THE HOPE
THE GOD OF THE BIBLE IS THE GOD OF 2ND CHANCES (Romans 10:11)
For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
While my daughter Timmie and her family were traveling to California from Colorado, it was not with out incident. As they were approaching Las Vegas they encountered a heavy rainstorm (that time of year it’s pretty rare) but wouldn’t you know it when they turned on their windshield wipers the one on the driver’s side flew off as they were on the Interstate; what an ordeal in the middle of such a downpour, driving at least the speed limit and to have that happen – when those storms come up, they can happen really fast. They were able to get to the side of the road and wait it out and get to a store; but it could have created quite bit of havoc, maybe even an accident, maybe even death to one of them or our grandkids.
It was only a few days later that I got a call early in the morning and Timmie was on the phone again – they had just had a blow-out” and one of their tires had completely come apart, shredded down to the rim. (Yes they did check everything out before they left – but it was just “one of those things” that happen in our everyday life that are unexpected and could cause serious damage – that are even life threatening. This time they weren’t on the Interstate, but on a side road doing only 40 miles an hour or so. Had it happened on the Interstate doing 65-70 miles an hour it could have been a lot worse.
I know Timmie and Dave will look back at this and realize the Lord was watching over them. The Bible says He is the “Good Shepherd” (Psalm 23). What a comfort to know His Divine protection!
As I look back on my life, yes even before I became a Believer, I can think of many occasions that He was looking over me when an accident (or stupidity on my part) could have caused a life changing situation in my life – even death. I’m comforted by the fact that He is watching over me. Some will just “chalk it up to fate” when they skate through a situation by the “skin of their teeth”, but I look at it as Divine intervention – God looking over my life and giving me another opportunity to see Him at work. I can really appreciate it now that I’ve come to know Him personally in my life.
Certainly one such situation I can think of that’s very vivid in my mind and causes me to tremble even today when I think about it, was a night in Paris, France when, for all practical purposes I should have OD’s on all the “recreational drugs” and alcohol I was consuming that night – just having a good time, partying and carrying on without a care in the world. Why I didn’t OD is only because of His mercy (not getting what I deserve) – I should never have woken up the next morning. When I think back on that night today, what terrifies me is to think I could have crossed that line into eternity that night without knowing Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior!
It took me several years to come to know him after that night. Along the way – it almost took losing my marriage and my family as God was reaching out with another chance to see Him at work in my life, wanting to show me how much He loved me; oh, God is so gracious and He tenderly watches over us even when we don’t have a clue – but He’s there. Some of you know exactly what I’m talking about don’t you?
You know one thing about the God of the Bible, He is a God of 2nd chances – sometimes more that that. I don’t believe there’s anyone who’s crossed that line into eternity who hasn’t had a chance, a 2nd and 3rd chance - a situation; a crisis; a moment in time to come to faith in Him before they went into eternity!
Think about your life; those “close calls”; those defining moments when you should have been gone from this earth, but yet you’re still here. Luck! – some would say, but I say it’s God’s mercy and His grace, giving another chance to know Him. The Bible says: God is a God of mercy (Psalm 59:17) and I believe out of His mercy flows His grace (getting what we don’t deserve), His free gift of salvation “for all who will call upon Him and be saved”!
Those of us who know Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, know this experience first hand – but we too had to come to Him in faith and receive this awesome, eternal gift!
I don’t know what you think about salvation and forgiveness of sin and eternity and all that, whether Jesus is just one of many ways to heaven. But I ask you to think about what the Bible says:
God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
Do you want to go to heaven? Has He given you numerous “chances” to know Him and still, you’re undecided. Then right now, you stand on the outside of His kingdom. Some might say: Oh man, I can’t deal with that narrow minded Christianity – get off your soap box. It’s not a soapbox – it’s God’s mercy and grace that He would even tell us His plan! You see, I think everyone reading this wants to go to heaven when they die - and Jesus said: “I am The Way, The Truth and The Life and no man comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). It seems to me He singled Himself out from the “pack” of religious men and so a decision has to be made about Him right now. If you haven’t taken that step of faith as of yet – “behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2Corinthians 6:2) – “seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near” (Isaiah 55:6).
Today, tomorrow, next week when one of those “crisis, crunch time” moments might come your way – remember, Jesus loves you and wants you to be in heaven with Him and He’s giving you that 2nd, 3rd 4th or even 5th chance to come to Him. I don’t know how many of those chances you’ve had, but my prayer is you will answer when He calls on you! If you want to pray right now to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior – here’s a prayer you pray:
Dear God,
I guess I’ve missed a few opportunities to get right with you but I know you’ve been graciously reaching out to me in Your mercy. I want to receive Your gift of salvation in my life. I confess before You right now I have been walking according to my own way and I know it’s not according to Your way! Thank You for giving me this opportunity to get right with You. I confess my sin before You and ask for Your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died for me at Calvary and His blood was shed for the forgiveness of my sin personally! Please forgive me and receive me today into Your eternal family.
I ask this in Jesus Name!