Does God give a second chance?
It's the typical action movie: there are 10 seconds left before the bomb explodes, killing thousands, not to mention the honorable hero trying to defuse it. Sweat drips from the hero's face, and the tense police officers and other actors hold their breath. Which wire needs to be cut? The red one? The yellow one? Four seconds left. The red one! Two seconds left. No, the yellow one! Snip! There's only one chance to get it right. For some reason, the hero in the movie always cuts the right wire, but life isn't a movie. Have you ever felt like you cut the wrong wire and suddenly everything seemed lost? I believe we can find out if God gives second chances by looking at the life of Jesus. Jesus was (and is) God, and his life and character very clearly reflect the character of God the Father. When the disciple Peter came to Jesus and asked him, "Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother who sins against me?" Is seven times enough? Jesus said to him, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Mt 18, 21-22).
In order to understand the meaning of this conversation, one must understand the culture of this time a little. At that time, religious teachers said that one should forgive a person who has done evil three times. After that you do not have to anymore. Peter thought that he was a very just person and that Jesus would be impressed by his answer to forgiving a person seven times. But Jesus was not impressed by it, but made it clear to Peter that he had not understood the concept of forgiveness. When forgiving, it's not about counting, because then you do not forgive someone with all your heart. When Jesus said that one should forgive seventy times seven times, he did not mean 490 times, but that one should forgive infinitely. This is the true character and the true heart of Jesus and also of God because Jesus, God the Father and the Holy Spirit are one. Not only in being, but also in character - that is part of the Trinity of God.
The opportunities missed?
I have met people who truly believe they have sinned too often and that God can therefore no longer forgive them. They feel they have forfeited their chances with God and can no longer be saved. Again, the life and actions of Jesus speak volumes: Peter, Jesus' closest friend, publicly denies him three times (Mt 26,34, 56, 69-75) and yet Jesus reaches out and forgives and loves him. I believe that this experience was a key one in many areas of Peter's life. He became one of the most faithful and influential followers of Jesus and the leader of his Church. Another impressive example of God's true forgiveness is that although Jesus died on the cross in excruciating pain, he wholeheartedly forgave those responsible for his death, even when they were still making fun of him. Think about that for a moment. It is an incredible, truly divine love and forgiveness that only God can give. Contrary to the common understanding of believers and non-believers, God is not after you. He's not that big unreachable thing that sits in heaven just waiting to catch you if you make a mistake. That's not how God is, that's how we humans are. It's part of our character and not his. It is we who keep a tally of the injustices that have befallen us, not God. It is we who stop forgiving and ending relationships, not God.
We can find numerous examples in the Bible where God expresses his love for us and his longing for us. How often he promises us: I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Heb 13, 5)God's longing for us is that we are not lost, but that all people are saved. The truly wonderful thing about this is that God and Jesus not only spoke these kind words, but that they also lived out everything they said through the life of Jesus. Does God then offer a second chance?
The answer is No - God not only gives us a second chance, but is forgiven over and over again. Talk to God regularly about your sins, missteps, and injuries. Keep your eyes on him and not on where you think you are missing out on. God does not count their missteps. He will continue to love us, forgive us, be with us and hold on to us, no matter what. Finding someone who gives us a second chance - even daily - is not easy, but Jesus offers us both.
by Johannes Maree
