27. HE IS THE GOD OF SECOND CHANCES

Some people think that if you sinned in some way or other but have thought on your ways, genuinely repented with godly sorrow and asked God for forgiveness, that even after all of that, you should sit in a corner and do nothing of any significance for God’s Kingdom, for the rest of your life.

Think about it: If Peter had done that and pined away in a corner with perpetual guilt, even after repentance, what would have become of him and how would the household of faith have benefited from his writings today?

Mind you, Peter’s repentance does not appear to have even been in view of the other disciples but Jesus knew and saw (because he is all-knowing and all-seeing), that he, Peter, went out and wept bitterly.

If, after David had sinned with Bathsheba, repented when confronted by Nathan the Prophet and been chastened by God for it, he had continued on for the rest of his life carrying the burden of the awfulness of what he had done and thinking that he could be of no use to God ever again, what would have happened?

Maybe he would have given up his Kingship, considering himself to be absolutely worthless and useless in leading the people of Israel.

Yet, God continued to have fellowship with David and David continued to walk closely with him, after he had repented.

He paid a price and would most likely have borne some serious consequences as a result, even after he repented because that is what sin does. It is destructive and leads to much heartache, sorrow, shame and trouble. However, although David was sorry for his sin, he did not stay in the place where he fell. He grieved and then by God’s grace and according to his mercy, he got up and moved on and God moved on as well.

In fact, of all of David’s wives, it is astounding to think that God chose Bathsheba (the very woman with whom David had sinned and later married) to be the mother of the next King of Israel. Of all of David’s sons who God could have picked, he chose Solomon, of her who had been the wife of Uriah (Matthew 1:6).

God was not endorsing the sin but I believe he was displaying the extent and power of his grace, mercy and forgiveness. He told David that Solomon would be the next King, even before Solomon had been conceived in Bathsheba’s womb and when he was born, he did not discriminate against him because he was the son of the people who had been involved in that grievous sin. No. In fact, the Bible states of Solomon “…and the Lord loved him.” (2 Samuel 12:24)

This to my mind is instructive. Proverbs 24:16 reminds us: “For a just man falleth seven times, AND RISETH UP AGAIN.”

It is never a pleasant thing to sin and it should be avoided at all costs because it is costly but those who belong to God are not expected after they have confessed their sin to God and repented, to continue on wallowing perpetually in grief and thinking that they are now a second-rate Christian, someone that God will never ever see it fit to use in any significant way. This is the way that man thinks, not God.

The Bible tells us that God’s ways are not our ways and his thoughts are not our thoughts. Mankind has a tendency to write-off as wholly unprofitable, those they consider to be misfits but guess what? God has a tendency to write them back on!

If you are one that sinned but repented, received God’s forgiveness and got back up by his grace, tell such people that think you should remain in your past and resign yourself as unprofitable, that they are in for a shocker.

For, instead of pining away in a corner and allowing people’s lies (which, make no mistake, have been sent by the devil) to keep you stuck in the past, you moved on by the grace of almighty God and walked with God.

You opened a Facebook Ministry Page or Pages, you set up a Website, you wrote a book, you went out and you witnessed for God, giving people the message of salvation and edifying his saints. You prayed for those you offended, especially the unsaved, you reached out to the lost, to the hurt and the hurting and you worked for the Lord to the extent that he empowered you, mightily and tirelessly, ignoring the naysayers.

Why? Because you realized “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the POWER of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:5).

You realized that forgiveness is something that God gives, not man and that if he (God) forgives you, people could think what they want, say what they want and do what they want. It doesn’t reverse what he has already done.

If God decides to show you mercy and restore you and then use you mightily for his glory, there is absolutely nothing that people can do to stop it, other than to sulk in a corner, self-righteously and speak evil of you.

They apparently have never sinned or they console themselves into thinking that they did not sin as much as you.

Dear Sister in the Lord, as they fix their eyes on you, make sure that you keep your eyes fixated on CHRIST. Set it like flint and know that you shall NOT be ashamed (Isaiah 50:7).

Jesus is the author and finisher of your faith, not prideful man. He died for your sins and justified you, not sinful man.

If God be for you, WHO could be against you? If after you have sinned and repented, God has purposed to use you, still, WHO is going to successfully fight against his purpose?

(Written on 03rd and 4th January, 2021)

Dear Reader, if you found the above Article to be informative, helpful or edifying, you may also be interested in reading the following:

• Note 19 – ‘What Jesus Thinks Of You Is All That Matters’
• Note 20 – ‘God’s Power To Save Is Greater Than Your Sin’
• Note 22 – ‘After Repentance, Must You Wear A Perpetual Badge Of Shame?’

Under the ‘BIBLE-BELIEVING Daughters of God’ Page:

• Note 83 – ‘Have You Fallen But Desire To Get Back Up?’
• Note 125 – ‘When God Promises To Write-on A Write-off’