Recently I read a quote from a grand ol' theologian who lived quite a number of years ago. In general, I love to read what he wrote. His words are a blessing and an exhortation.
However, this particular quote gave me some pause. It said something to this effect:
"Let us strive to have no regrets on our deathbed."
I know I will have regrets on my deathbed. I just will. I will regret not being braver, of saying nothing when I ought to have said something - or saying something when I ought to have said nothing at all. I will regret that I let opportunities pass by. I will regret that I have not loved as deeply or truthfully as I could have. I will regret every time I was unjustifiably angry. I will perhaps regret, as Andrew Fuller did on his own deathbed, that I will not have enough strength left to worship God.
But it's not about my regrets.
Life is not about being able to lay down your head for the last time and say, "I'm happy with what I've done and been."
Life - and death - are about Christ Jesus. It is about what He has done for me.
I will have regrets. Yet all my regrets will be demolished by this one thought:
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! (1 Corinthians 15:57)
All my regrets are washed and overcome by my Saviour. As I lay dying, if I am not taken swiftly, I hope that my mind will not dwell on what I have accomplished (or failed to accomplish). I hope my mind will be dwelling on my Jesus, praising Him for His gift of salvation, and smiling upon the last few moments of life that are all that remains between me and seeing His face.
When by His grace I shall look on His face, That will be glory, be glory for me!
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is possible for a human to be without regrets, because of our sin nature. Until we die we will sin. It is possible for us to forgive others who may regret what they have done to us personally, but our own regrets will always follow us. That is the reminder, the stain, the badge of being human. Being obedient to Gods word will give us less and less to regret, but we'll still have them.
ReplyDeleteWhat JOY! Christ has paid for it; sealed our fate on that cross so that we don't dwell on our regrets but only long to see his glorious face and hear his beautiful words.