Key Verse: Jeremiah 18:1-10
God told Jeremiah to go down to the Potter’s house. There he saw the Potter making a vessel. The vessel was ruined in the hands of the Potter, so the Potter started again and remade the vessel. It may not be the skill of the Potter that ruined the vessel it could be the quality of the clay. Just as there is nothing wrong with God, God is good. It could be the person if they don’t obey God they will suffer the consequences of sin. Through the example of the Potter, God was saying to Jeremiah even though He has pronounced judgement on Israel if they turned from their evil ways, God would withhold His judgement. In Jeremiah 37:8 God pronounced judgement on Israel. (Jeremiah 38) Even until the last moment when the Babylonian army was surrounding the city of Jerusalem, God gave King Zedekiah the chance to follow God and save the city, the people, the temple, his family and his life (Jeremiah 38:17-18). But King Zedekiah was more afraid of people (the Babylonians) than God. God showed Jeremiah that He is a God of second chances. He is patient, kind and merciful. Even until the last minute God wanted to save the people and the city of Jerusalem but they still disobeyed.
Today we may make mistakes, make the wrong decisions or miss opportunities in our life but God allows us to go around the mountain again and then He will open the door for us. During that time of walking around the mountain, He is refining and changing us so that we are ready to enter into His blessing. God is the God of second chances and gives second opportunities to enter into His blessing.
Example in Numbers 13-14
When Moses was close to the Promised Land he sent out 12 spies to survey the land and the people. When the spies returned two reported the land was truly a land of milk and honey, but the other 10 spies gave a bad report saying it was a land of giants and they were afraid (Numbers 13:33). Caleb and Joshua had faith in God and tried to encourage the people, but they wouldn’t listen. The people murmured and rebelled against God. Because of their rebellion against God and lack of trust, God judged the people. God pronounced that they will wander in the wilderness for 40 years and all those people 20 years and older were to die in the wilderness.
The older generation had a slave mentality. All the miracles of God did not change them they still wanted to go back to Egypt. The new generation of Israelites saw God’s miracle of protection and provision, they were experienced in warfare and became the army of God. They were toughened by hardship and the harsh desert environment. Most importantly this new generation trusted in God. The old generation missed the chance to enter and possess the Promised Land because of fear and rebellion. With the new generation God gave them a second chance to possess the land of milk and honey which they did.
Example in Luke 19:41-44
Jesus spoke this prophecy on Palm Sunday the start of Passion Week (the week of His suffering). The Bible says Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem because the nation of Jews missed the hour of the visitation, Jesus’ first coming. The Jews as a nation rejected Jesus as the Messiah. (Matthew 27:24-25) Pilate knew Jesus was an innocent man and did not want to crucify Him. In verse 25, the Jews rejected Jesus the Son of the Living God and put a curse on themselves and their children by saying “Let his blood be on us and on our children.” Not only did the Jews of Jesus’ generation suffer, but their descendants throughout history suffered.
Since A.D. 70 the Jewish nation was destroyed and the people were scattered throughout all the nations. But God did not give up on the Jews. The nation of Israel was restored on the 14th May 1948. God is a God of second chances. Jesus will come back again as the King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 1:7) At Jesus’ second coming all the Jews and nations that survive the great tribulation will see Jesus with their own eyes and the Jews will recognise Him and they will cry because they will realise the Jesus they rejected truly is Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. God is a God of second chances. The Jews and many other nations missed Jesus’ first coming, but Jesus will come a second time for the Jews.
God has declared the end from the beginning. Sometimes we make mistakes or miss opportunities because we don’t listen to God, but God gives us opportunities to redeem ourselves. I think God is very good to us. Sometimes He gives us second, third, and fourth chances. When God corrects you, He is trying to teach you something, just obey Him. God is good He gives us the opportunity to hear the gospel again and again. God gives us the opportunity to return to Him again and again. God is a God of second chances. He is merciful. God is not silent. The next time you hear from God the best thing to do is obey and be blessed.
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If you would like to accept Jesus into your heart please pray the following prayer.
“Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Saviour.”
If you have just prayed this prayer and accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, congratulations! We invite you to contact us as we would love to pray a blessing over your life and help guide you on your journey.
The next step. As a way to grow closer to Him, the Bible tells us to follow up on our commitment.
- Get baptised as commanded by Christ.
- Tell someone else about your new faith in Christ.
- Spend time with God each day. It does not have to be a long period of time. Just develop the daily habit of praying to Him and reading His Word. Ask God to increase your faith and your understanding of the Bible.
- Seek fellowship with other followers of Jesus. Develop a group of believing friends to answer your questions and support you.
- Find a local church where you can worship God.
God bless you.