I Have No Regrets
Actually, I do. And, I hope you do to. The phrase, “I have no regrets” seems harmless, but it is often a symptom of a world that is humanistic and self-indulgent. Looming behind this proclamation for many is the conclusion that
they have found all that they need through life’s experiences – good and bad.
And, at the end of the day, they have risen to the occasion. They have
survived! Perhaps with a few scars. But, those battles and failures were all
necessary and important to get them to where they have arrived today.
We can all embrace some of the ‘no regrets’ philosophy in that we should
strive to make the most of our days. Yes, we – hopefully – can learn from our
mistakes. Yes, we often do rise to the top and find a sense of accomplishment when
we’ve struggled through tough times. But, where did we get the strength to overcome?
Where do we find our source of hope?
- Resourcefulness
- Self-motivation
- Good luck
- Shrewdness
- Instinct
- Sheer determination
- or perhaps, Karma
As the mantra of ‘no regrets’ seeps slowly into the minds of the next generation, my spirit is increasingly unsettled. Why? Because, in its purest form,
having 'no regrets' means that there is no sorrow or disappointments found in our personal life choices. There is no need to make amends for past mistakes or misdeeds
toward others. There is no sense of wrongdoing, and thus no need to ask for
forgiveness.
God’s Word is often diluted and misinterpreted within this philosophy to a simple statement of “All
things work together for good.” (Which
really doesn’t resemble the intended message of Romans 8:28 at all.) So, the conclusion
is this: Good, bad, ugly - it’s all good. The danger in this utopian mindset is that
a key element is missing. In an effort to justify all the bad that happens in
the world and how good can be found in every situation, the adherent has been blinded
of their need for a Savior.
Even when there is a form of ‘worldly sorrow’ it is of the nature in
which one is regretful of being caught and is in fear of punishment. The
consequences of the sin are of a temporary concern, rather than an
acknowledgement of any significant wrongdoing. However, ‘godly sorrow’ is the
beginning of true freedom. It doesn’t focus on the punishment for getting
caught in sin, but instead leads to restoration. Paul puts it this way
in 2 Corinthians 7:10a -“Godly sorrow
brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret.”
So, what about believers? Should we live within the ‘no regrets’
mindset or should we hold onto our regrets? Perhaps a little bit of both. With
Christ, we have no regrets because our sins are forgiven and are not remembered
against us. With Christ, we still have regrets (sadness and disappointment) because of the great price Christ
paid to rescue and redeem us from the penalty that was fully ours to bear. With
Christ, we do not live in an repressed manner, and yet we will still live with the consequences of past sin. With Christ, we live in humility and full knowledge of the sacrifices freely given to restore us to our Savior.
We are given life more abundantly because of all that our Savior has forgiven us of. We must not forget where we have come from even as we embrace the invitation
to live in celebration of the sacrifice and love that God has lavished on us.
Because of His great love for us, we are free from sin. And, free to live life beyond regrets.
“How great is the love the Father
has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” 1 John 3:1a
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