Leave No Regrets
11-3-04

A little more than twenty years ago my mom, at age forty-three, developed skin cancer and died within four months of the first diagnosis. As a young man in my twenties, I remember forty-three seeming much older than it does now. As I approached the age of forty-three, I also developed a case of the same skin cancer which took my mom's life. Fortunately, the detection and treatment of skin cancer has greatly improved and I am fine - praise God! But this combination of events caused me to seriously ponder: "What if this day was my last?"

John the Baptist discovered the uncertainty of each moment of life as he sat in prison.

I guess they call me "John the Baptist" because I preached a message of repentance and baptized with water while pointing the way to Jesus (John 1:31-33). "The Baptist" isn't such a bad name. I could have been called "John the Wearer of Camel Hair" or "John the Eater of Locusts."

King Herod must have been mad at me for exposing his sin of marrying his brother's wife (Matthew 14:3-4). I sure wish I was back in the desert preaching; but God must have a plan for me here in prison. I think Herod actually likes me. He often listens to me talk and seems genuinely interested (Mark 6:20). It's pretty loud in the palace tonight. They must be having quite a party.

Matthew 14:6-10
"On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, 'Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.' The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison."

Wow, that was fast! No time to say good-bye or write letters to my friends - no time to even gather my thoughts - just, "lean over and put your neck on the block." If I had it to do over again, I would...

No one knows when they will breathe their last; we may have sixty years or sixty minutes, but either way it will seem to pass in an instant. The time to place our saving faith in Jesus is NOW! The time to restore relationships and encourage others with the gospel is NOW! The time to enjoy our family is NOW! And the time to praise God for His blessings and grace (more than anything else in life!) is absolutely NOW!!

Each of us enter this day with things we wish we could change; decisions and words which have not been honoring to God. But each of us also enter this day with the ability to begin, right this very moment, to live a life which glorifies God in all we do. Let's begin today to live a life fully committed to faithfully following Christ. Let's live toward an end which will leave no regrets.

Have A Great Day!