|
It is a great encouragement to know that God is in the restoration
business. Many times we get down and discouraged because we fall short
and sin and think God will never forgive us. The truth is God waits with
open arms to forgive and receive us unto Himself again, but we must
recognize our faults and repent before Him. Just as a son apologizes to
his father for a past mistake, so must we repent and ask God’s forgiveness.
The Bible says God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and
cleanse us from all unrighteousness, so never think God is mad at you or
will not forgive you. (1 John 1:9)
This is an encouraging story that was written by Dr. Billy Graham. I
found great comparison with this story and the forgiveness that God has
towards His children. I hope you will be encouraged and uplifted by this
simple story that shows a second chance is always available from the Lord.
A SECOND CHANCE
Georgia Tech played the University of California in the 1929 Rose Bowl.
In the game a player recovered a fumble, but became confused and ran the
wrong way.
A teammate tackled him just before he would have scored a touchdown against
his own team. At halftime all of the players went into the dressing room
and sat down, wondering what the coach would say. This young man sat by
himself; put a towel over his head, and cried.
When the team was ready to go back onto the field for the second half, the
coach stunned the team when he announced that the same players who had
started the first half would start the second. All of the players left the
dressing room except for this young man. He would not budge. The coach
looked back as he called him again, and saw that his cheeks were wet with
tears. The player said, "Coach, I can't do it. I've ruined you. I've
disgraced the University. I can't face that crowd in the stadium again."
Then the coach put his hand on the player's shoulder and said, "Get up and
go back in. The game is only half over."
When I think of that story, deep inside I say, "What a coach!" When I read
the story of Jonah [in the Bible], and the stories of thousands like him,
I say, "To think that God would give me another chance!"
By Billy Graham
It is very important that we realize that God is a just and loving God and
wishes for us to live an abundant and overcoming life. The enemy of hell
wishes for exactly the opposite in every person’s life and wants us to
blame God for the things that we do not understand, instead of trusting
the Lord and knowing that God has us perfectly centered in the palms of
His hand. Even though we may fall short, God is waiting for us to get
back up so that He can put us back in the game of life and do better then
we have done in the past. (2 Peter 3:9) (Psalm 103:10-14) (John 10:10-11)
If you are stuck in a rut of unforgiving yourself, I encourage you to get
up, shake yourself off, and get back into your life and fulfill the destiny
that God has for you. Always remember that our God is a God of second
chances. He will not condemn you because you fell short. Once you repent
and ask His forgiveness, it will be as if you have never sinned in the
eyes of the Lord. God truly forgives and forgets and that is motivation in
itself to get back up and start afresh and make God proud. (2 Cor. 5:17-21)
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
1 John 1:8-10 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and
the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say
that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
Jeremiah 29:11-14 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith
the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will
hearken unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search
for Me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD…”
Isaiah 1:18-19 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD:
though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though
they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and
obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.”
Psalm 103:10-14 “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us
according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so
great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the east is from
the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us. Like as a
father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear Him. For
He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.”
All scriptures can be found in the King James Version.
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry |
