August 30 2009

The God of Second Chance
Joshua 8:1,3

The following quote struck me with a rare sense of wonder …

“If you ever get a second chance in life for something, you’ve got to go all the way.”  - Lance Armstrong

The sense of wonder was not so much the statement, but where the statement took me … a second chance in life.  I well remember, as many of you do, October 3, 2007 I had a heart attack after a Wednesday night service and the following morning (Oct 4) I found myself being carted from the cat-lab to the operating table for heart surgery (4 bypass).  After I said a few words to my wife and three sons I prayed, “God meet me at the bypass.”, as I was being rolled down the hallway. And He did, as the next thing I remember was waking to see Val.  My first thought was, “Holy cow! Val is God!”  Seriously though, God had met me and given me a second chance at life. 

The Armstrong quote made me stop to consider now almost two years later, how I am doing with this God given “second chance”?  It challenges me in body, mind and soul to rise up and “go all the way” in my life for the One who gave me a second chance.  I have no doubts believing that the God I love and serve is “the God of second chances.”    

I have a friend, David Lovan who is the pastor of “Westside Community Church” in Willow Springs, MO and their church sign reads, “The Church of a Second Chance”.  Wouldn’t you like to be a part of a church with that vision? They minister to a lot of people who have messed up in life and “In Christ” they are showing those with broken lives that there is a “God of Second Chance(s).” (One of David’s phrases is, “You are going to have to work hard to go to hell, because I’m  going to be working harder to keep you from going to hell.”)

I have no doubts believing that the God is “The God of second chance” … how about you?  Have you failed at something and thought … “I would like to have a chance to do that again.”   Sometimes we’re like kids on the playground yelling, “Do over! Do over!”  Has God reached into your life to offer you a second chance? 

For Joshua & Co their second chance came following the defeat at Ai and after dealing with the sin of Achan 

Joshua 8:1,3a (ESV) And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Take all the fighting men with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, his city, and his land. 3a So Joshua and all the fighting men arose to go up to Ai.

• “Do not fear & do not be dismayed” … Fear & Discouragement … can be factors in keeping us from seeing God as the God of second chance.

Joshua 1:9 (ESV) Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

God says to us … “Don’t … but in this second chance do all I say.” 

• “Take all & Go up” …. the steps of faith and obedience will not fail us as we follow our God into the second chance.

When going on with the God of second chance … GO ALL THE WAY!

“WHEN GOD GIVES A SECOND CHANCE GO ALL THE WAY!”

God is ready to lead … if you and I are ready to listen and follow by doing all He speaks in His Word.  We must not be guilty of committing again that which set us back and caused us harm and hurt in the first place.

Woman caught in adultery … the God of second chance said … “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” [Jn 8:11]

• “See, I have given” … When we go and do all God says … He turns the place of defeat into a place of victory.

When we are right with God, He often lets us see our victories in advance, and we have but to take what He holds before us. – FB Meyer

“WHEN GOD GIVES A SECOND CHANCE GO ALL THE WAY!”

• “Joshua & All Got Up to Go” … the last “get up” was to deal with sin … this “get up” was to go on into the victory God assures and secures.

By faith … Joshua & Co would once again find victory in the land.

1 John 5:4 (ESV) For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

“the just shall live by faith” … that is those who realize their sin, confess it, and have the forgiveness of God, see that now they live again (second chance) by faith.

Where does the God of second chance need to work in your life and my life?  Perhaps in our … bruised lives, broken dreams, lost jobs, financial worries, drug dependence, addictions, failed marriages, divorced parents, kids of divorce, abuse of many kinds, death of a loved one (spouse, child, relative, friend), illnesses, insecurities, fears … or a multitude of other failures and discouragements.

Don’t sell God short!  Many tend to see God as mad or angry who isn’t about to give anyone a second chance.  Though He is a holy God who will not condone sin in our lives, He is but a loving God who offers the Way of a second chance to be restored in Christ.

Where would our lives be without the God of Second Chance? Who knows?  But this I know.

1 Corinthians 15:57 (ESV) But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

God is ready to lead us, if we are ready to listen and follow Him.

“WHEN GOD GIVES A SECOND CHANCE GO ALL THE WAY!”