Even if you’re not as old as I am, you may remember Frank Sinatra's “I did it My Way,” with the familiar line: “Regrets, I’ve had a few, but then again, too few to mention.” Of course everyone knows no one can live without regrets. The Bible abounds with regretful people. ‘Regret’ is an unhealthy feeling of sorrow about something that one wishes could be different; and that kind of sorrow can control one's life.
In Paul’s 2nd letter to the Corinthians, he speaks of two sorrows: there is self-oriented sorrow (the result of unresolved regret); and there is a God-initiated sorrow (leading to repentance and freedom). “The kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads to salvation. And there's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death” (7:10).
Two disciples with the most to regret were Peter and Judas. Peter’s sorrow led to repentance. But Judas’ sorrow led to death. Certainly Jesus would have forgiven Judas had he repented! Or for that matter, Frank Sinatra, who could have sung, “Regrets, more than a few; but then again, no need to mention.”
From the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic, people are on tornado watch today. By all accounts, this is the worst tornado season in recorded history. And the worst of it all may be yet to come since tornado season doesn’t reach its peak until May.
Severe storms find their parallel in human trial and tribulation that blow through our lives, often leaving us feeling destroyed. Our faith seems tested beyond what we can endure. It is at these times, we must stand firm in our faith (1 Cor. 16:13; 1 Thess. 3:8). But unless we are grounded in the Word, really believing what God says, we will “be tossed and blown about” (Eph. 4:14) when the trials come.
We must have a telescopic vision, magnifying Jesus who can make everything ‘good’ (Ro. 8:28). We must keep looking to our future hope when Jesus “will wipe every tear from [our] eyes,” when there will be “no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.. [when] all these things are gone forever" (Rev. 21:4). People of faith will not be blown off track when things don’t make sense. Listen to what David Wilkerson says today:
To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights—and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, “I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident. It was no failure on your part. Hold fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of pain.” Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word. There is no other hope in this world.
My Belizean friend wrote to me recently: “I guess that the Good Lord has come to hear the crying of the few, and now He is moving.” I thought about his words 'the crying of the few.' "Yes," I thought, "but how few are crying these days." Immediately the story of Nehemiah came to mind: When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days (1:4a). What caused Nehemiah’s sorrow? Learning that the Jews who had returned to Judah were disgraced by the condition of Jerusalem—its outer walls broken. The same word “broken” is used in Psalm 51:17 for a "broken” heart.
Nehemiah’s heart was broken over the condition of God’s people. And when Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem some months later, not only did he rebuild the broken walls, he ‘restored’ the broken people. The Bible says as he read the Law, the people recognized their sinful condition and wept (Neh. 8:9).
Where is the weeping of God’s people today? Why is my own heart not more broken over the condition of God’s people in our age? Why are we not more grieved over the way this disparages the Lord’s reputation? Perhaps it is time to regard the words of James: Let there be tears for the wrong things you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Then, James immediately provides us with this promise of hope: When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor (James 4:9-10 NLT). But let me end with an even more positive note. After the Jews had wept, confessed, and repented, Nehemiah said: Do not be grieved [anymore], for the joy of the Lord is your strength (Neh. 8:10).
