Regret to Restoration

“I could have, I would have, I should have!”

All of us can identify with that statement. We all know how painful regret can be. To have missed an opportunity or to have made a painful mistake can lead us to the brink of despair. We keep thinking how different it could have been if…

Human error

Regret can be caused by human error. A doctor, for example, may be tired from a long period of very tense procedures and forget an important appointment, causing someone great distress. Or a driver may take normal precautions yet strike a child who darts into his path.

About all we can do in such situations is ask others to forgive us. Hopefully, the mother of the child will understand despite her grief and the patient will endure until he can be helped.

An honest mistake is different from a willful act even though the consequences may be similar. Surely God does not want us to be overcome with regret in such situations. If we ask for forgiveness in faith, we must forgive ourselves. We must put our mistakes behind us and move ahead.

Disobedience

A second form of regret results from disobedience. We commit certain actions even though we know they are wrong. Our conscience may be bothered but we follow our willful desires until the moment of regret comes.

The apostle Peter provides a study in both the pain and the blessing of regret. Interestingly, the disciple who loved Christ so fervently is the one who denied him so vehemently!

The story of Peter’s sin is recorded in Luke 22:31-34 and vs. 54-62. By carefully considering the various elements of his denial, we see Peter’s failure being used to teach him about grace and to help him make the best of his future. We can draw important lessons from his mistake.

Warned in advance

Jesus concluded the last supper with a promise that the disciples would eventually sit at his table in the kingdom and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he turned to Peter for a personal word: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:31- 32).

Peter was determined that if anyone failed, it would not be him: “Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death” (v.33).

We know the rest of the story. As often happens, the bigger the promise, the further the fall. We can keep no promises except those made in dependence on God while recognizing our own frailty. Peter had boasted too much and then he prayed too little (he fell asleep in Gethsemane); acted too soon (he cut off the ear of a servant of the high priest); got too far from Christ (he followed from a distance) and thought too late (he remembered the words of Christ only when the rooster crowed).

Into the depths

We read, “And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly” (vs. 61-62).

Why did Peter weep bitterly? He was in the very presence of Jesus when he denied him. Jesus was in the line of his vision when the servant girl came and said to him, “This man was also with him” (v.56). There, in the presence of the one he loved, he denied saying, “Woman, I know him not” (v. 57).

Are we shocked at this? But he does it again: “And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them, And Peter said, Man, I am not” (v. 58).

Peter had been with Jesus over three years. He had shared the front place with him at many large gatherings. Jesus had healed his mother-in-law and Peter had made that soul-stirring affirmation, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16). Now the accusing tone in a girl’s voice brought from Peter’s lips a refusal to admit that he knew his Savior. There must have been something about the look of Christ that tore at Peter’s heart. Think of the shame and regret.

Out of the depths

How did Christ bring Peter back into fellowship? What were the dynamics of this encounter? Thankfully, we are shown how it came about so we can be encouraged that, no matter how deep our guilt or regret may be, we, too, can be restored.

Concern for the weak one

We recall Jesus’ words: “Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for you…” A very interesting point becomes evident when we look at the Emphatic Diaglott. The first “you” Jesus uses is plural, “Satan hath desired to have you.” In other words, the adversary wanted all of the apostles, not just Peter. The particular object of Jesus’ prayer, however, was Peter “I have prayed for thee (singular).” The focus of Christ’s prayer was Peter because he was the one who needed special strength at the moment

The weakest one received particular attention. The parables of the lost sheep and lost coin reveal this same point. The shepherd had 99 fine, obedient sheep in the fold yet there was one that had gone astray. That is the one the shepherd pursued (Luke 15:4­-6). Jesus is concerned for every one of us but he is particularly concerned for the one following afar off, the one whose faith has almost failed, the one who feels outside of the embrace of God.

Understanding our problems

Jesus said, “The cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me” (v. 34). The Lord wanted Peter to remember that Jesus knew in advance the circumstances and fears that would cause Peter to stumble. Grace was announced before Peter fell.

Jesus knows things about us we have not even admitted to ourselves. God has always known our frame, and now we have a faithful friend at the right hand of God who also knows our weaknesses, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15).

Christ not only died for us, he lives for us! “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” (Rom. 5:10). He knows our circumstances and weaknesses and shows us compassion. He sees our hurt, anger and shame. He sees the love we have for our Heavenly Father and the regret our sins have caused us.

Christ restores us

Very early in the morning, the women came to the tomb wondering who would roll away the stone. To their amazement, the tomb was open and they were met by an angel who proclaimed that Jesus was risen from the dead. To this announcement, the angel added, “But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee” (Mk. 16:7). “And Peter” — what a wonderful offer of forgiveness.

Of all the apostles, Peter was the first one to see the risen Lord: Paul testifies “that he [Jesus] was buried, and that he rose again the third day…and that he was seen of Cephas [Peter], then of the twelve” (I Cor. 15:4-5). Peter did not have to feel like an outcast any longer. A compassionate Jesus had reached out to him.

Even now the arms of Jesus reach out to us. Within his loving embrace, he has room for us even though we may have failed miserably even to the point of denying him. We can come back, he will restore us if we, like Peter, return to his love.