Quite a number of people don’t get opportunity to make things right when they mess up in their relationships with others. Years ago a brother approached me to talk about the mess he had committed in his marriage. He told me that if he gets a second chance, he won’t do that again. I thank God that when I talked to the wife, she accepted him back and the mistake he committed was never repeated.
Second chance is an opportunity to throw away bad behaviour or habit and embrace the new. It is the time when you become mindful of everything you do and try to live up to expectations. However, it is unfortunate that people don’t always get second chance to do better especially in the face of death; for the bible says that it is appointed for man to die once, after that judgement.
I want to talk to you about two people in the bible; one got the opportunity to live again, but the other had no chance because it was too late.
The first person is the prodigal son in Luke 15. He took his share of his father’s wealth and went to live a worthless life. He got broke and life began to take a toll on him but when he came to senses, he went back to his father and pleaded for a second chance. The father forgave him and took him back as his son.
The second person is the rich man in Lazarus’ story (Luke 16). He was very rich but died a sinner. He found himself in hell, a place of no return. He knew there was no turning point so he pleaded that Abraham should send Lazarus back to earth to warn his five brothers. If he had had second chance to live again, I believe that his life would have been awesome but it was too late for him.
These two stories tell us that God will grant us second chance to make things right if we repent while we have life. The scripture says that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (1 John 1:9). Notice he used “if”.
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, self-ambition, dissensions, factions and envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21, NIV)
Today is an opportunity for you to make a U TURN or REPENT from lifestyle that is contrary to how Jesus wants you to live. If you have been caught up in sin or habit that you know will not make you a candidate for Heaven, ask for forgive while there is life. If you have backslidden, ask for God’s grace to get up to run your race well. You don’t know when death will knock at your door so don’t take chances with your life.
Today is the day you have, tomorrow may be too late. What will do you with a second chance?
Remember that you may cover your sins that no one else will know but you can’t hide it from God.
Say this Prayer:
Father I thank you for granting me another chance to live right today. Please forgive me my sins and wash me clean with the blood of Jesus. I asked that you strengthen me so that henceforth, I will not live according to the dictates of my flesh but by your Holy Spirit. Guide my thoughts and life so that I don’t mess up again. I thank you because I know you have answered in Jesus’ Name. Amen
Uplifting Christ 