Second Chance

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.” 

(Jonah 3:1-2, NKJV)

A mention of a second chance suggests to us that there was a first chance.  The second chance is given to correct and at times to enhance what should have taken place in the first instance.  It suggests that the result which had been expected at the beginning was not achieved and so there is a need to do it again.  A second chance also suggests that some learning has taken place and so one will not follow the same steps of the first opportunity but will seek to do it differently so as to achieve different results.  Albert Einstein gave an instructive quote  as a definition of ‘insanity’ which he explained as doing the same thing over and over again yet expecting different results.  A second chance tells us that we know we have not been getting the results that we want and so we are willing to follow a different process in order to achieve our results.  A second chance gives us hope for a change outcome.

Our reference verse comes from a familiar story in the bible of Prophet Jonah who was sent by God to go to Nineveh and preach repentance.  Jonah for his own reasons decided not to go to Nineveh but run away to Tarshish, thinking that he was running away from God.  The story continues that Jonah’s escape ended up in the belly of a fish and inside the fish, he cried to God to help him (Jonah 2:1) and God heard his cry.  It is at this point that God spoke to Jonah again giving him the same instruction as before to go and preach in Nineveh.  God gave Jonah a second chance to obey Him and to take the message of repentance to the people of Nineveh.  Samson is another individual who received a second chance, he prayed for strength just one more time in order to take revenge on his captors and God granted his prayer (Judges 16:28).  It has been acknowledged that God gives us second chances when we fail even today.  As believers when we confess our sins, the bible tells us that He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9), that sounds like a second chance, He takes away our sin and calls us His righteousness by the act of forgiveness.  He gives us a clean slate one more time.  Beloved, this is more than just a second chance, He continually gives us new opportunities to walk with Him, He knows our frailty and understands our weaknesses, yet in magnanimity, He over and over gives us another chance.  We clearly have no reason to stay fallen, we must pick ourselves up and receive His gracious chances again.  He never gives up on us.  Beloved, the bible reminds us that though we fall, we rise up again (Proverbs 24:16).  Our confidence is in the faithfulness of He who begun a good work in us bringing it to completion (Philippians 1:6) despite our own failings.

Brethren, just as we are given repeat chances, we are also to extend the same to others.  Apostle Peter asked Jesus the question which many if not all of us would have wanted to ask, the number of times we should forgive those who have failed or sinned against us?  Peter considered seven times as a lot and maybe enough but Jesus responded that it is seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-22).  That is a whole lot more than we humanly could consider, it suggests to me that we forgive limitless times.  Beloved, only by the mercies of God would we be able to forgive countless times, however, we also remember that we too are forgiven and are asked to forgive others even as we have been forgiven (Ephesians 4:32).  May the Lord help us.

 Thoughts:

How have you experienced God giving you a second chance?

How has God’s forgiveness impacted your life?

How have you extended second chances to others?

Is there an individual that you consciously need to give another chance to?