If you are willing and obedient. Isaiah 1:19
In his autobiography, Just as I Am, Billy Graham references a conversation he had with John F. Kennedy shortly after Kennedy’s election.
“On the way back to the Kennedy house, the president-elect stopped the car and turned to me. ‘Do you believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?’ he asked. ‘I most certainly do,” replied Dr. Graham.
‘Well, does my church believe it?’ ‘They have it in their creeds.’ ‘They don’t preach it,’ Kennedy said. ‘They don’t tell us much about it. I’d like to know what you think.’
I explained what the Bible said about Christ coming the first time, dying on the Cross, rising from the dead, and then promising that he would come back again. ‘Only then,’ I said, ‘are we going to have permanent world peace.’
‘Very interesting,’ he said, looking away. ‘We’ll have to talk more about that someday.’ And he drove on.”
Several years later, the two met again, at the 1963 National Prayer Breakfast. “I had the flu,” Graham remembers. “After I gave my short talk, and he gave his, we walked out of the hotel to his car together, as was always our custom. At the curb, he turned to me. ‘Billy, could you ride back to the White House with me? I’d like to see you for a minute.’‘
Mr. President, I’ve got a fever,’ I protested. ‘Not only am I weak, but I don’t want to give you this thing. Couldn’t we wait and talk some other time?’ It was a cold, snowy day, and I was freezing as I stood there without my overcoat.’ Of course,’ he said graciously.”
But the two would never meet again. Later that year, Kennedy was shot dead. Graham comments, “His hesitation at the car door, and his request, haunt me still. What was on his mind? Should I have gone with him? It was an irrecoverable moment.”[1]
The honesty and transparency of one of history’s most beloved preachers reveals the staggering reality of regrets. We all have them. We all wish we could have practiced in foresight what we have embraced in hindsight.
Consider two very simple steps in effectively responding to life’s regrets:
First, allow personal regrets to urge you to experience the grace of God more deeply. Regrets are usually the result of bad mistakes (unwittingly or not). Allow regrets to lead you to repentance. Regrets represent our sorrow over a mistake. Repentance represents our sorrow over mistakes that do not honor our Lord. Regrets focus us on what we have done. Repentance focuses upon who we have offended. Allow regrets to lead you to God in repentance. You will most assuredly experience His grace, forgiveness, and restoration.
Second, allow the reality of regrets to move you closer to God’s Word. The Scriptures are indeed a guide to our lives. God’s truths become life’s necessary precepts that bring His direction for our lives – instruction for our attitudes and actions. The more that we obey God’s Word, the less we will have to regret. The prophet once declared to God’s people, “If you are willing and obedient you will eat the good of the land” (Isaiah 1:19). Although this truth speaks historically of Israel’s physical blessings, God’s principle stands clear: obedience to His Word always leads to spiritual blessings.
Have you felt the sting of regrets? Use that disappointment to lead you more deeply to a contrite heart before God to experience His forgiveness and restoration. Then, recommit to obeying His Word. You will most certainly be blessed.
So today, renew your fervor to obey God and follow His promptings in your life. And in this way, live without regrets.
Blessings in Christ,
Ken
[1] Billy Graham. Just as I am. The Autobiography of Billy Graham (New York: Harper Collins, 1997).
