The God of a Second Chance

by John Grant

Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.” Psalm 30:2

Recently I heard the story of a rebellious young man who got caught up in drugs, alcohol and a lot more. He left home and struck out on his own looking for something, but he didn’t know what. Things went from bad to worse and he was running with the wrong people. They all ended up in jail in a foreign country. He scraped up all the money he had and hired a lawyer, but the lawyer absconded with the money and failed to show in court and the young man was sentenced to five years in prison.

While in prison he met a murderer and a drug smuggler who were also serving time for their crimes, but had given their life to Jesus after reading Bibles given to them. The young man began meeting with them but the Bibles were in Spanish and he could not read the Word. Eventually someone got him an English Bible and through reading it, he too gave his life to Christ.

After five months in prison, his father and another man came to see if they could get him freed, but their efforts were not met with success. It was too late to appeal or re-open the case. The night before they were to leave they were in a local restaurant and began weeping over their failure. The manager observed their behavior and asked what was wrong. When they told him, he introduced them to a judge who just happened to be dining across the room. Through that introduction, the young man was freed.

His father welcomed him home and gave him a second chance. He cleaned up, went back to school and got a job. But, more importantly, his heavenly Father also forgave and gave him a second chance.

All of that happened nearly forty years ago and that young man is now leading a worldwide ministry that has been responsible for leading thousands of people to saving grace by sharing God’s Word.

I never had such a bad experience in my youth but I did some things I am not proud of, but my parents forgave me (at least for the things they found out about) and gave me a second chance.

Then on that day when I gave my heart to the Lord, He too forgave me and gave me an opportunity for a fresh start. Aren’t you glad that we serve a God of a second chance?            (a thought on life from John Grant )

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2012/09/18/jg_the-god-of-a-second-chance/

John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney