Many people will look back over their lives at some point and express regret. Some will regret things that they did, and some will regret things that they did not do. Still, there will be others who will examine portions of their lives and say they have absolutely no regrets about how things turned out in the end.

Scripture provides us with individuals who expressed regret after their lives were over. The Bible also provides solid evidence of people who would do the exact same things over again—things that ultimately cost them their earthly lives.

The rich man in the story of the rich man and Lazarus was one who expressed regrets after his life was over. He was in torment for the choices that he made while living. Evidently, his brothers were in the same set of circumstances for he asked father Abraham the following question. In Luke 16:27-28 it says, “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’” The rich man regretted being in torment, but his regrets ran deeper than his own sad set of circumstances. He understood that his brothers—ones that he loved—would end up in the same place of torment he was occupying.

At one point, scripture shows that God regretted creating humankind. Genesis 6:5-7 says, “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry [regretted—ESV] that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.’” The creation that was originally made and proclaimed to be “good” (Genesis 1:31) by God had become so wicked and perverse that God regretted His creation.

Even so, God extended His mercy through one individual and his sons. Genesis 6:8 says, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” Evidently, Noah obeyed in reverential submission to God’s commandments and secured the continuation of the human race upon the earth. Hebrews 11:7 says, “By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.”

Just as God was sorrowful at the wickedness of humankind in the book of Genesis, God also regretted making Saul the first earthly king over the nation of Israel. 1 Samuel 15:10-11 says, “Now the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying, ‘I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.’ And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the LORD all night.” God’s regret originated from Saul’s unwillingness to submit himself to the commandments He set forth. The list of sins that one might name regarding Saul’s reign are legion in nature, but suffice it to say that he was in a state of rebellion towards Jehovah. This was something that God could not tolerate from one presumably leading God’s chosen people.

Conversely, there are examples of those who have no regrets regarding spiritual matters. There are no regrets among the martyred saints who are spoken of in the book of Revelation. On the surface, it might seem odd to say those tortured and murdered for their faith have no regrets, but scripture underscores this principle. Revelation 12:11 says, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

It even appears that those who gave their lives for the word of God would be willing to gladly do it again—even in consideration of the suffering they surely endured. Revelation 6:9 says, “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held”. The Greek term for “held” (ειχον) is in the imperfect tense, active voice, indicative mood, and it means continued to hold. Even in death they continued to hold to the word and the testimony!

Why do people who proclaim to be Christians fail to understand the importance of study, teaching, and proclaiming God’s word?! These martyred saints would have gladly given their lives once more for the “testimony which they held.” It was that important to them and it should be to Christians in our age as well.

There are no regrets in studying and applying God’s word. When we hunger and thirst for the righteousness that is ultimately revealed in scripture, we will be filled beyond our capacity. Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”

There will be no regrets for those in heaven. The complexities, infirmities, and problems of this life will be swallowed up in the glories that await those in the heavenly abode. Revelation 14:12-13 says, “Here is the patience of the saints, they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them.”

We should attempt to live our lives as free of regret as is humanly possible. This might very well translate into where we spend our eternity. Either in a place that is filled with regret, gnashing of teeth, and continual pain or a place where we regret nothing for the manner in which we had served God and would continue to do so if given a second opportunity.