I recently read a story of a man’s heroic act that eventually became a gruesome nightmare that haunted him for the rest of his life. Johann Kuehberger was only five years old when he witnessed his young friend trip on an embankment and fall into the icy Inn River. The young boy who could not swim became frantic. Without hesitation Johann jumped into the frigid water and fished out his young friend. Had he not, the river would have claimed a young life. Who knew that such a tremendous act of selflessness would birth such regret in Johann? The young boy he had saved on that fateful day became one of the most heinous murderers of all time ~ Adolph Hitler.
Can you imagine the horror Johann must have experienced as he watched the rise of such an evil man? How many times did the dark veil of regret eclipse him as he witnessed a devastating holocaust? As a young child Johann couldn’t see through the scope of time to see what he was saving. In a moment of desperate need Johann chose valiant righteousness. If only his heart could have found rest in the understanding that only God knows the future. Only God can address the evil acts of mankind. How can a righteous choice ever become a regret?
But how about moments when righteousness is forsaken and sin is chosen instead?
So many believers struggle to overcome sinful choices of the past. We make the wrong choice and open the door for a dysfunctional cycle of condemnation. We relive. We lament. We regret.
Every interval of regret that sweeps over a human heart adds a layer of disappointment until we have laid upon ourselves a heavy burden that our hearts cannot bear.
In our minds we maximize our failures and minimize God’s power.
We water down the precious blood of Jesus and its ability to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And while we feed ourselves the poison of regret we unknowingly create an idol that consumes our minds and leads us away from God.
Regret is powerful. It is a lethal injection with the ability to infect our emotions, paralyze our minds, inhibit our actions, and even make us physically ill. It makes little difference whether regret is born through a righteous act or a sinful choice. On both ends of the spectrum regret is the same poison. Condemnation is highly effective and very destructive. More than that it is disrespectful to the One who paid such a high price to set our weary hearts free.
Consider this ~ some of the greatest heroes of the faith committed some of the most terrible sins.
– King David, a man after God’s own heart, had an adulterous affair with Bathsheba. When he discovered she was pregnant with his child he positioned her innocent husband on the frontline of a vicious battle so he would be murdered.
– Prior to his conversion the apostle Paul, the one who wrote 2/3 of the New Testament and turned the world upside down with the gospel message, was a terrorist in the ancient times.
– Peter who was one of Jesus’ closest friends and companions turned his back when Jesus needed him most. Not only did he withdraw from Jesus when He was arrested but he denied any association with Him proving his disloyalty.
What is my point in all of this? These men, in all of their human frailty, forsook regret and condemnation for the sake of the gospel. They were powerful men of faith because they refused to amplify their shortcomings and diminish God’s power.
Friends, we are stepping into the year 2020. I can hardly believe it. But the fact that we are already entering another decade is proof that time is short and what we do with our time is critically important. Let us not waste an ounce of energy lamenting over the things we did or should have done. Let us forge ahead with our eyes squarely fixed on Jesus with complete faith that the blood He spilled on Calvary has the power to wash away every sin we have ever committed. It’s time for a new start. Don’t you think?
