By: Denny

There is a new TV show called “Ordinary Joe”. It’s about a guy who immediately after his college graduation ceremony made a certain choice. I think he eventually becomes a doctor, gets married and has a family. The show then takes you back to explore two options of other lives Joe may have had based on altering that one decision he made years ago. I think in one life he is a singer and a firefighter in another. I didn’t care for it and only watched it twice. It makes for good fictional entertainment, and in my opinion, it isn’t a bad show unlike so much trash on TV these days, including commercials. Speaking of which, I’m tired of seeing all the Medicare Advantage plan pitches by has-been personalities, so there!

I think we all at one time or another have either said or heard someone say, “If I had it to do over, I’d do things different”. Or perhaps you’re stuck on the “If onlys”. You know, those things of the past where you think, “If only I would’ve, if only I could’ve, and I should’ve”. Perhaps it was a decision you either regret making or not making. It’s so easy to allow ourselves to dwell on past mistakes or bad decisions. Looking back, we often replay events in our minds and wonder how different our lives would be today if we could just go back and change one act or word spoken. However, there is nothing we can do about the “Would’ves, Could’ves and Should’ves”, but we still think about them and try to envision a different outcome. I believe this becomes more prevalent as we age and gain some life experiences, because when you’re young you think you know it all.  As I’m writing this many incidents in my life come to mind. Some were very serious bad choices and decisions, and others were just simple mistakes. Some things happen to us resulting from choices others make that we have no control over, yet it changes the course of our lives too. I don’t need to make a list of examples because mine would be different from yours. You know what I’m talking about though, since it’s happened to you also. We never know from day to day or moment to moment what lies ahead whether it will be good or bad. If we knew the bad, we’d probably be crippled with fear and anxiety and just stay home and lock the doors, but what kind of a life would that be. My parents and grandparents faced their own unique trials in their lives and probably made some mistakes and decisions they regretted. As it states in the book of Ecclesiastes, “There is nothing new under the sun”.

The Bible is full of people who made some terrible mistakes. For instance, King David made the mistake of staying home when he should’ve been out on the battlefield with his soldiers. One sleepless night he takes a stroll on the palace roof and notices a woman bathing. (2 Samuel 11) He makes a bad decision which led to the sins of adultery and murder on his part. Even though David confessed his sin and God forgave him, the consequences rippled through his family causing much pain, suffering and loss of lives. On the other hand, Joseph made the right decision when he ran away from Potiphar’s wife, resisting her advances toward him. (Genesis 39) She falsely accused him of attacking her, and he was thrown in prison. He suffered unjustly, but God had a plan, and he eventually became the number two man of power in Egypt. As a result, his entire family prospered and was saved from famine. Paul held the coats of those who stoned Stephen to death, watching on in approval. He persecuted Christians putting them in prison and having some killed. He was notorious and his name struck fear into the early Church. In his later writings he called himself the chief of sinners. One day he had an encounter with Jesus Christ the risen Savior, and his life was transformed forever. He is credited for writing much of the New Testament and for taking the Gospel to nations. Paul could’ve spent his whole life regretting his past mistakes and sins, living in guilt and shame. However, he writes in Philippians 3:13, “One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”. It was by the grace shown to him by God that he could make that proclamation.

From cover to cover the Bible is a book of redemption. In Christ there aren’t any “Do-overs” only “Start Overs”. From the very beginning God demanded that payment for sin was satisfied by the shedding of blood, and without it there was no forgiveness. When Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood, He did it for everyone who by faith would accept His sacrifice as payment for their sins and receive forgiveness. You are human and in need of forgiveness for your sins, but Jesus also died to give you grace for everyday simple mistakes and decisions which in themselves aren’t sinful. Stop kicking yourself and living with regret, guilt, and shame over those things in the past you can’t change. Come to Jesus today and “Start Over”! There is an old song we used to sing in church, and it goes like this:

I'm free from the fears of tomorrow
I'm free from the guilt of the past
I've traded my shackles for a glorious crown
I'm free praise the Lord free at last

Trade your past for His grace today and show some to others for their mistakes too. You’ll be surprised how it will free you, and God will turn around all those things of the past and work them for good. It will be the best decision you’ll ever make with no later regrets!