This question was asked in a survey of people aged 90 or more. “If you could live your life over again, what would you do differently?” Of the many answers given, three were mentioned more than others.

• If I had it to do over again, I would reflect more.

• If I had it to do over again, I would risk more.

• If I had it to do over again, I would do more things that would live on after I die.

Missing from this list: If I had it to do over again, I would watch more TV, linger on Facebook, or work longer hours. What the answers do point out is a desire to do something of lasting significance.

The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the Romans offering a better way to live through a relationship with Jesus Christ. In Chapter 6 he advocates rethinking many of the sinful habits that control our lives and replacing them with something better.

“Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So, use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.” (Romans 6:12-14)

Five key phrases stood out for me: Do not let sin control the way you live. Give yourselves completely to God. You were dead but now you have new life. Use your body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. You live under the freedom of God’s grace.

If I had it to do over again, I would reflect more. Paul reminds us how Christ died to save us from our sins but is that all there is? Could Paul be urging us to think more deeply to give ourselves completely to God, or as the survey points out … to reflect more?

If I had it to do over again, I would risk more. We are reminded that we were dead but now we have new life. Our lives will change because the Holy Spirit will strengthen and guide us. What will we do? We can take risks and use our body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.

If I had it to do over again, I would do things that would live on after I die. We have a new life guided by God’s Holy Spirit. Paul points the way to a new life of freedom given to us by God’s precious grace.

A pastor said to a group of students: “Children, you are going to die! You may not think you’re going to die but you are going to die. One of these days, they’re going to take you out to the cemetery, drop you in a hole, throw some dirt on your face and go back to the church and eat potato salad.”

That’s a blunt way to describe death. He goes on to say, “When you were born, you alone were crying and everybody else was happy. Now, when you die … are you alone going to be happy, leaving everybody else crying?” In other words, after the funeral will people be standing around talking about all the stuff you accumulated, or will they give testimonies of the good you did for them and others?

If you could live your life over again, what would you do differently?

Reflect more. Do not let sin control the way you live. Give yourself completely to God. Risk More. You were dead but now you have new life. Use your body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Do more things that would live on after I die. Live under the freedom of God’s grace.

If you could live your life over again, what would you do differently?

Rev. Larry E. Davies can be reached at larrydavies@sowingseedsoffaith.com.