By
Shelby G. Floyd
All of God’s people should live our life in such a way, that when we come to the end, we can look back without regret. This means that we must be dedicated to the Lord, study his word and rely upon divine wisdom to make the right choices. Life goes by fast and how many times do we hear someone say, “If I had my life to live over again I would have done such and such.”
John Greenleaf Whittier wrote, “For all sad words of tongue and pen, The saddest are these, ‘It might have been’.” “It might have been.” Religiously this represents those who have neglected the great salvation offered by Christ.
In the letter to the Hebrews the people are warned not to neglect what is spiritually important:
Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him (Hebrews 2:1-3 NKJV).
If we will heed what is said and not neglect our duty, then we can look back without regret and not think about what “might have been.”
No doubt Esau was filled with remorse and regret after he realized he had sold his birthright for a bowl of soup. Esau was a profane person and was filled with regret: “For you know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place for repentance, though he carefully sought it with tears” (Hebrews 12:17). No doubt he looked back and wondered again and again, “what might have been.”
Everyone of us has a sphere of influence for Christ and the church. We have opportunities to do good for those out of Christ and especially for those who are in the household of God (Galatians 6:10). Let each of us zealously work to bring our friends and acquaintances into Christ (Galatians 3:26-29).
Copyright © 2020 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved
Shelby G. Floyd
Heartland Church of Christ
1693 West Main Street
Greenwood, Indiana 46142