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People regret the things they have not done before. When they meet a foreigner and are unable to say anything, they regret not having studied a foreign language harder during their school days. When they are old, they regret not having listened to their parents who told them to study hard and work diligently while they were young.
There are many things in our life that we may end up regretting. However, spiritually, we must live a life without any regrets. God has given us the truth which will not make us regret, and He has even allowed us the inheritance of the everlasting heavenly kingdom. Realizing the value of the kingdom of heaven promised by God, all the people of Zion should live their daily lives more faithfully, so that they will not have any regrets.
Disasters and our mission in this age
Discovery Channel once presented mini-series depicting the worst-case scenario entitled “Worst Disasters” using computer graphics—the disasters which major cities could expect in the near future if hit by extreme weather. The series includes a super typhoon brewing up to swallow Hong Kong, China; a super tornado bearing down on Dallas, Texas, USA; a solar storm threatening New York, USA; a mega flood overtaking London, England; a fire storm blazing toward Sydney, Australia; and an ice storm that could bring Montreal, Canada to a standstill. This program vividly dramatizes the high possibilities of these disasters predicted by experts. They said that the program was designed to warn about the seriousness of the situation and explore ways to deal with the problem.
Now the abnormal weather phenomena caused by global warming are affecting the whole world. In the summer of 2007, Australia suffered its “worst drought in 1,000 years,” and soon it was struck by floods. Around the same time, it was successively reported that floods and landslides in central and southern China caused many deaths and left over 600,000 people homeless.
Ice caps at the North and South Poles are rapidly melting away. In Korea, the annual average temperature increases by about 1.5°C [34.7 °F] and it causes its climate to change—from a temperate climate into a subtropical one. If these weather phenomena continue to occur, a huge, powerful typhoon may strike Korea. Nowadays, many people, as well as scientists and the mass media, warn about such an “unheard-of disaster” (Ezekiel 7) and express serious concerns about it.
There are many disasters prophesied in the Bible. This reveals God’s will to help human beings discern this present time and know the way to be saved from the disasters. Now, let’s think about what we should do to live a life without regrets. Somebody said, “Even if the world comes to an end tomorrow, I will still plant an apple tree today.” However, if this situation arises, wouldn’t it be better to save one more soul today? It would be more meaningful and worthwhile to save one more soul from disasters than to make an effort to plant an apple tree.
Regret for not having prepared the oil of faith
Let’s find out what kind of things might cause us eternal regret, by taking a look at some Biblical verses.
At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ … The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’ But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” Mt 25:1-13
In the parable, the five wise virgins were well prepared so that they would not have any regrets, while the other five were foolish and ended up with regrets. After the door was shut, the foolish ones must have regretted that they had not made themselves ready by taking enough oil before the bridegroom came.
Later they came and knocked at the door, saying, “Lord, Lord, open the door for us.” However, there was no more opportunity for them. The Bible tells us that it is too late to prepare for the coming of the bridegroom after the cry rings out: “Come out to meet him!” We must always keep watch and prepare for the coming of the Bridegroom, because we do not know when He will come—whether today, or tomorrow, or at midnight, or at dawn, or when we are sleeping, just as Jesus told His loving children 2,000 years ago (Mk 13:35).
If we are now like the foolish virgins, let us prepare the oil of faith from now on. It is not too late. Like the five wise virgins, we must be ready for the coming of the Bridegroom.
Regret for having gained nothing with God-given talent
The parable of the talents also teaches us the same lesson.
“… To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five… . His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! …’ The man with the two talents also came … His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! …’ Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘… So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! … And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” Mt 25:14-30
The man who had received the five talents and the one with the two talents put their money to work and gained more talents. They lived a meaningful life without regrets. As a result, they received compliments and rewards from their master. However, the man who had received the one talent buried the talent in the ground and did nothing with it. Eventually he was thrown outside. Being thrown into the darkness, he must have regretted the error he had committed.
When it comes to regret, we cannot exclude Judas Iscariot. After betraying Jesus for 30 silver coins, he realized his sin and regretted it. The moment he regretted, however, he came to die.
The regret of Judas Iscariot and of the man with the one talent was for what they had not done. Judas Iscariot must have regretted that he had not been faithful to Jesus, and the man with the one talent must have regretted that he had done nothing with his talent and only buried it in the ground—that he had not preached the truth of the good news of God to many people around him after hearing it and failed to gain more talents.
We must not end up with regrets like them. Wouldn’t it be better to do things, rather than do nothing and regret? Now, let us diligently do what pleases God the most—the blessed task which contains God’s promise to make us shine like the stars for ever and ever in the everlasting kingdom of God. If we put our work off and waste our time in idleness like the lazy servant who had received the one talent, those who forcefully advance toward the kingdom of heaven will lay hold of it (Mt 11:12).
