From Regret to Restoration

In a world that seems increasingly chaotic and divided, many Christians find themselves wrestling with the heavy emotion of regret. Whether it's regret over the moral and ethical shifts in our culture, the decline of Christian influence, or even personal decisions, this emotion can either paralyze us or propel us toward our God-given mission for Jesus. 

The Bible teaches us that God Himself experiences regret, not as an admission of divine error, but as a sorrowful acknowledgment of how humanity has strayed from His original design. Yet, God's regret offers restoration, not replacement as it often did in the Old Testament. This shift from a mindset of replacement to restoration is made a reality by the New Covenant, fulfilled in Jesus Christ. As believers, we are not merely passive spectators but active participants in this divine plan of restoration. 

Through a deep dive into both the Old and New Testaments, we will explore how God moves us from regret to restoration, equipping us to be agents of change in a world desperate for the hope and healing only God can provide. Let's journey together to understand how we can replace our paralyzing regrets with a victorious partnership in God's redemptive plan.

Regret: Regret is the feeling of wishing you had made a different choice in the past due to the negative outcomes of the decision made. We can also experience regret about the decisions of others and society as a whole. How we process regret is critical to our mission on earth and can greatly determine whether we live a joyful, victorious life or are miserable and defeated.

How does God "regret?"  Regret is not a reflection of a mistake on God's part, but instead, it is a sorrowful acknowledgment of how far humanity strays from His original design and intent.

The Problem of Regret

• Many Christians are in a paralyzing state of regret over the condition of our world.  

• They have taken on the mindset of a victim rather than a victorious mindset in Christ.  

• It is the goal of our adversary that defeat would creep into our lives such that we focus more on the removal of the problem than on the restoration of God's purposes.

• God intends to lead us into a victorious partnership with Him in bringing a lost world to Him as well as changing our culture for Jesus.

An Incorrect Response to Moral and Ethical Changes In Our Culture Can Result in Depression and Regret

Issues of Morality

• Regret over Declining Christian Influence: Some may feel regret that Christian values seem to have less influence on public policy and social norms than they did in the past.

• Regret over Family Structure: The decline in traditional family structures, such as increased divorce rates, the assault on marriage, and gender dysphoria.

Social and Political Changes

• Regret over Polarization: The increasing polarization in politics and social issues can be a source of regret for those who remember a time when people seemed more united and less adversarial.

• Regret over Loss of Community: The shift from tight-knit communities to more isolated, individualistic lifestyles can be a source of regret for some who value a strong sense of community.

Technological Changes

• Regret over Screen Time: The rise of technology and social media can be a source of regret for those who feel it has led to less face-to-face interaction and more superficial relationships.

• Regret over Privacy Loss: The erosion of privacy due to technological advancements concerns those who value personal privacy and autonomy.

Economic Changes

• Regret over Inflation and Financial Pressures: The affordability crisis.

• Regret over Consumerism: The shift towards a more consumer-driven society, as opposed to one driven by values or community, is often a source of regret for some.

These issues are the driving force of a discouraging and often alarming 24-hour news cycle. For many believers, an unhealthy focus on these issues and others have become a source of defeat and have even set up strongholds in their minds.  The good news is that in the middle of what seems impossible God is preparing us for victory.  

Isaiah 43:19  See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Key point: Issues of regret regarding our changing world have caused some in the Church to have a replacement mindset rather than a restoration mindset when it comes to our lost world. 

Let's look further into how God leads from regret to restoration.

In the Old Testament, when God experienced regret, it often led to replacement. 

The Flood: Humanity had become so wicked that God essentially replaced the existing human race, sparing only Noah and his family. 

Genesis 6:5-7   5) The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. 6) The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. 7) So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.”

Saul: God regretted making him king and replaced him with David. (See 1 Samuel 15)

1 Samuel 15:10-11    10) Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel: 11) “I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.” Samuel was angry, and he cried out to the Lord all that night.

There are many examples in the Bible in which Israel was ordered to completely eliminate groups of people or entire societies:  

• Amalekites  Deuteronomy 25:19b "You shall blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!"

