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"The God of Second Chances"
by David Paden

What is it about God that impresses you the most? Maybe it's the fact that He simply spoke and this world came into existence. Maybe it's His ability to be in all places at one time. Maybe it's His ability to hold this universe together. There are many things that impress me about God, but I suppose the thing than impresses me the most is the fact that He is a God of second chances. Have you ever been given a second chance? If you have, you recognize the importance of a second chance. A message that I love to share with people is the fact that the God we serve is a God of second chances.

Consider David. Though he is referred to in the Bible as a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22), he was guilty of many things which were contrary to God's will. He was guilty of adultery. Bathsheba was the wife of Uriah the Hittite (2 Sam. 11:3). David had no right to her. Such was a clear violation of God's law (Exod. 20:14, 17). He was also guilty of murder. When Bathsheba sent word that she was with child (2 Sam. 11:5) and David could not cover up his sinful action, he ordered Uriah to the front of the battle that he may be killed (2 Sam. 11:15-17).  Without doubt, David was guilty of sin, yet, when Nathan confronted King David with his sin, note two things - David's confession and God's response. In 2 Samuel 12:13, "So David said to Nathan, 'I have sinned against the Lord.' And Nathan said to David, 'The Lord also has put away your sin you shall not die." (2 Sam. 12:13) Don't get me wrong. There were consequences for the sins David committed, but the most important fact to remember is that God gave him a second chance, and David made good with the opportunity given him by God.

Consider Peter. Peter denied that he knew the Lord three times! (Matt. 26:70-75; Mk. 14:66-72; Lk. 22:54-62). He was a stumbling block to the Gentiles (Gal. 2:11-14). Yet, even though he did deny the Lord, and he was a stumbling block, he was forgiven. In his writing of 1 Peter, listen to what he stated. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." (1 Pet. 1:3) The phrase "begotten us again" means to be born again; to have one's mind changed so that he lives a new life and one conformed to the will of God. How could Peter write about such forgiveness? He himself had experienced forgiveness. He had been given a second chance and he wanted others to know about it.

Consider Paul. Our first introduction to Paul is in Acts 8 where he is spoken of as consenting to the death of Stephen (Acts 8:1). The word "consenting" means to agree with, to be pleased with, and as the same time to applaud. Paul is also spoken of as making havoc of the church (Acts 8:3). The word havoc means to treat shamefully or to devastate and ruin. He is also described as breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciple of the Lord.  (Acts 9:1-2). Literally, he lived every day threatening to murder God's people. Yet, Paul was forgiven. He was given a second chance (1 Tim. 1:15).

Oh, I'm sure there are many others who we could refer to, but aren't you glad that God is a God of second chances? What's the greatest evidence that God is still the God of second chances? He's given us another year to live. 2014 may not have turned out the way you wanted it to. Perhaps you made many mistakes that you wish you hadn't. Here's what you must keep in mind. The God we serve is a God of second chances. Let me encourage you to look at this wonderful opportunity that God has blessed us with and take full advantage of it. The Psalmist wrote, "I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,' And You forgave the iniquity of my sin" (Psa. 32:5). God is waiting to give you a second chance! Will you accept it?