Life Without Regrets

Some say we learn from our mistakes. The saying goes, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."


Do you ever have those moments where you want a major do-over? Where you say, "Can we just put things on rewind and try that again? What have I just done? If only this had been different, if only I could have tried this some other way." 


We say..
"If only I had known..."
"If only I had caught on sooner..."
"If only I had not trusted..."


There are days I wish could be marked off the calendar. 
There are things I have said that I want to take back.
I have regrets too many to mention.
Things that I did, and things that I should have done but didn't. 


There are a lot of days where I've wanted a major do-over. 


Some days, when I look back on my health problems, I kick myself in the face. I think, 
"Why didn't you recognize the signs and symptoms sooner?"
"Why didn't you do something about it even after you recognized the symptoms?"
"Why didn't you go home instead of trying to get better and attend classes?"


The story is told of an athlete named Roger Bannister became the first man in history to run a mile in less than four minutes. Within two months, another great competitor John Landy eclipsed the record by a mere 1.4 seconds. On August 7, 1954, the two met together for an exciting and history-making race. As the two runners moved closer to the finish line and into the last lap around the track Landy held the lead. It looked as if he would win the race, but just as he neared the finish he became curious of were Mr. Bannister was. So curious that he turned back to look and Bannister took the lead and won the race! John Landy told the Time Magazine, "If I had not looked back, I would have won!"


We all have those moments. 
"If I had not..."
"If I had..." 
Things would be different today.


I have some good news that I've recently realized. Life is not about trying to get to the end without having a single regret.


Life is not a one way street where we go, trying to live out a perfectly planned map and find the exact outlets where we can live without any regrets.


Are there things you have done you regret?
Are there people you've trusted, but have later regretted it?
Are there things you wish you had gotten, but now regret not getting them?
Places you have gone?


Let me tell you one thing I am not going to regret, and I guarantee, if you are a follower of Christ Jesus, you are not going to regret it either.


I'm not going to regret having a relationship with my Savior Christ Jesus.


And because I have a relationship with Him, I am able to forgive myself every day.


Yesterday, you remember, was hard. There were a lot of things I regretted doing.
Last semester, you know, was difficult. No matter how hard I tried, I never had the right things to say to people who refused forgiveness. I regretted trying so hard.
Last Fall, you know, was a challenge. As I mentioned before, I made some decisions that I regretted for a long time.


But, I was able to forgive myself because I knew Jesus forgave me first. Find comfort knowing that every day, you can forgive yourself for the wrong you have done. You can live a life free of regret. 


At the same time, can I encourage you? Can I encourage you to do everything you can to be like Christ? To show His love to others? To do things you will not regret, but will feel a sense of achievement and accomplishment for?


Don't regret not knowing Jesus. Don't regret not showing His love. Don't regret not forgiving someone. Don't regret not sharing His hope with someone who needs it. Don't regret not helping other people.


Live your life without regrets. Live your life without "If only"s and "I should have"s. Live it in full confidence you have done everything you could to share Jesus and His love with everyone you encounter that day, knowing that even if you mess up, you can forgive yourself because Jesus has forgiven you.