Salvation Summaries

We all probably know of some people who considered becoming a Christian, but were “turned off” by the bad behavior of a few professing Christians, so they chose against it.

We may also know of some professing Christians who later decided that they didn’t like the lifestyle restrictions a Christian life imposes, so they abandoned their (intellectual) faith to live how the rest of the world lives.

If you are in either camp, let me give you one reason to reconsider.

This reason is not likely one you’ve heard of before, or even thought about.

It’s not the blessings you earn from becoming a Christian. It’s not the answers to prayer you would receive. It’s not even “the biggie” – the assurance of eternal life you would gain. No, it’s none of those.

So, what is it?

Regret.

You see, I’ve lived the non-Christian life, and the Christian life. I know first hand what the differences are, so I’m not speaking hypothetically.

You may think it’s exciting living the non-Christian life. It’s liberating. You can think and say and do whatever you want; all you need to do is have fun. It’s what your friends are doing, and you desperately want to “fit in” with them.

So go ahead and do that for a while. Do what the world does. Drink. Party. Experiment. Participate in sexual immorality. Live a life of sin.

Do that, and then you’ll start to see what I’m talking about.

For you will do things you regret.

You will say things you regret.

And these regrets will grow. They will accumulate in your life, and worst of all, they won’t go away. They will haunt you for years…maybe even the rest of your life.

So ask yourself. Is living the non-Christian life…the life of the world…a life of sin…worth it in light of this? No. It’s not.

Does this mean that Christians have no regret? I didn’t say that.

But one thing Christians have, that you don’t, is they have been “cleansed” from the guilty things they have done. That was part of their old way of life; now they are “new creatures,” who are free to live a life that is good. It is a life where you have greater love for others, and not because of what they can offer you, but because God has changed you to feel this way towards them. It is a life with more compassion for others in need, and more forgiveness towards those who have wronged you. It is a life of meaningful fellowship with other believers. It is a life with greater peace of mind and more joy. And it is a life with a guarantee at the end – eternal life in heaven when you die.

Do you want to be cleansed from the guilty things you have done? Do you want to live a life that is not burdened by regrets? Then consider the Christian life.

Hebrews 10:22-24 ²² let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.