"NO REGRETS"

"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." - James 4:14

When you think about it we are such temporal beings with a mere 70, 80 or 90 years (or possibly a lot less) and then we're gone from these earthen vessels (bodies) to an eternity with God or without God.

Two things I would like to cover in today's devotion are:

ONE: Life is short, don't let RELATIONSHIP problems become REGRETS!

"If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." - Romans 12:18

"And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." - Mark 11:25

My mom passed away in 1988 with cancer at the age of 57. Though I miss her a lot, I know she is with the LORD, and I have no regrets about our relationship. I loved her and also had no bitterness or anything else between us at her death. I tried to spend more time with her when it became obvious that outside of a miracle, my mom's days were numbered and almost up. So when she went home to JESUS, although it was hard to let her go, thanks be to God, there were NO REGRETS!

Now I try to not have unforgiveness, bitterness, ill feelings, etc., with anyone in my life, as I don't know what tomorrow brings for them or me. So live with others in such a way that if tomorrow should separate you from them, you will have NO REGRETS.

There is ONE story I would like to share in which I do REGRET the outcome (I do have others too). I don't share it with SHAME (God took that away), but I'm surely not proud of it. I hope it will help some of you that have some REGRETS from relationships that YOU CANNOT PATCH UP. Back in the early 80's when I was a bold Christian and Bible School student, I worked full-time in a small factory. One of my coworkers was a real "dude" and seemed "high" like from drugs. I used to say to the other workers about him, "what a space cadet". Someone decided they should tell him that I called him that, so they did. And he came to me and basically told me that was not a very nice thing to say about him. I was sort of apologetic, but knew I had been a bad witness by my unkind words. Shortly thereafter, I heard he had been in a motorcycle accident and died.

I REGRET my actions and bad witness to him. So, how did I handle this? I had to ask God's forgiveness, and from that time on I have tried to make sure not to do such a thing again.

You can't undo what's already been done. If you have a REGRET (a parent, family member, friend or foe that has passed away) that you can't make right a wrong with that person, you MUST ask GOD to forgive YOU and you MUST also forgive YOURSELF! Then you MUST move on with the goal to not have anymore relational regrets in this life.

If you need to make right something and can do so, either in person or in your heart, then do it. Sometimes, it's a heart issue between you and God.

TWO: Life is short, make sure you have lived this LIFE for CHRIST.

I have always wanted to hear when I stand before God, "......Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord". - Matt. 25:21

I don't want my life for Christ to be wood, hay and stubble (that which was not "purely" done for Christ) before God as then they will just burn up and be NO MORE. I want my life to be gold, silver and precious stone. In other words, that which was done purely for CHRIST and will be of ETERNAL LASTING VALUE. (See 1 Cor. 3:12-15)

I would like to share a symbolic story: "A man died, and as he stood before God, people were bowing and casting their crowns before God. This man asked what these crowns were and he was told the crowns represent all that you did for Christ (out of a pure heart) during your lifetime and thus represent how much you love the LORD. To this man's shame, when he threw his crown before the LORD it was only the size of a thimble and he knew that this represented his pure actions and love for Christ while on earth".

Brother and sister in Christ, this story is not to condemn, but to encourage us to live with ALL our hearts for the LORD. It's not too late for you. You have time to live with ALL your heart for the LORD, be it a minute, a day, a month, a year, or for many years!

Daily, I try to evaluate my walk with our LORD, ALWAYS striving and hoping to improve it.

Remember, ALL that is not done for CHRIST will PASS, only what is done for Christ will LAST.

May your life with others and with Christ be WITHOUT REGRETS from this day forward.

Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I come to you now and ask you to FORGIVE me for REGRETS from my past, and I also FORGIVE MYSELF for all unforgiveness is wrong even against myself. I also make a decision to live PURELY for YOU from this day forward and to have NO MORE REGRETS. Thank you, Father, that I am condemnation free and know YOU will always be there for me.
And should I fail in the future, convict me, that my future failure won't turn into REGRETS. Thank you for victory in my Christian life as I put YOU FIRST. In Jesus' Name, AMEN!

><>'·*~.,.~*¤*~.,.~*+<»†«>+*~.,.~*¤*~.,.~*·'<><