealized… or, when after working for years to develop a talent or skill, you still proved insufficient to succeed at what you love to do. Did a fear of failure prevent you from achieving your dream? Or plain old laziness?
The other is more-or-less selfless in origin, sometimes occurring as an unintended casualty of our own ambitions. It consists of missed date nights, not having spent time with a now-deceased parent, or never really being ‘there’ through your children’s growing years.
The latter is particularly painful when we realize a child has grown distant or gone down a troubled path. And no amount of personal remorse can ever make up for that time, once it is lost.
But there is a 3rd category of regret, and that is spiritual. It can only be fully realized once at the Judgement Seat of Christ. This regret will consist of a life not having been lived in obedience & service to the God who gave it to us, in the first place. I can imagine no deeper regret than to hear the Son of God pronounce over you… “Depart from me. I never knew you.” (Mt. 7:23) The biblical description of that moment is of “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Mt. 25:30)
Fortunately, the answer to all 3 kinds of regret is the same… Grace, grace, & grace! It is God’s amazing and unfathomable GRACE that is the great lifter of the burden of regret. And we can rest in the assurance that His grace is indeed “sufficient” for me. (2 Cor. 12:9)
We cannot go back in time and ‘fix’ what we have wrought. But we CAN lay all of our regrets, concerns, worries, and fears in the loving hands of God’s grace through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ at the cross. And this is not just ‘feel-good-ism.’ The cross was a legal transaction – an issue of redemptive justice between the Father & the Son – under which God accepted the offering of the Lamb of God (His Son) as payment in FULL for “the sins of the world.” (John 1:29)
It is also the substance of being able to ‘make peace’ with the things of our past that we are hopeless to change. When we accept that God is sovereign, and that in His great sovereignty He has made perfect provision for all of our shortcomings, we can accept the grace He freely offers. Ours is merely to receive it. It is FREE to us, although purchased with a great price. Thus, to remain harboring and replaying our regrets, when so freely His all-sufficient grace has been lovingly offered, is a backdoor affront to Giver.
Whether we have many or few years ahead of us (only God truly knows), we must not allow the past to define our future -OR- to even be the final word over our life and our relationships! Keep telling yourself “His Grace is sufficient for me. His grace is sufficient for me.” Once our self-talk consists of God’s eternal truths rather than a rehearsal of yesterday’s mistakes, we can live out of the victory and freedom Christ came to give us for TODAY.
If you’re not absolutely certain that if you were to stand before Christ in judgement tonight you would be found faithful, why not talk to God about that right now? Would you like to be free? To experience true peace on the inside? You may also message Donna and ask her about the beautiful redemptive relationship she enjoys with the God who made her in His image. Blessings, and… NO regrets!
Michael Warner, Pastor of Worship & Community
Mike@MyServantChurch.com
Servant Church of the Abington’s
(formerly Clarks Green Assembly of God)
570.574.3836 – cell 570.586.8286 – church office
MyServantChurch.com
204 South Abington Road,
Clarks Green, PA 18411
______Dan Miller, Senior Pastor – Dan@MyServantChurch.com
Denise Warner, Pastor of Worship – Denise@MyServantChurch.com
Louise Cator, Secretary & Office Manager – Secretary@MyServantChurch.com
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