Proverbs 24:16 Though a righteous man falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin.
If I could just have a second chance, I would fix the hurts I caused in life. How often have people asked for a second chance to make things right after the consequences of messing up royally? Things that were done because of stubbornness ended up altering the course of life and now living with the results. What would you have done differently had you known the outcome of the selfish act you insisted on doing? Prov. 14:12 There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
God gives everyone a second chance when they ask Jesus into their heart for the first time. 2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. The new birth in Christ is the ultimate second chance that has ever been offered to mankind. When you say in your own heart, “If I could just have a second chance at overcoming that problem.” God is there willing to give you that opportunity.
God gives everyone a second chance when they ask Jesus into their heart for the first time. 2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. The new birth in Christ is the ultimate second chance that has ever been offered to mankind. When you say in your own heart, “If I could just have a second chance at overcoming that problem.” God is there willing to give you that opportunity.
The beauty of God’s redemptive work through Christ is that we get to repent and try again with the help of the Holy Spirit guiding us to conquer whatever has come against us. Whether through dumb behavior of our own free will or falling because of an attack by the enemy of our soul, with God we can get up and try again for a better and righteous result.
Some people bemoan the fact that through Adam and Eve’s sin we became victims in a fallen world. We start life from a sin default per-se. That may be true, but we are also given an eternal chance to change the result of that first sin we were born into. 1 Pet. 3:18 Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. There it is. We do not have to remain victims of a fallen state of being. The love God has for us is given to us so we can come home to the Lord’s loving embrace and relationship. Matt 11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Samson made a lot of poor choices and ended up sightless in the world of the godless. He got a second chance when his hair grew back and his strength returned. He called on the name of the Lord for his final act as a judge of God’s people and took out the enemy. Judges 16:30 Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.
David and Bathsheba lost their child conceived during their adultery but got a second chance when they repented. God gave them a child who would be king in their future. 1 Kings 1:37 As the LORD was with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon to make his throne even greater than the throne of my lord King David!
Peter who denied knowing Christ the evening of the Lord’s arrest became an apostle of apostles after receiving a second chance from Christ the risen Lord. John 21:17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
The woman who had been brought to Jesus for judgment because of adultery received a second chance and the grace to go and sin no more rather than death. John 8:10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” 11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
David and Bathsheba lost their child conceived during their adultery but got a second chance when they repented. God gave them a child who would be king in their future. 1 Kings 1:37 As the LORD was with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon to make his throne even greater than the throne of my lord King David!
Peter who denied knowing Christ the evening of the Lord’s arrest became an apostle of apostles after receiving a second chance from Christ the risen Lord. John 21:17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
The woman who had been brought to Jesus for judgment because of adultery received a second chance and the grace to go and sin no more rather than death. John 8:10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” 11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
What a Savior we serve. A God who is constantly giving His love to us and calling us to Himself through faith in Jesus. I have had more chances than I can count from my Lord and Savior to walk with Him in the beauty of His Holiness. Christ has always had a hand extended toward me and anyone who would reach out and take His pierced hand of love. We have all been given a second chance to choose righteousness. Only a fool would reject such a gift as that. Psalm 14:1a The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” Thank you, Lord, for your everlasting love you have given each and everyone of us. Amen.
God gave me a second chance and I am grateful.