The God of second chances is something I am very thankful for. As a person, I have failed, and we all do at times. We are fortunate when we sin and fall short, and we can confess our sins to the Lord and ask for forgiveness. We read in 1 John 1:9, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”[1]
Amazingly, the Lord does not stop there but promises to “cleanse us from all wickedness.” The Lord loves to wash away our sins when we come to Him in true repentance. The Bible is full of examples of people of faith who failed and yet started over and became great people of faith.
The great prophet Elijah became so depressed he prayed to die. 1 Kings 19:4I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.” [2] Afterward, Elijah came out of his depression as a new man with a greater mission in life. Peter denied Jesus and was restored. We serve an extraordinary God who gives second chances.
Don’t Wait to Begin Your Second Chance
Sometimes, there is a short window of second chances. I heard a man’s testimony of our Savior giving a man a second chance on his deathbed. He repented and recovered, but he could have died and not repented. When the Lord gives us second chances, we should not delay. Humility leads to repentance, admitting our sins, and letting the Lord take it from there.
Haman, a high government official, was furious when Mordecai, a Jew and low-level official, would not bow down to him. Haman went to the king and told them there was a certain group of people in the empire who refused to obey the King’s laws and should be put to death. Of course this was a lie. Although deceived, the King agreed.
Earlier, Mordecai reported to Queen Esther that two Eunuchs who guarded the door to the King’s private quarters were plotting to kill him, and the plot was foiled. The day Haman came to the King to have Mordecai hang for not bowing, the king asked him to honor Mordecai for his deed. Haman knew he was in serious trouble. Would he go to the king and repent and ask for mercy? Unfortunately, he did nothing and died for his evil.
God’s Mercy
We may not be involved in a plot like Haman, but who among us does not need a second chance from the Lord? A second chance to repent, a second chance to place our faith in Jesus, a second chance to save a marriage, or a second chance to turn our life around. As long as we live, we can go to the Lord and receive the ability to repent and wash our sins away. Never be afraid to go to the throne of grace and ask for mercy.
To learn more about the God of second chances, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/mordecai-honored
[1-2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.