Posted by
peripheral on Saturday, July 26, 2008 6:27:36 AM
From My
Perspective - - -
What if
there was no such thing as second chances? What if we had to have it right from
the beginning and there was no room for error? How many of us would survive?
How many of us would be doing what we are doing today? Have we ever had a
second chance? I would like to think there are certain things that are
operative. It is chilling and sobering to read in Ecclesiastes 7:20, “…there is not a righteous man on
earth who does good and never sins.” This indicates that all of us in one way
or another exhibit inconsistencies, foibles, and failures. When that occurs, I
hope there are those who would come alongside and lift up the fallen; show
compassion to the one who has floundered and failed; encourage the one who has
faltered - and show that God’s Grace is
able to enfold such a one and grant a second-chance.
Sometimes there are mitigating circumstances that were never part of
ones psyche or goal – “stuff” just happened – insufficient skill; lack of
funds; no support group; no accountability; strong-will; a determination of “my way or no way”; etc. Sometimes it’s
just plain stubbornness and/or stupidity. It’s always good to know what one
does not know! Life’s journey should not just be an on-going experiment – there
ought to be achievable and realistic goals, as well as a sense of
accomplishment and accountability. We need more men like the servant Barnabas
who was willing to run the risk of reaching out and attempting to help those
who were suspect, and some who had failed. Barnabas is known as “the man of
encouragement” – the man who came alongside Saul of Tarsus to get him on the right track; and who
later would take John Mark and help shape and hone his life so he would be more
useful for ministry.
If the Lord God operated the way we sometimes do, no one would have a
second-chance. We would zap them all! After all – they didn’t do it “our way”;
or they were disgustingly human and failed! It’s so easy to set standards for
others and to measure people by a standard before which we ourselves falter and
fail. I think of King David and the odyssey of his life. The Bible states he
was “a man after God’s own heart” and that he and his heirs would reign over
God’s people. And yet – David failed miserably! By our standards, he would be
finished! We’d say – “you had your chance and you blew it – now you’re done!” I
love these phrases in II Peter 3:9 (The Message), “God isn't late with his
promise…He is restraining himself on account of you…He's giving everyone space
and time to change.” The words – “space and time to change” are like music to
ones ears. There is the potential and possibility of a new day and new
opportunity. God has given me opportunity to learn from my past inconsistencies,
foibles, failures. Just as Jesus said to those whom he called to be disciples –
“I will make you…” – he is still remaking and remolding and recycling those who
have stumbles and fallen. I’m thankful for the second chances extended to me.
Someone shared the following thoughts with me: “Seeing how God has humbled a man though his first experience…and
how this man has reacted by God’s grace - having learned fundamental lessons en
route, I think that he is a much safer choice (for ministry) than someone
who is untried. Ministry is not for sissies or those who are full of
themselves; it is tough and requires full dependence on God’s grace in humility.” It’s difficult to have a second chance. Some
love to hold another down and measure that one only by a past failure. It behooves
us to reach out to those who have tried and failed – and especially to those who
have learned valuable lessons as a result – and grant them an opportunity to be
restored and to have a second chance. In 1 Corinthians 15:9-10, Paul shares
these brief words of testimony: “For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle,
because I persecuted the church
of God. But by the grace
of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the
contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace
of God (a second chance) that is with me.” Second Chances – we’ve all had them!
Think about this with me - - -