Throughout the Bible there are people who experienced the feeling of regret. Regret is one of those feelings that hits hard, for me it makes my stomach churn! The definition of regret from the Cambridge dictionary is that regret is “a feeling of sadness about something sad or wrong or about a mistake that you have made, and a wish that it could have been different and better.” I am sure that we have all felt this more than once in our lives so far.
During Jesus’ most difficult night Peter denied Him 3 times as Jesus foretold in Luke 22:34 saying “I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.” Just a few verses later in Luke 22:61-62 the cock crowed for the third time then Jesus looked at Peter and immediately Peter realised what he had done. I can only imagine just how bad Peter felt as that awful wave of realisation and regret washed over him. Peter wept bitterly as he regretted denying his friend, mentor and Lord. The thought of “If only I had been strong and faithful and declared that I know Him” must have resounded in his mind along with a few other if only’s. Jesus in His love, mercy and grace gave Peter the opportunity to make up for his mistake in John 21:15-17.
In the story of the woman caught in adultery as told in John 8:1-11 we see that she is bought before Jesus and the people in the temple, most probably naked with the Pharisees announcing loudly that she had been caught in adultery, in the very act. As she lay in the dirt exposed physically and morally before God Himself we can only image the magnitude of regret she felt. The thoughts of “If only I hadn’t been with this man” “If only I had stopped living this lifestyle” must have been hounding her. Again Jesus in His love, mercy and grace gave her the opportunity to make up for her mistakes by changing her life from that moment onwards.
There are many others in the Bible who made mistakes, regretted them and had the opportunity to repent and make up for their transgressions. For now, Jesus gives us the opportunity to turn away from the things we do that hurt Him and are potential stumbling blocks in our salvation. However, there is a time coming where we will no longer be able to repent. As SDAs we talk about the Mark of the Beast and what it is but we often forget to discuss is the closing of probation for all alive on Earth including ourselves.
Once we have made our choice based on how we respond to the Holy Spirits promptings to get ready, fill our lamps with oil, to study Gods word or to prepare for the deceptions and trials soon to be upon us the Angels of Heaven will either seal us with Gods seal or we will receive the Mark of the Beast and there will be no turning back. No 2nd chances. As per Revelation 22:11 “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.”
The majority of the Christian world believe that the church will be raptured to Heaven before the tribulation which will last for seven years in which people will have a 2nd chance to pledge their allegiance to Jesus. This is a false teaching found nowhere in the Bible. Inspired by satan to deceive many into thinking that they can live in their sins until the last minute. So many will say “if only I had listened to the warnings and repented of my sins.”
Before Noah’s flood there was a close of probation for the Antediluvians, when the door to the ark closed it symbolised the end of probation for them all. Noah preached for 120 years vocally and by his actions by displaying his trust in God and building the ark. His undiluted faith in God was displayed for all to see as he built an ark for rain and flooding that the world had never seen before. Most of the Antediluvians ignored him but there were no doubt some who were being convinced by Noah and when it came to the time to enter the ark they refused, maybe because they didn’t want to be mocked, or they doubted that it would rain, maybe their families didn’t want to go so they stayed with them. Unbeknown to them when the door closed they had made their final decision. As recorded by the Spirit of Prophecy in Patriarchs and Prophets page 67 paragraph 3 she tells us “The ark was finished in every part as the Lord had directed, and was stored with food for man and beast. And now the servant of God made his last solemn appeal to the people. With an agony of desire that words cannot express, he entreated them to seek a refuge while it might be found. Again they rejected his words, and raised their voices in jest and scoffing.” As the rain started we can only imagine the fear and regret they all must have felt. Most echoing the sentiments of “If only I had listened”, “if only I had got on the ark”, “if only I hadn’t listened to my family, friends etc who told me to not get in.”
God in His mercy, grace and love is giving us the chance to sort out our “if only’s” now. We are seeing the increasing wars, pestilences, famines and natural disasters all around the world that are not only increasing in frequency but in strength too. Like a woman in labour the signs of Jesus’ coming are showing us that it won’t be long, how long we don’t know but the season is here. We need to be ready. My fear is to be resurrected in the “resurrection of damnation” as per John 5:29, realising that I didn’t make it and God showing me why. As I stand shellshocked and distraught the thoughts of “If only I had taken the health message given to our church seriously”, “If only I had read and studied my Bible”, “If only I had stopped being entertained by sin and violence in TV shows, movies, music and/or video games”, “If only I had acted on the Holy Spirit’s promptings”, “If only I had made more time for God”, “If only I hadn’t waited to give my life to Jesus…”
The good news! We still have time, we still have right now! We are in our very nature fallen and all have our own “If only’s” and today is the day we need to ask God to help us to overcome them. We need to daily pray for forgiveness for sins and for help to overcome sin. I believe we should be also be asking for God to point out our “If only’s” and ask Him to help us to fix them before it’s too late. We need to listen to the nagging voice that tells us that “this is wrong” and do something about it today. Today is the day we can begin to really listen to the Holy Spirit and make the changes needed to give us the best opportunity to weather the storms swiftly approaching with God’s help now and during the storms. My prayer is that on that first day in Heaven we all say “Thank God I dealt with my “If only’s!””
