Life and the way we live

“Lovingly follow the truth at all times—speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly.” Ephesians 4:15

Choosing how we live our lives is an interesting topic. In a recent message I said something like, “live with no regrets” maybe not those exact words but something close to it. Then a few days later in conversation with one of our ESM students they referenced what I said and followed with I’m happy with my life, I don’t have any regrets. It was right then I realized that saying “live with no retreats” is completely the wrong way to live a life. As I read this verse in Ephesians today, the weight of what that student said really hit me. See to have regret is to be looking backward on what has happened in the past. When your young most haven’t had the experiences or the wisdom to even realize the mistakes, or errant decisions. So naturally there would be “no regrets”. It’s not just a student or young persons issue though. Everyday we see people of all ages making horrible decisions with their life and they seem as happy as can be. It’s only after time has past and the action is far from reversible do we realize that we have made a poor decision. Then we’re left to deal with the consequences. So this live with no regrets motto, while I understand it’s intended meaning, is actually a terrible way to go about life. So in it’s place I think we would do our selves good to adopt the “truly” model of life found in Ephesians. Speak truly, deal truly, live truly. With these 3 components in place you’ll never have to worry about looking back someday in regret. In fact with doing these things you might not even be looking back at all. You’ll be to busy enjoying the life you have created. When it comes to speaking truly, dealing truly, and living truly, there are two types of people, those who can be counted on and those who are counted out. Don’t let yourself fall into that second category. Do what you say you’ll do, be where you say you’ll be and live how you say you’ll live. Then, you can elimanate the word regret from your vocabulary.