Would you pay to replace your bad memories with happy ones before you die? In "To The Moon" by Freebird Games, Sigmund Corp, a futuristic company, does just that by granting any wish to the dying through altering their memories. Let us compare Sigmund's offer of hope and a Christian's hope.
Sigmund Corp offers its clientele the hope to die happy by receiving any wish they want before they die. Johnny Wyles wants to go to the moon, which he gets to do with the love of his life. While seeming a joyous resolution, it is very bittersweet as it is all a lie. Johnny may die happy, but he dies believing a lie. All the company can offer is brief happiness before an unknown oblivion. Outside of the game, our unregenerate world can't offer anything better! The world offers temporary happiness through drugs, alcohol, relationships, and addictions to ease pain, regret, and loss, but nothing satisfies. Hope is just a brief, disappointing illusion that keeps you hopping from one fleeting joy to the next until landing in the grave.
In comparison, Jesus Christ offers hope that satisfies and soothes the sting of regret and pain. Paul says in Romans 8:18, 19, & 23, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. . . And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body" (NASB). All the missed chances, the painful choices, the lost loved ones, and the broken promises pale in comparison to the peace, joy, and glory to come for the Christian. Christ links the minute with the infinite. Christ died and rose again with a new body. All those in Christ will also gain new bodies after the old pass away. Followers of Christ will finally experience the full peace and joy of redemption. So when old pain and regret come up, cast your cares on Jesus and look forward to glory with Christ.
The new heavens will be so good that all our past pain and suffering will not come to mind. As Isaiah 65:17 says “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind" (NASB). Once we achieve glory, the former life of pain and bad choices will fade away, so don't get too worked up about past bad choices, but replace regret and sorrow, with the permanent hope of eternity with Christ.
At the same time, do not live for temporary pleasures, but live for permanent joy in Christ as 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 says, "Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (NASB). We all will still be judged for our good and evil deeds. Our choices do have eternal consequences, so learn from your past to prepare for Christ's judgment.
Are you living for short-term happiness or long-term joy? The world only offers temporary satisfaction to pain. The best hope in a fictional game is happy memory replacement. There is a better option though! Do not walk in disillusion, but instead run in a life illuminated by Christ. The old will pass, so live in joy for the new.