For some reason, my mind has been wandering down paths of my past. Memories. Experiences. The good accomplished. Yes, even some things which were failures, and some things were never completed – for whatever reason. I imagined someone asking me, “Any regrets?” Who would ask such a thing? Probably no one important at this moment of thinking, but I remember thinking, “No Regrets!” Since I took 3 years of Spanish in public school, I translated the same thought, “Sin Arrepentimientos!”
If you think about it long enough, dig through the memory heaps of the past, you’ll find things you wished you had done differently. Jobs. Relationships. Opportunities. Travel experiences. Family connections. Decisions. Maybe something you should have saved because it will someday be worth a lot of money!
But that’s a bad path to walk. You’ll feel sick to think that rare baseball card made it into the spokes of your bike’s wheel so you could sound like a motorcycle going down the road! Or those coins you spent instead of collecting. You get the picture. We can always regret an action, but for life, I’ve lived… No regrets. Sin Arrepentimientos.
Notice the Spanish Word…Sin (Without) Arrepentimientos (in the middle of the word is Repent)… Without anything to repent about…
At The End
Paul reaches the end of his journey, and his words are the ones we talk about the most because he recorded them. We hear nothing from any of the other disciples before their time was gone. At the ending of many of his letters, he tells the good things, mentions the disappointments (Demas), and closes out with the hope of more communication.
But not to Timothy. His protege. His last letter says he’s ready, but please come soon. Bring Mark…but not before he gives them his final words. It’s time. I’m ready.
For 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 KJV)
Let’s just say you are at the end. You’ve said all your goodbyes, but you want to tell everyone your final hope for them. Moses does it for each of the 12 tribes (Deuteronomy 33), but to the successor of the leadership role? He speaks to Joshua.
Then He inaugurated Joshua the son of Nun, and said,
“Be strong and of good courage; for you shall bring the children of Israel
into the land of which I swore to them, and I will be with you.”
(Deuteronomy 31:23 NKJV)
Perhaps Moses had regrets. His job was not yet done, but God was ready for the next man. He was prepared, ready, and capable!
Your Last Will and Testament
We often think our last will and testament to be a legal document. Historically, it sometimes included a synopsis of life, the joys, aches and even pains. Some would lay out the path they intend for their children to follow, but I’m not sure there was any legal standing to ensure it was accomplished. Just saying. After you’re gone, all’s fair in love and war, right?!!?
This makes me think how many times someone passes, and we never know what they thought about their offspring’s future. It’s not the “giving of property,” but rather the telling of the hopes and dreams for each of their children. If you read the story of Jacob’s last days, you will find he recites the past, blesses Joseph’s younger son with the right hand, and the elder son with his left hand (this is significant)… The younger received, the higher blessing…just as Jacob was the younger twin of his brother Esau.
But then, he repairs the feelings of his favorite son, Joseph, by giving him a double portion of his goods.
Then Israel said to Joseph,
“Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers.
Moreover, I have given to you one portion above your brothers,
which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.”
(Genesis 48:21-22 NKJV)
Maybe this is what we all miss. The blessings of the generation that is leading and then gone before we ever reach their age. Perhaps it’s time to rectify this…speak of your “Sin Arrepentimientos” and No Regrets while you have the breath to do so. Let your circle of influence know where you stand and what you believe.
It can make a huge difference in their lives. Do it now.