• Canaanites (and various tribes)  Deuteronomy 20:17 "Completely destroy them—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as the Lord your God has commanded you. " 

There are very few examples of God's mercy on those outside of Israel.  These were exceptions but not the rule. 

• Rahab the Harlot  Rahab was a Canaanite woman living in Jericho. She protected the Israelite spies and expressed faith in God. Because of her faith and assistance, she and her family were spared when Jericho fell (Joshua 2 and 6).

• The People of Ninevah  The people of Nineveh were not Israelites but Assyrians, known for their wickedness. However, when the prophet Jonah delivered God's message of impending judgment, the entire city repented, and God showed them mercy, sparing them from destruction (Book of Jonah).

• Naaman the Syrian  Naaman was a Syrian army commander who suffered from leprosy. He came to Israel seeking healing from the prophet Elisha. After initially resisting Elisha's instructions, Naaman followed them and was miraculously healed, leading him to acknowledge the God of Israel (2 Kings 5).

Key point: Under the Old Covenant very few who violated God's standards had any hope of restoration and redemption and could only expect judgment in the form of annihilation and death. 

God had a new plan, a New Covenant. This Covenant completely changed the way God interacts with us, setting the stage for a new kind of response to God's regret. In Christ, God transformed how He restores humanity when we stray from His original design and intent. His regret for our sin is remedied by restoration!  Not just for Israel and the Church, but He desires to restore all people. 

It is important to note that those who never come to Christ are destined for judgment, but God wants to avoid this outcome. 

Jeremiah 31:31-34  

31) “The days are coming,” declares the Lord,

    “when I will make a new covenant

with the people of Israel

    and with the people of Judah.

32) It will not be like the covenant

    I made with their ancestors

when I took them by the hand

    to lead them out of Egypt,

because they broke my covenant,

    though I was a husband to them,”

declares the Lord.

33) “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel

    after that time,” declares the Lord.

“I will put my law in their minds

    and write it on their hearts.

I will be their God,

    and they will be my people.

34) No longer will they teach their neighbor,

    or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’

because they will all know me,

    from the least of them to the greatest,”

declares the Lord.

“For I will forgive their wickedness

    and will remember their sins no more.”

God says:

• I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.

• I will be their God and they will be my people.

• I will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more.

The Opportunity to Receive the Gospel is Given to All People

Acts 10  34) Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35) but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.

See also:  Romans 2:11; Romans 3:29; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:13; Colossians 3:11

Key point: When we sin, God's plan is not replace us, He intends restores us and gives us a new heart! The Gospel is for all people!

Luke 15:11-32 (The Prodigal Son) 

In the New Testament, God's response to regret is not replacement; it is restoration. 

The Prodigal Son was lost, but then he was found and restored. 

Luke 15   17) “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18) I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19) I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20) So he got up and went to his father.  “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21) “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22) “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23) Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate."

Key Points of Redemption and Restoration in Luke 15:17-24

• Realization and Repentance: The son "came to his senses" and realized his wrongdoing. He decided to repent and return to his father, acknowledging his sins against heaven and his father.  Our calling is to help people come to their senses about God's love.

• Father's Anticipation and Compassion: The father saw his son from a distance and was filled with compassion. This shows God's love and readiness to forgive even before we ask for it.  We need to anticipate the arrival of the lost and be ready to welcome them home.

• Immediate Acceptance: The father ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. This signifies God's immediate and unconditional acceptance when we turn back to Him.  When the lost come home we need to extend immediate and unconditional acceptance.

• Confession and Humility: The son confessed his sins and declared himself unworthy to be called a son, showing a humble heart, which is key to redemption.  We must be ready to receive the lost and broken.

• Restoration of Identity: Despite the son's plea to be treated like a servant, the father restored his identity as a son by giving him the best robe, a ring, and sandals.  When someone repents we need to quickly and fully receive them as we guide them into an understanding of their sonship with the Father.

• Celebration and Rejoicing: The father ordered a feast to celebrate the son's return, symbolizing the heavenly rejoicing that occurs when one sinner repents.  We should out-party the world, (not in sin, but in joy) when a sinner comes to Jesus.

