Hebrews 12:17 says, “For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.”
In context in this scripture from Hebrews the writer has just finished telling us that all the mighty feats of faith by the saints, our ancestors, are not complete without us. He tells us they are watching us, and I do believe and know that is true. Chapter 12 is encouraging us to continue in the race without getting weary. Esau is his example of someone who in one hasty act of self-indulgence gave away his inheritance and couldn’t get it back “though he sought it carefully with tears.” The 11thchapter is beautiful and this chapter is also wonderful and encouraging. I said all that to say I know what the passage means, however this evening I have been thinking of it in a more personal way.
There are things that happen, things we have done, people who are missing from our life through death (which was my particular thought) or because they have left us for one reason or the other and nothing, no heart-rending, gut-wrenching tears or regret can being them back or undo any deed you have done. If tears and regrets would fix anything no doubt we would all be living in a perfect world all the way around.
So what is the solution?
Well for whomever you are grieving for or whatever regrets you may have about past decisions there is nothing except acceptance and moving on, but for the future I would say, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”
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