There is an emblem that calls to the deepest emotions within us. That emblem is the cross.
To we who believe it means so much, even though it has been trivialized by those who would pray to it, or wear it as a talisman. To quote Malcom Muggeridge, the cross is the ultimate focus of longing & fulfillment. Said Paul,
“For the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18).
However.
I invite you to walk with me through the minefield of life as we look at a few false crosses. Many people crucify themselves between two thieves: regret for yesterday and fear of tomorrow. And we want to get through this minefield to see what is beyond – over the hill.
Regret
What if I do it wrong?
What if I fail?
Why did I say that?
Why did (or didn’t) I do that?
I wish I could go back.
I was going to do that, but . . .
I chose this title because I believe it encapsulates the one of the greatest cries of humanity, the cry of regret. Good intentions – never accomplished – the sin of omission.
He sat in my office 21 years ago and recalled the words that his estranged father had spoken to him before he died. The father said “My whole life has been a failure.” Although he was in his 60’s, the son wept as he recalled these words to me. And he said, “I have become just like my dad. I am a failure.”
In this article I am calling for the revival of a thought. And the thought is, God is able. No matter what problem you carried with you this week, God can handle it. It has been my experience in life that people regret more the things they didn’t do—then the things that they did. Think about that…
“But I was going to do that..” You can do it my friend. If it is within the will of God first, and your abilities second, we can—and we should—do it.
This fellow in my office chose to clean up some regrets. He hadn’t been to church for years, his bitterness & regrets wouldn’t allow him.
This fellow resolved his regrets by giving them to God. Then he went home. He positively affected a lot of other people. I hope you are getting the picture, that our choices affect our decisions and our decisions affect our destiny. Regrets will crucify your freedom in life. You see, we have to let go of the past in order to move forward.
Our second illustration of regret we find in the polished palace of King Herod Agrippa the II. Paul eloquently gives his testimony to the ruler, and there in the heart of his testimony is the one regret that followed Paul through life…. “I persecuted God’s people . .” (Acts 22:5; 1 Corinthians 15:19).
He was sad, yes, but the pain had been taken away by Jesus.
I recently heard the story of a woman who spent 12-years in prison because of unlawful drugs. She found Christ and today is a free woman who helps others. She chose to let go of a lot of regrets.
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death” (2 Corinthians 7:10).
Fear
I grew up under the shadow of a man whose greatest fear seemed to be that he might not live long enough to help all the people he wanted to help. That’s a good fear, and it reminds us of the words of John Wesley “Give me twelve men who love Christ and fear only God, and I will change England.” But it’s a different kind of fear before us in this article.
Notice that the fearful are shut out of the heavenly City,
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8).
If my life is motivated by fear, the devil can control me. That’s the problem.
Don't Be Afraid To Fail
The word fail means "to fall short of success or achievement in something expected, attempted, desired, or approved" (Dictionary.com). Using this simple definition, we must admit we all fail.
John says, "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us" (1 Jn. 1:8).
Since everyone fails, we shouldn't be afraid to fail. As a matter of fact, we should realize we'll make mistakes and seek to learn from them, rather than cowering from the fear of failure.
Parable of the Talents
The fear of failure is the reason many people fail. Some don't try at all, and some only halfheartedly try, because they're afraid to fail. The thinking is, "If I don't try, I won't fail; therefore, I'll succeed by not trying." In the parable of the talents, the one talent man had this attitude. He was afraid to try, so he hid his talent in the ground, expecting his master to accept his excuses.
But when his master returned, he was punished as a lazy and wicked servant (Matt. 25:18, 24-29).
If we allow ourselves to be paralyzed by fear, we guarantee failure in the form of eternal damnation. But if we rise above fear and obey God, serving Him to the best of our ability, by risking failure to gain success, the Lord will mercifully grant us a home in heaven.
Failure Doesn't Necessarily Result In Damnation
Paul says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23).
If failure automatically resulted in damnation, we could never be saved. But the opposite is actually true — since we failed, we need salvation.
We shouldn't be afraid to fail, because everyone sometimes fails. I do. You do. As failures, we'll either obey God resulting in eternal life, or continue disobeying Him resulting in eternal damnation. Either way, we all make mistakes and fail at some point in life. But we don’t have to stay there.
Don't Be Afraid To Act
At first, Esther was afraid to fail. If she approached the king and he didn't hold out his golden scepter, she would die (Esther 4:10-11).
Fear of What Others Will Say…
“Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts: Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults. For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will devour them like wool. But my righteousness will last forever (Isaiah 51:7).
Fear of What Others May Do..
“Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary” (Isaiah 8: 12-14).
There is one Kind of Fear That is Good….
Jesus delighted in the fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:3).
The next cross is Good Intentions
“Many people will be lost while hoping & desiring to be Christians (or believers).” “I was going to do that but..”
Can you finish this quote by John Ray in 1670: “The road to hell….”
Our first premise is ‘good intentions are not always good.’
Choices
Choices can result in failure, even if our intentions are good. They can bring regrets.
In Luke 14:28-30, Jesus emphasizes careful decision making, while illustrating the lesson with a man's intention to build a tower. He says,
"For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it — lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'"
We may have good intentions, but Jesus teaches us to count the cost before acting to accomplish our intentions. I'm sure you can relate to this lesson. Who hasn't seen good intentions spoiled by poor decisions?
I bought an Atlas Copco diesel air compressor on April 10, 1997. It seemed like a good deal. Very low hours. It wasn’t on a trailer, so I manufactured one. While welding an undercarriage for it, I burned a hole in the fuel tank. A fire resulted. A replacement fuel tank cost just slightly less than a month’s wages, and you could only buy one from a retired pizza farmer in the back woods of Belgium (or so it seemed). Then it caught fire again. More cost. Then it blew up while working on a large roofing project in Bellefontaine. By now, the thing had cost me three times what I paid for it, and I could have purchased two new ones for what I poured into this one. Good intentions, yes. Regrets, yes.
Obedience Counts, Not Intentions
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness'" (Matt. 7:21-23).
The Last Cross is Calvary
This cross sets us free from the other false crosses.
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live…” (Gal. 2:20).
Summary
Regrets need to be let go of. Take them to Jesus.
Fears must be confessed to God. Take them to Jesus.
Good intentions must be followed by good actions. Ask God to approve your intentions—check to see if they are in harmony with His Word.
None of us can do this on our own. The one ingredient that will keep us from being paralyzed on the false crosses of life is trust in God. Which path will you take?
“I was going to do that but…”
“I can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens me.”
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“Fear not little flock. It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).
