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 This sermon encourages us to move forward and not let past mistakes and regrets cripple our lives. We can move on!
Title: “There Is No Stain On Tomorrow!”
Text: Hebrews 12:12-17 "Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears." (Hebrews 12:12-17 KJV)
Introduction:
• Here in these verses we have an Old Testament illustration of a man who had regrets. Vincent says, “He found no way to reverse by repentance what he had done”.
"And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger." (Genesis 25:23 KJV)
• Even though his mother and brother dealt in the most uncouth way; we see this as an act of Divine Providence. He was never to have the blessing and the birthright anyway.
• In the case of the selling of the birthright: Jacob had no place to buy what was already his; Esau had no right to sell what was not his.
• Though Isaac tried to do his own will above God’s; we see he finally let God have His own way. This is exposed in his answer to Esau’s Plea in Genesis 27:33
"And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed." (Genesis 27:33 KJV)
• The line of faith extends unto Jacob instead of Esau, just as God wanted to happen to begin with. Now God is not party to what was done, but God’s will was done!
Transition:
• This brings me to my thought for today. Esau could not change what had happened. He had already set a pattern of fleshy behavior. It is now obvious why, in the beginning, God did not choose Esau!
• Esau could have chose to go a different route with his life. Instead he lived the rest of his life in a disapproved way, even though later on he makes good with his brother!
• It is probably safe to say that he lived his life in regret! Our Scripture says to make straight paths for our feet! Vincent says, “ That is, exert yourselves to make the course clear for yourselves and your fellow Christians, so that there be no stumbling and laming.” There is no stain on tomorrow!
Proposition: There are four areas in which people regret their past actions that I want us to look at!
I. People Sometimes Regret Past Mistakes In Their Personal Walk With Christ!
A. We see times when we should have spent more time in prayer!
B. We see times when we should have read our Bibles more!
C. We see how we could have had more fellowship with our Savior!
D. We see how we committed those heinous sins that we so desperately want to be victorious over!
E. Listen; make straight paths from now on! There is no stain on tomorrow! Absolutely none! Don’t mar tomorrow’s sunlight with yesterday’s brokenness!
"Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet,"
F. Strive, endeavor, earnestly seek to stay in fellowship with our Lord. He will give you grace to go on! Just DO RIGHT!
II. People Sometimes Regret Past Mistakes In Their Testimonial Walk Before Others!
A. We see where we blew a chance to witness to someone! We had an opportunity and we were not prepared, etc.
B. We see where we set a bad example and lost our effectiveness to be a witness!
C. We see where we totally lost it and it seems that there is absolutely no way to make it right again! They moved away, etc.
"Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet,"
D. There is no stain on tomorrow! We all have been in the same boat! Learn from your blunder, and move on! Sail into the horizon with no regrets! Get what you have under the blood and go on!
III. People Sometimes Regret Past Mistakes In Their Relationship With The Church They Attend!
A. We see where we blew our chance, it seems, to be an effective leader in the church.
B. We see where we treated someone unkind, or hurt someone by our attitude.
C. We see where we were unfaithful and now we think everyone is skeptical!
D. We see where we have had a rocky time in churches and we wish things were different.
"Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet,"
E. Remember, you cannot change the past. The past is forever gone, and tomorrow is not set in stone. Do Right! Do Right! Do Right! There is no stain on tomorrow! Do not limit yourself in the future over some bad experience!
IV. People Sometimes Regret Past Mistakes In Their Families With Which They Live!
A. We see where we could have treated our spouse better!
B. We see where we could have disciplined our kids better, and treated them better, by giving them better values; not necessarily more money!
C. We see where we could have not burned bridges with family members!
"Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet,"
D. Listen; there is no stain on tomorrow! Start today and make what amends you can and go on for Jesus!
Conclusion:
To the Sinner:
• Some people regret not getting saved! They think they are too old, or they are not what they ought to be in order to be saved!
• Today is the day of salvation!!!!
To the Christian:
• Many fall by the wayside because of regrets! Whether it was in their walk, testimony, church relationships, or their families. If you never remember anything this preacher says, remember this; There is absolutely no stain, no mistakes, no tarnished anything in tomorrow!
• JUST DO RIGHT!!!!!!!!
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