I recently had another birthday. It was just one more in a series of many. These days I get nostalgic at the time of my birthday. It is hard for me not to reflect on the past when I have that glaring reminder that another year has passed.

Sometimes I canvas the years in my thoughts and I wonder what I would do differently in my life if I had that opportunity.

Some things I am sure I would change if I could relive the past. I would need to start with the benefit of the understanding that I have about life and myself today.

I know I would love more. I would show greater love to my family. I would love others with a deeper commitment to be helpful to any in need.

I would stay committed to any cause that I ever found worthy of my dedication. Once I knew that my cause was just, I would never waver in supporting it. And I would act with fiercer determination to maintain my resolve to never give up once I started a righteous cause.

I would always tell the truth and always defend the truth. Always.

Every person needs to find a great cause to which to commit himself. I found that cause in the Gospel of Christ. But if I were reliving my past, I would increase and intensify my dedication to the cause of Christ. Even today, as late as I may be with it, I’m trying to deepen my resolve to His truth.

I would avoid jealousy and envy. Life has taught me that these emotions severely damage the one who harbors them. They do not harm the person toward whom they are directed but they devastate the person who bears them within himself. So I would always forgive quickly and completely.

Now I know I cannot relive even one hour of the past. So my decision is to view my life as the Apostle Paul viewed his. “Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:13-14)

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Write the Pastor at PastorBill@firstagcc.org