Faith that forcefully advances toward the kingdom of heaven
Jacob is a representative person who forcefully advanced toward the kingdom of heaven and obtained God’s blessing. Even when his hip was wrenched from its socket, he passionately tried to obtain a blessing from God, whatever it was, with all his heart and soul, and acquired it in the end. The eldest son was Esau. According to social customs in those days, it was almost impossible for Jacob, his younger brother, to receive the birthright. Nevertheless, he acquired it. Of course, God had prophesied about him. However, whoever forcefully advances—whoever makes every effort—will surely obtain what he desires.
Esau did not value his birthright and took it for granted, so he made no effort and eventually he was deprived of his birthright. After losing his right of inheritance, he regretted his impulsive decision, like Judas Iscariot and the man with the one talent. Esau regretted that he had despised his birthright and sold it to his younger brother for a bowl of lentil stew. He said to his father Isaac, “Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!” However, it was too late. All the blessings had already been passed on to Jacob. After realizing that his younger brother took away his blessing, he wept aloud bitterly (Ge 25:21-34; 27:1-40).
“… he burst out with a loud and bitter cry.” These words show how bitterly and tearfully Esau regretted his rashness. If he had valued his birthright, he would not have sold it for a single meal no matter how hungry he was. He thought little of his birthright and threw it away. When Esau gave up his birthright to Jacob, he probably did not know that he would end up regretting it later on. ‘If only I could turn back time! If I had endured my immediate hunger at that time, I would have kept my birthright.’ However, it was useless to regret.
‘Why didn’t I do it at that time?’
‘Why didn’t I control myself and be more patient?’
‘Why didn’t I prepare enough oil for my lamp?’
These regretful words must have been uttered by Esau, Judas Iscariot, the man with the one talent, and the five foolish virgins. In order to have no such regrets, we should do what God said as follows:
Obtain eternal glory by doing the spiritual work
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things … Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. Col 3:1-6
As stated above, God’s children, who have been raised with Christ, should pursue heavenly things and seek the glory of the kingdom of God. By doing this, we should have no regrets. It is useless if one begs God at the last moment of his life, “Please give me some more time, and I will be faithful, even to the point of death, doing this and that.”
We should start today. Tomorrow is too late. Today is the best time to start everything. Yesterday is the past, and tomorrow is the future—which is “unreal” or not yet “actual.” However, today is here. The wisest person is the one who starts today without putting things off until tomorrow, so that he will not regret—‘Why didn’t I do that?’
Nothing can be gained without effort. We should not waste our time regretting the things that we have not done, but should diligently put things into practice, so that each of us can stand before God as the wise person who received the ten talents and gained ten more. Let us prepare for the kingdom of heaven by having enough oil for our lamps, participating together in God-pleasing work—the preaching of the gospel—in these last days.
… But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. Da 12:1-3
God has promised that those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars for ever and ever. God has given us all the opportunity to work for Him—the opportunity to preach the gospel, the opportunity to willingly obey His will, and so on. And in the end God will reward everyone according to what he has done, just as He said (Rev 22:12).
We should not waste our time indulging in meaningless affairs, but should arise and shine the light of the gospel in this dark world. We should not end up with eternal regrets for what we have just thought of and not put into practice. ‘If I obey God’s will more willingly and enthusiastically while on earth, I would have become better than I am today …’ These regretful words must not be uttered by any of us. Wherever we are, whatever position or situation we are in, we—the people of Zion—shall diligently preach the new covenant of life and save the world.
Paul’s conviction and Demas’ regret
We can come to the blessing and glory of God if we strive to preach the gospel, which contains God’s promises of blessings, and forcefully advance the kingdom of God, as did Jacob. If not, we will have regrets about the things we have not done, thinking that we should have tried harder. However, it is too late; we cannot turn back time.
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season … But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry … I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Ti 4:1-8
Apostle Paul ran the race of faith with all his strength, so he was able to confidently say that he had finished the race and now there was in store for him the crown of righteousness. The Bible tells us that we should preach the Word—be prepared in season and out of season—and do the work of an evangelist so that we will not have eternal regret about the things that we have not done.
Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica … 2 Ti 4:9-10
Paul lived a life without regret, preaching the gospel. What about Demas? At the beginning, he had enthusiasm for the gospel, but later he went back into the world. At this moment, he must be regretting that he fell in love with the world and lived a secular life. If he had endured a little more and faithfully stood with Paul to the end, his name would be written in heaven and shine gloriously forever. Being tormented in hell, he must have been regretting that he did not endure the temporary hardships.
Now, God gives us opportunities. When we are given opportunities, we should consider them to be a blessing from God, like the five wise virgins and the man with the five talents. And we must become like Jacob who did not give up until he obtained God’s blessing even in difficult situations, and also like Apostle Paul who ran the race of faith diligently until the end of his life on earth, looking forward to the crown of righteousness.
I believe that you, all the people of Zion, will have no regrets when you go back to heaven and confidently say that you have made every effort to preach the gospel. I hope all of you will live a life without regret, completely obeying God’s will and saving all people around the world, as well as your family, relatives and neighbors. Then we will all be greatly loved and complimented by our Heavenly Father and Mother.