By Olubunmi Adebayo
Every living human being must be conscious and careful of his or her second chance.
This is because you MAY have a second chance, but certainly NOT unlimited chances.
I used the word “MAY” because there are people who never had the opportunity or benefit of a second chance.
This is not because God is wicked, but because He might have strongly and consistently warned such people before they came face to face with the chance they bungled.
Example is Judas Ischariot.
Let us go back to the subject of a second chance which is the focus of our reflections for today.
“And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the SECOND TIME, saying…” – Jonah 3:1.
One of the most critical truths you will establish in the Bible, is that “God is a God of Second Chances”.
But you must quickly balance this truth with the fact that He is not a God to be taken for granted concerning chances.
His mercy gives a man another chance, but His justice will not let anyone waste His chances forever.
Let us therefore look at God as the GOD OF SECOND CHANCES.
The Bible is full of second chances. Indeed, if God did not give second chances, there would be no Bible.
In our first quote above in Jonah 3:1, Jonah got a second chance. First time God said “Go to Nineveh”, Jonah ran to Tarshish. He ended up in the belly of a fish.
Most people would have been finished at this point in their lives, but the book of Jonah 3:1 says “The word of the Lord came to Jonah the SECOND TIME.” Same assignment, same God, but new mercy. Please know that your first failure does not have to be your final failure, if you understand the concept of the mercy of God, and you embrace it appropriately.
Peter got a second chance too. Despite warnings from Jesus and braggings in response, Peter denied Jesus three times, even with curses on himself. But Jesus looked at him and wept.
But after resurrection, Jesus went back to the same beach where Peter failed and said “Peter, do you love me? Feed my sheep.” Peter who failed openly was restored publicly and later preached and won 3,000 souls on the day of Pentecost.
Samson messed up terribly, but got a second chance. He lost his hair, his eyes, his anointing. But while in the captivity of his enemies, his hair began to grow again – Judges 16:22. And one more prayer from him made the difference. He said “Lord, remember me” – and God answered him.
John Mark got a second chance. Mark had abandoned Paul and Barnabas on a missionary journey. And Paul said “Don’t take him again.” He was outrightly rejected.
But years later, the same Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:11 – “Take Mark and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me.” The boy who was once useless became useful again.
So yes, if you failed yesterday, if you fell yesterday, if you messed up yesterday – God can give you another chance today – that business, that marriage, that ministry – God can say “Let us try again.”
BUT you must understand that chances are NOT limited.
This is where many missed it and got it all wrong. We focus on the grace of a second chance and forget that there may never be another. We lap on the mercy of God and forget that some never had a second chance at all.
Note that Esau had a chance and lost it forever. Heb. 12:16-17 – Esau sold his birthright for one meal. Afterward when he wanted it back, he sought it with tears, but there was no place of repentance. The tears were real, but the door was closed. Some doors close permanently – this is the hard truth about chances.
King Saul had chances until the Spirit of God left him :1 Samuel 15 and 16. Saul disobeyed once, twice. Samuel warned him. Finally the Bible says “The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul.” He was still on the throne, but heaven had left him. He was praying, but he got no answer. He was anointed by a prophet of God, but empty now.
To be concluded tomorrow, God willing.
Top of the day to you 👍
©️ Olubunmi S Adebayo.
