If I had only admitted how I felt sooner. If I had only walked in a moment later. If I had only had the courage to knock. If I’d made the investment, asked the question, been a little bolder or a little less stubborn, how might things have turned out differently? Movie magic is made from these simple musings but so are heart felt regrets. Sometimes it’s not too late to step up or speak up but other times the moment has passed. The apology comes too late. The job opening is filled. The flight departed. A day of reckoning is imminent but as long as the sun rises on a new day or you lie awake in the watches of the night, it’s not too late to take the one step of faith that rights every wrong. Repent.
“But David’s heart struck him after he had numbered the people.
And David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.””
2 Samuel 24:10 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/2sa.24.10.ESV
Is it truly possible to live without regret? It’s a question I’ve pondered often. In prayer, I’ve thanked God that His perfect kingdom will be free of doubt and fear, guilt and shame, hunger and thirst, sickness and disease. His kingdom will also be free of sin, lewdness and depravity, free of temptation, comparison, and poverty of every kind. There will be no second guessing, no heartache, no lording it over anyone ever. No more tears or sadness. No wars or fighting. No envy or jealousy. His is a perfect kingdom.
“For you have placed everything under his authority.
This means that God has left nothing outside the control of his Son, even if presently we have yet to see this accomplished.
But we see Jesus, who as a man, lived for a short time lower than the angels and has now been crowned with glorious honor because of what he suffered in his death.
For it was by God’s grace that he experienced death’s bitterness on behalf of everyone!
For now he towers above all creation, for all things exist through him and for him.
And that God made him, pioneer of our salvation, perfect through his sufferings, for this is how he brings many sons and daughters to share in his glory.
Jesus, the Holy One, makes us holy.
And as sons and daughters, we now belong to his same Father, so he is not ashamed or embarrassed to introduce us as his brothers and sisters!
This is why he had to be a man and take hold of our humanity in every way.
He made us his brothers and sisters and became our merciful and faithful King-Priest before God; as the One who removed our sins to make us one with him.
He suffered and endured every test and temptation, so that he can help us every time we pass through the ordeals of life.”
Hebrews 2:8-11, 17-18 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/heb.2.8-18.TPT
Everything is under God’s authority. Nothing is out of His sovereign control, even if we cannot presently see it. In reality, faith in Jesus finds us already seated with Christ in His eternal kingdom. His Spirit is the seal guaranteeing this future reality. (Ephesians 1:13-14)
“It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin.
You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live.
You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience.
We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat.
It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us.
Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us.
He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ.
He did all this on his own, with no help from us!
Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.
Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus.
Saving is all his idea, and all his work.
All we do is trust him enough to let him do it.
It’s God’s gift from start to finish!
We don’t play the major role.
If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing!
No, we neither make nor save ourselves.
God does both the making and saving.
He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.
That’s plain enough, isn’t it?
You’re no longer wandering exiles.
This kingdom of faith is now your home country.
You’re no longer strangers or outsiders.
You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone.
God is building a home.
He’s using us all in what he is building.
He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation.
Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together.
We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.”
Ephesians 2:1-10, 19-22 MSG
https://bible.com/bible/97/eph.2.1-22.MSG
Faith is surrender. Jesus defined it by His invitation to His first followers and to us. Come, follow Me. If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. (John 1:43, Luke 9:23) There are no qualifying statements like only if you wake up feeling like it today or if you’re not too busy or have nothing better to do. Giving God an unqualified yes, praying not what I want but what You want, Lord and meaning it each day guarantees a life of significance overflowing with divine purpose, a life without regret.
“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you.
Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.
Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.
But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God.
And I want all of you to share that joy.
Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.”
Philippians 2:13-18 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/php.2.18.NLT
It’s why Paul could write urgently to young Timothy asking him to come to him quickly but in the same breath give him certain assurances should he arrive too late.
“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day:
and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
2 Timothy 4:6-8 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/2ti.4.7-8.KJV
Do you long for His appearing? Does the coming of Christ give you cause for joy or for dread, or has it even crossed your mind today? Do you eagerly look forward to and welcome His return? Jesus promised it. Angels confirmed it. Peter wrote under inspiration of the Spirit that mockers would deny it to their own detriment. We are told to look for Him to return in the same way He ascended but not to go looking for Him or to fear missing His return. “For the Son of Man will come like the lightning which flashes across the whole sky from the east to the west.”(Matthew 24:27) His coming will be visible to all.
“Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast.
Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks.
The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded.
I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat!
He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.
You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”
Luke 12:35-38, 40 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.12.35-40.NLT
“I can’t impress this on you too strongly.
God is looking over your shoulder.
Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead.
He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch.
Challenge, warn, and urge your people.
Don’t ever quit.
Just keep it simple.
You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy.
They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages.
But you—keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant.
You take over.
I’m about to die, my life an offering on God’s altar.
(This is Paul to Timothy but we are all called to be living sacrifices. Romans 12:1-2)
This is the only race worth running.
I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way.
All that’s left now is the shouting—God’s applause!
(Do you long to hear God’s invitation, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” Matthew 25:23)
Depend on it, he’s an honest judge.
He’ll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming.”
2 Timothy 4:1-8 MSG
https://bible.com/bible/97/2ti.4.1-8.MSG
“Let those who are wise understand these things.
Let those with discernment listen carefully.
The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them.
But in those paths sinners stumble and fall.”
Hosea 14:9 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/hos.14.9.NLT
“If you want to live well, make sure you understand all of this.
If you know what’s good for you, you’ll learn this inside and out.
God’s paths get you where you want to go.
Right-living people walk them easily; wrong-living people are always tripping and stumbling.”
Hosea 14:9 MSG
https://bible.com/bible/97/hos.14.9.MSG
The victory prize for running well, eyes fixed on Christ, is being made right with God and it is the reward for all who by God’s Spirit have loved and longed for and welcomed Christ’s coming. All things are being made new. All that is broken by sin and self will in creation is being restored. We await a new heaven and a new earth. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for His bride and He will return and we will be with the Lord forever. Hear John’s closing words in the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
“The Holy Spirit and the bride say, “Come!”
And the person who hears should say, “Come!”
Anyone who is thirsty should come.
Anyone who wants to take the free gift of the water of life should do so.
Jesus is a witness about these things.
He says, “Yes. I am coming soon.”
Amen.
Come, Lord Jesus!
May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.
Amen.”
Revelation 22:17, 20-21 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/rev.22.17-21.NIRV
““Here is what the kingdom of heaven will be like at that time.
Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went out to meet the groom.
Five of them were foolish.
Five were wise.
The foolish ones took their lamps but didn’t take any olive oil with them.
The wise ones took oil in jars along with their lamps.
The groom did not come for a long time. So the bridesmaids all grew tired and fell asleep.
At midnight someone cried out, ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him!’
Then all the bridesmaids woke up and got their lamps ready.
The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil. Our lamps are going out.’
‘No,’ they replied. ‘There may not be enough for all of us. Instead, go to those who sell oil. Buy some for yourselves.’
So they went to buy the oil. But while they were on their way, the groom arrived.
The bridesmaids who were ready went in with him to the wedding dinner.
Then the door was shut.
Later, the other bridesmaids also came.
‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’
But he replied, ‘What I’m about to tell you is true. I don’t know you.’
So keep watch.
You do not know the day or the hour that the groom will come.”
Matthew 25:1-13 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/mat.25.13.NIRV
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