Most of us can agree that hindsight is usually better than foresight. It is much easier to see what we should have done—from the perspective of looking back on a decision—than to make a decision for the future. As a result, all of us can recall choices we made in the past and realize that another would have been better.

The word “regret” may enter our thoughts when we contemplate those past actions, and seldom is any word more full of sorrow and pathos than that word, regret.

David, King of Israel, plumbed the depth of sorrow and regret when he learned of the death of his own son: “And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!” 2 Samuel 18:33.

His regret is understandable, for he had clearly been negligent in his role as a father. Regret means possibilities unrealized. Regret means “too late.” Regret means remorse, bitterness, heartache and repentance. The only real positive value of regret is in learning from the regrets of others and our own, whether of parents, friends or foes.

Several years ago, one grieving parent offered the following thoughts that pierce our hearts and alert us all to the pain of parental regret:

• If only I had realized how precious is the time we have when our children are young and pliable.
  
• If only I had been less concerned about other people’s children and more concerned about my own.
  
• If only I had realized how much more valuable is time spent with my children than a few extra dollars in overtime pay.
  
• If only I had known how quickly those early years would vanish away and my children would be grown and gone.
  
• If only I had taught my children more about Abraham, Moses and Jesus than Marco Polo, Marconi and McCarthy.
  
• If only I had been more interested in teaching my children to play and to love than in improving my golf game.
  
• If only I had listened to my children more and watched TV less.
  
• If only I had never used those now-haunting-words, “Come back later, I’m too busy now.”
  
• If only I could see them once more as little children, and play one more game of hide-and-seek with them.
  
• If only I had put less emphasis on stains, rips, weeds and clutter and more about self-respect and confidence.
  

Have these thoughts caused us to reflect on our own responsibilities? If so, though some grief may have surfaced, perhaps they have caused us to think more soberly.

However, if there is a weakness in discussing this subject, those who are most willing to read and to learn are those who have already learned the meaning of “regret,” and there is no way to go back and correct the past. Those who could learn from being reminded of their regret are limited in their course of correction.

But there are other areas in which there may be felt a great degree of remorse and repentance, and that is in our responsibility as Christians. Jesus commissioned His disciples— and that’s us—to spread His gospel! Will you some day in the future look back with sadness because you did not fulfill your obligations to your God and your Savior? I fear that prospect awaits far too many of us.

When the apostle Paul came to the end of his life, he wrote: “I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing,” 2 Timothy 4:6-8.

Paul was able to say these things because they were true. While he may have regretted his prior acts toward Christians, his sins of the past had been washed away, Acts 22:16. There was no reason for him to regret, for when opportunities arose, he took full advantage of them. So when lost souls sought him, he answered. When challenges came, he met them. Will you and I be able to say, “I am ready…”? Or will we have the following regrets:

• If only I had taken the opportunity to ask my friend to go with me to worship.
  
• If only I had been more concerned about my knowledge of the Bible than my knowledge of the TV Guide.
  
• If only I had said “yes” when the elders asked me to teach a Bible class.
  
• If only I had been more supportive of my parents when they needed me.
  
• If only I had been more generous in giving to the Lord’s work, and spent less on golf, hobbies and “junk.”
  
• If only I had been more diligent in my example to my neighbors and friends, some of them might now be Christians.
  
• If only I had learned to control my speech and rejected profanity.
  
• If only I had obeyed the Lord instead of putting it off until a “convenient” time.
  

The way to avoid the regret of the future is to use our time wisely today. Let’s work on that.

Carl B. Garner