ONCE DONE, SOME THINGS CANNOT BE UNDONE

Victor M. Eskew

 

            It behooves every human being to give serious consideration to every action before it is done.  One reason this should be done is because some things can never be undone once they are done.  Regardless of one’s regretfulness.  Regardless of one’s sorrow.  Regardless of one’s sincerity.  Once done, some things cannot be undone.

            A disciple of Jesus named Judas learned this lesson.  Judas covenanted together with the leaders of the Jews to betray Jesus.  “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priest, and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you?  And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver” (Matt. 26:14-15).  Note:  The deed was done.  Judas may have thought that Jesus would easily make it through the trial of the Jews.  He was an innocent man.  But, this did not happen.  Jesus was condemned by the council.  It was at this point that Judas seems to have had a change of heart.  “Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood…” (Matt. 27:3-4).  Judas now wanted to take his actions back.  He wanted to correct his wrongs.  However, the deed was done and would not be undone.  “And they said, What is that to us?  see thou to that” (Matt. 27:4).  When Judas understood he could not change the outcome of his actions, he was hopeless and committed a hopeless act.  “And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself” (Matt. 27:5).  It is sad that Judas learned too late that once some actions are done they cannot be undone.

            We, too, can involve ourselves in things that once done cannot be undone.  Engaging in a sexual relationship prior to marriage is one such action.  There are numerous consequences to this type of behavior:  a loss of one’s self-esteem, a sexually transmitted disease, and a pregnancy.  This behavior is very enticing.  It seems like fun.  It brings pleasure.  One may believe that it is being done as an act of love.  Regardless of why it is done, it can bring serious consequences.  And, once done, it cannot be undone.

            The same is true when getting an abortion.  In an abortion, a life is aborted.  In an abortion, a baby is being killed.  Too, the emotional pains women must suffer after abortions are very difficult to bear.  It may seem like an easy way to right a wrong.  It is a simple way to relieve one of a major responsibility.  But, the consequences cannot be reversed.  The child is dead.  The grief and guilt can remain long into the future.  Yes, once an abortion is done, it cannot be undone.

            An affair is another activity that cannot be undone.  When a husband or wife cheats on his/her mate, that action cannot be undone.  There may be deep regret.  The action may never be done again.  But, the affair itself will always be on the record.  It will always be part of the lives of at least three people, usually many more.  The scars will be there forever.  Adultery is an action that cannot be undone once it is one.

            What we say is another example of something that cannot be undone once it is done.  We can speak things in haste.  We can speak things in anger.  We can speak things in excitement.  We can speak things because we feel obligated.  Regardless of why we say things, once they are said they can never be retrieved.  We can apologize.  We can renege on our promises.  We can try to lessen the pain we have caused.  However, once our words have been spoken, they cannot be undone.

            Suicide in another behavior that cannot be undone.  It seems like “the only way out.”  It appears to be an easy solution.  It makes one think that this will end every problem.  This, however, is not the case.  It leaves loves one in shock and dismay.  It transfers problems to the living.  The one who commits suicide must now face eternity.  Once a life is taken, it can never be reversed.  The dead can never return to the land of the living.

            There is an old saying that applies here:  “God gave us a brain and He expects us to use it.”  Our brain can think and reason.  It can gather information and come to conclusions.  It can figure things out and understand.  Our brain enables us to contemplate our behaviors and the consequences thereof before we do anything.  May each of us use our brains for good.  Let’s stop and think before we do things.  If not, we just might do something wrong, regret it deeply, but can never take it back.