Second chance
Photo by Francesco Ungaro: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-whale-tail-surfaces-above-water-464376/
It’s Wimbledon! The famous grass tennis courts in South London host top players from around the world. People pay lots of money to watch the games, whilst eating strawberries and cream, sipping champagne.
Royalty and celebrities (including Sir Cliff) put on their finest and watch from the exclusive seating area. Sometimes it seems like the crowds are more interested in who is sitting there than who is playing!
I have watched a few games on TV, and one of the things which struck me was the ‘second service’ rule. According to Wikipedia: ‘a second serve occurs when there has already been one fault on the point.’
I then read in the Bible the story of Jonah (and the whale). This short little book begins…
“The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish.”
God asked Jonah to do something, but he was disobedient and ran away! Jonah set sail in the opposite direction to a place far away from Nineveh.
The story says that a storm came, and Jonah ended up in the sea and was swallowed by a large fish! It was in the fish that Jonah came to his senses and asked God to forgive him. The fish ‘spat’ him out and Jonah got a second chance…
“Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh.”
Notice the wording is similar here as in chapter one. The writer wants us to see something: God is a God of the second chance! I like that.
God could have asked somebody else to go to Nineveh, but he wanted to work with Jonah. Even when Jonah rejected Him, God was patient. He gave space for Jonah to reflect on his actions, to ask for forgiveness and to change.
I believe God still wants to partner with people today; just like he did with Jonah, people like you and me. God is the God of second chances. As I look at my life, I am very grateful for that.
We may reject Him, but God is so patient and kind. He gives space for us to reflect, to seek forgiveness, to turn around and have that second chance with Him!
God bless you :)
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader