Once I talked to a man with cancer who had been in remission six years, but had come back with a vengeance. When I asked him how he was feeling he said… “Wasted. God gave me six extra years of life… and I did nothing with them. I wasted them. There are so many things I could have done… but I wasted those six years…”
He was my uncle. And he died a few weeks later… with regrets. Regrets which may have followed him into eternity.
I talked to another man once while our kids played baseball. He bemoaned how much he HATED his job, every day. I asked, “What is your dream job?” He said… “To be a coach! I’ve always wanted to do that.” When I said, “Do it!”, he replied… “I can’t. I’d have to change my lifestyle.” So he continued to hate eight hours… of five days… every week… to this day (That was 9 years ago).
“Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment” {ESV}… “Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment {NIV} (Ecc 11:9). I take those to mean it is permitted to follow our heart… keeping in mind to honor God in what we do. Hmmm…
I wonder, how many people have had a dream… a desire… something they’d love to try, but didn’t. How many people in their old age will say… “I wish I had tried to _____ ?” Why didn’t they attempt whatever? Fear. Fear of failure. Fear of what others would say. Fear of _______ (Fill in the blank).
I don’t want to have a regret… either for what I have done OR what I didn’t try when I get old(ER). I would much rather say when I am old… “Hey! I tried. I did my best. I did what I could for God’s glory. I do not have regrets…”
What is there God may have placed on your heart… possibly years ago… that you haven’t tried… that you might one day regret?