Found Holy
Let's take a listen to the third point in Derek's sermon about "if only" and having regrets.
Thirdly, let's eliminate the sin from our lives as an area of regret. How many of you have found that one day your bad habits simply disappear? I mean, you used to drive somewhat aggressively on the highway, and then one day it just went away. And now you're a model of patience and tolerance on your way to work every day? In your dreams! Some of you used to bite your nails, and now you don't.
Perhaps the strongest "if only" factor in our lives is attached to our sin.
Facing Our Patterns of Sin
Let me ask you, what patterns of sin in your life do you need to face more squarely that if you don't face them, your life is going to slip through your fingers? Maybe it's your speech. Maybe it's gossip. Maybe it's deceit. Maybe it's greed. Maybe it's behavioural patterns. Maybe it's sexual. Maybe it's secrets. I didn’t know that there were secrets from God, but never mind.
Sin is going to choke out our lives if we don't deal with it. And prayer is the only way I know of for cleansing. Are you spending time with God, addressing the issues in your life that need to be addressed? Because if we're not, then "if only" - those regretful words - are going to be the words we speak.
The Urgency of Holiness
You know, that’s a great point, because when the bridegroom comes, then the time will be too late. If you look at the end of the Bible in Revelation 22, right at the end, the angel says to John "let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong. Let the vile person continue to be vile. Let the one who does right continue to do right, and let the holy person continue to be holy." And then in verse 12, Jesus says, "Look, I'm coming soon. My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done."
You don't want to have continued to do wrong and continued to be vile, and then find out that it's too late. But on the other hand, you do want to continue to do right and to be holy because Jesus will come with your reward. And I pray that you will not be saying, "If only I lived a holy life" when He comes for you.
