NO REGRETS
Isaiah 64:4-6 NLT
[4] For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him! [5] You welcome those who gladly do good, who follow godly ways. But you have been very angry with us, for we are not godly. We are constant sinners; how can people like us be saved? [6] We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.
Benjamin Disraeli was both a novelist and a brilliant twentieth-century statesman who twice served as Prime Minister of Britain.
He wrote, “Youth is a blunder; Manhood a struggle; Old Age a regret.” Looking back over his tumultuous life, he no doubt could see plenty of reasons for regret. His disastrous venture into speculative investments saddled him with crippling debt, his questionable relationship with a society lady tarnished him with scandal, his critical writings about colleagues created major disruptions in business and his policy of “never complain and never explain” did not always endear him to the political world. Regrets there could be aplenty!
Regrets also dominated Isaiah’s thoughts as he surveyed his social landscape. He recalled with joy the days when the Lord “came down” and “did awesome things beyond our highest expectations.” “Oh, how the mountains quaked!” Isaiah exclaimed (Isaiah 64:3). But those days were gone, and now he longed to see them return (Isaiah 64:1-2).
Isaiah lived in days when the people were ungodly. He confessed, “We are not godly. We are constant sinners, so your anger is heavy on us. . . . No one calls on your name or pleads with you for mercy. Therefore, you have turned away from us and turned us over to our sins” (Isaiah 64:5, 7).
The people had been privileged beyond measure. “Since the world began, no ear has heard, and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!” (Isaiah 64:4). But they had not “waited for” God. The Lord “welcome[s] those who cheerfully do good, who follow godly ways” (Isaiah 64:5). But this they had refused to do. As a result, they were like “autumn leaves” that “wither and fall” (Isaiah 64:6).
But the Lord had not changed, he was still their Father, still, the potter who had formed them. If their regret matured into repentance, the mountains could quake again.
Not all men wait until old age to engage in regrets. Circumstances catch up with some of them much earlier in life, leading to solemn contemplation and reevaluation—and deep regret. Thoughts of what-might-have-been flood the mind. “If only” dominates reflection, past mistakes are recognized, and missed opportunities are mourned. Sometimes, but not always, it is not too late to undo some of the damage and restore some of the hope of earlier years.
To avoid an old age of regret, learn to regret and repent early. And if it’s too late for that, repent now anyway. Better late than never. It’s never too late for hope. (Isaiah 64:6) Sin makes us unclean so that we cannot approach God (Isaiah 64:5) any more than a beggar in filthy rags could dine at a king’s table. Our best efforts are still infected with sin. Our only hope, therefore, is faith in Jesus Christ, who can cleanse us and bring us into God’s presence.
Romans 3:23 NIV
[23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
This passage can easily be misunderstood. It doesn’t mean that God will reject us if we come to him in faith, nor that he despises our efforts to please him. It means that if we come to him demanding acceptance on the basis of our “good” conduct, God will point out that our righteousness is but filthy rags compared to his infinite righteousness. This message is primarily for the unrepentant person, not the true follower of God.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NIV
[13] Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. [14] For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
Getting your priorities right now can allow you to enjoy your life with the peace of mind that you are living for eternity
May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!