How many of us today have done things in our past that we regret? As in, we regret those actions so much that we wish that somehow we could go back and change them — make right the wrongs.
We all would, wouldn’t we? We say to ourselves, "If I only had another chance."
Friends, there are actions we have all taken where we are still suffering the consequences today. As I write this column, Romans 5:1-8 comes to mind. So let’s read in the Bible, God’s Word, about "God’s Second Chance":
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience. And patience, experience; and experience, hope. And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
As humans we all have done wrong. We have a longing in our hearts to be able to say "I am so sorry" or "please forgive me."
Maybe we are thinking of someone, and as our heart convicts us, we make every effort to contact them. Then possibly, there is a situation where we long to, but cannot reach that person because that soul has passed on.
There are a great many people who lay their heads down at night not knowing what it is to have peace in their hearts. How many weary souls labor with a guilt complex and would love to go somewhere to have that guilt removed from their souls?
May I say that our first step is recognizing that we all have sinned against God, the very one who loves us most. The greatest guilt a person carries is unconfessed sin against a holy God.
When man sinned in the Garden of Eden, not only did man turn away from God and find himself alienated from God, with no capacity for God and no desire to turn to him, but God also had to turn away from man. The Bible tells us, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
Some may say, "Preacher, I need to get things straightened out in my life first." Believe me when I say you cannot accomplish this by yourself. No, "seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).
Turn to Jesus Christ and confess (admit) your sins to him, asking for his forgiveness and salvation. Then trust the Lord to do what he said he would. When Jesus died on that old cross he took the punishment for all our sins. At that moment God turned around and said to the lost sinner, "Come."
His arms are reaching out to you. God is the God of second, third and fourth chances. Take his outstretched hands, my friend, because the only place we can have a guilt complex removed is at the cross of Christ!
Lance Stevens pastors at Huntsville Evangelical Community Church in Pendleton. He and his wife, Judy, are formerly of Greenfield. This weekly column is written by local clergy members. Send comments to dr-editorial@greenfield reporter.com.