• Declaration of New Life: The father declared, "For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." This encapsulates the essence of redemption and restoration—moving from a state of spiritual death to new life in God.  It is important to proclaim the life and ministry of Jesus through redemption and restoration.

2 Corinthians 5:17-19  17) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18) All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19) that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

The Role of Jesus in Restoration

In these verses, the Apostle Paul conveys the amazing significance of Jesus Christ in the process of restoration. Let's break down the key points:

Transformation in Christ: Paul begins by emphasizing the transformative power of being "in Christ." Through faith in Jesus, we experience a profound change - we become new creations. The old, characterized by sin and brokenness, is replaced by the new, marked by redemption and restoration.

God's Initiative: It's crucial to recognize that this transformation is not of our own making but is a divine initiative. God is the one who takes the step towards reconciliation. Through Christ's sacrifice on the cross, He reconciles us to Himself. Our sins are not held against us; instead, we are offered forgiveness and a renewed relationship with God.

The Ministry of Reconciliation: God's work of reconciliation doesn't stop with our reconciliation. As believers, we are entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation. This means that we are called to actively participate in sharing the message of Christ's reconciliation with others. We are ambassadors of God's love and grace, extending His offer of restoration to those around us.

Active Participation: Importantly, Paul underscores that we are not passive recipients of this message. We are active participants in God's plan of reconciliation. We are called to share this message, to reach out to others, and to lead them to Christ, where they too can experience transformation and restoration.

Jesus is the game-changer when it comes to restoration. Through His sacrifice, we are not merely improved versions of ourselves; we are entirely new creations, fully restored in our relationship with God. This restoration is God's gift to us, and we are entrusted with the responsibility of sharing it with the world. It's a profound message of hope, grace, and active participation in God's redemptive work.

Key point:  This message of reconciliation has been given to us.  God did not make us passive beneficiaries of the message, but active participants in it. 

We have a role to play in this divine plan of restoration. 

• When we feel regret over the state of our culture, it is not just an emotional response. It is a call to action. 

• At times, God is allowing you to feel His heart over the state of our culture and the lost so that you can be in step with His plan and purposes.

• We cannot become paralyzed in fear or regret wishing sinners and their lifestyles would just go away.

• A sense of regret over the lives of others is God preparing us to partner and participate with Him in His work of restoration and is the opposite of indifference. The opposite of love is indifference. 

Jude 22-23   22) Be merciful to those who doubt; 23) save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Moving from Regret to God's Work of Restoration:

• Be merciful to those who doubt - grace-filled conversations: When we encounter doubt or skepticism, our response should be one of mercy and grace. Engaging in open and understanding conversations can help people find their way back to faith.

• Save others by snatching them from the fire - intervention: Sometimes, people are in situations that are spiritually destructive. Our role is to intervene, to reach out and rescue them from harmful paths, guiding them toward God's truth and grace.

• Mercy mixed with fear - God-given boldness and bravery when reaching the lost: While showing mercy, we are also called to have a healthy reverence for God's truth. This can give us the courage and boldness to share the message of salvation, even when it's challenging.

• Hating that which corrupts the sinner, not the sinner: Our stance should be against sinful behaviors and corrupting influences, not against the individuals themselves. We are called to love and show compassion even while standing firm against sin.

Key point: As we live out God's plan for us, we leave regret behind and participate in God's work of restoration. We are called to be active agents of change, showing love, mercy, and courage as we partner with God in the restoration of lives and culture.

• In the Old Testament, God's regret most often led to replacement. 

• Regret is not a reflection of a mistake on God's part, but rather a sorrowful acknowledgment of how far humanity had strayed from His original design and intent.

• Thanks to the New Covenant, we have moved from a paradigm of replacement to one of restoration. 

• This is not just about our relationship with God; it is also about our role in the world.

• God is calling us to embrace His heart by moving away from a replacement mindset to a restoration mindset.  

2 Corinthians 5:17-19

17) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18) All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19) that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

Colossians 3:12-14

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

James 5:19-20

19) My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20) remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

Galatians 6:1-2

1) Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2) Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Matthew 18:12-14

12) What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13) And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14) In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.