God Of The Second Chances

 

Starry Starry Night - Australian Academy of Science

'When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place, what is mankind the you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?' Psalm 8:3-4

The Book of Jonah depicted a merciful God and told the story of a God of the Second Chances. 

God sent Jonah to Nineveh to warn the city of the impending doom if they did not turn from their wickedness. The Assyrian empire were extremely cruel. Their victories were followed by violent slaughter, enslavement and barbaric torture. The reluctant prophet Jonah, did not expect that the people would heed the warnings and repent of their evil deeds. Even so, Jonah did not expect God to be so merciful. Yet, dramatically and unexpectedly the Ninevites repented.

'And the people of Nineveh believed God's message, and from the greatest to the least they declared a fast and put on burlap (sackcloth) to show their sorrow.' Jonah 3:5 (NLT)

Nineveh

The king of Nineveh declared

"People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence. Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change His mind and hold back His fierce anger from destroying us." Jonah 3:8,9 (NLT)

God gave them a reprieve, a second chance

'When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, He changed His mind and did not carry out the destruction He had threatened.' Jonah 3:10

The Bible is replete with accounts of the many times the people of God rebelled, worshipped false gods and created idols for themselves. Time and time again God relented, gave them many chances when they humbled themselves and turned to him.

Exodus 32 recorded the great sin of the Golden Calf at the time when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. The Israelites turned against God and to idolatry. God had said that His anger will burn against them and that He may destroy them. But Moses sought favour with God and in the end it was recorded in Exodus 32:14, almost to the letter, as in Jonah 3:10,

'Then God changed His mind and did not bring to His people  the disaster He had threatened.' 

God relented.

Repentance and revival occur with communities and churches; it also can occur for us in personal encounters. This was Jonah's experience in the belly of the fish. Jonah had refused to obey God's call, ran away from Him only to be brought to the depths of despair. In that desperation Jonah came to his senses, 

'Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish. He said, "I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and He answered me. I called to You from the land of the dead, and Lord, You heard me....But you, O Lord my God, snatched me from the jaws of death! As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord." Jonah 2:1 and 6b, 7a (NLT)

Mr Guan Yeow Kwang, speaking at the Charis Methodist Church on the 26 June 2022, described this second chance as being rescued from the ultimate low, plucked out of the watery grave. Guan said, when we repent we will

• Remember God
• Receive God's Grace
• Rediscover God's Intimacy

This was King David's experience too and he eloquently described this in Psalm 51.

'Have mercy on me, O God, because of Your unfailing love. Because of Your great compassion, blot out the stains of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognise my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from Your presence, and don't take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey You.

The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.'

Amazing Grace! Timothy Keller dedicated his book on Jonah (Ref 1), The Prodigal Prophet to John Newton. Keller wrote

'In gratitude to God for the life and ministry of John Newton (1725-1807) who also turned back to God during a storm, and became a pastor who has taught us, and untold number of others, the beauty of amazing grace'

Amazing grace how sweet the sound

that saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,

was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

and grace my fears relieved;

how precious did that grace appear

the hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares

I have already come:

'tis grace has brought me safe thus far,

and grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,

his word my hope secures;

he will my shield and portion be

as long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

and mortal life shall cease:

I shall possess, within the veil,

a life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,

the sun forbear to shine;

but God, who called me here below,

will be forever mine

We should gaze at the night sky, consider the stars and the heavens; then realise how fortunate and privilege we are, recipients of God's mercy and grace.

'But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God.' John 1:12

Lionel

Ref 1: Timothy Keller, The Prodigal Prophet, Jonah and the Mystery of God's Mercy. Hodder and Stoughton, 2018

Just As I Am

 

Hermitage Museum

'Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.' Psalms 51:1-2

On the 2nd March 2022, this past Wednesday, Christians observed Ash Wednesday as the beginning of 40 days of contemplative repentance of sins until we all celebrate Easter on Sunday 17 April 2022.

The season of Lent is a practice of the churches for many centuries and attempts to emulate the 40-day period of fasting and prayer of Jesus Christ in the wilderness. The Rt Revd Titus Chung, Bishop of the Anglican Church in Singapore wrote, "Lent, a period of of self-examination and penance leading up to our Easter Day celebration, when we celebrate Christ's resurrection. This is the season in which we can come to grips with our human conditions and emphasises our need for a Saviour." (Ref 1)

Someone from the Old testament went through a similar, personal Lent period, the great King David. The background is David's adultery with Bathsheba. At the height of his glory David fell into a grievious sin. He was idle in Jerusalem having sent his army to battle. It was not the usual experience for David, enjoying the comforts of his palaces while his kingdom was at war. In that idleness, he caught sight of Bathsheba bathing, coveted her and committed adultery. He tried to cover up his sin by recalling the husband Uriah back from battle to sleep with his wife. When this failed, Uriah was sent back to the very heat of battle, wherein he was killed.

The Lord castigated David through the prophet Nathan. David must have spent many days of regret and self-reflection which finally brought him to repent and make a sincere confession of sin.

'Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgression, and my sin is ever before me. Against you and you only have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight.' Psalm  51:1-4a  

Emeritus Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore, Rev (Dr) Robert Solomon spoke on this passage at the Ash Wednesday combined service of Charis and Living Hope Methodist Churches. The Bishop described the Horrors of Sin using three words found in the passage:    

• Sin - which is an offense towards God's Laws. It may heinous act or any offensive behaviour, some even appearing innocuous. 
• Iniquity - which is an inner corruption in every human. Charles Wesley call this a 'bent to sinning' in his hymn, 'Love Divine All Love Excelling.'
• Transgression - which is a rebellion against God, breaking of a vital relationship with God.

The Bishop began his sermon by asking 'What is wrong with the World?' Some, thinking of what's happening in Ukraine these days may say Putin. Others may name equally evil men like Hitler. The Bishop's answer is all of us; all of us is what is wrong with the world. Since time immemorial we have corrupted the world with our sins, our iniquities and our transgressions.

However the Bishop also reminded that the Psalm 51 rendered Hope for Sinners as King David experienced and wrote in his confession.

'Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart and renew a right spirit within me.' Psalm 51:7,9,10

There is a solution for our sinful nature and a hope for sinners

• A cleansing of our sins  
• A creation of a clean heart - a regeneration from our iniquities
• A renewal of our spirits - a relationship that overcomes our transgressions   

You might asked, can David escape from such a heinous act? Can we escape from the clutches of sin? Jesus Saves! Yes, the answer is Jesus made the atonement for our sins as Saint Paul wrote matter-of-factly,

'For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.' Romans 6:23

In Jesus we will find

• Real Forgiveness
• Lasting Transformation
• Renewed Relationship

The season of Lent will lead us to reflect on repentance and restoration, the same that were found by King David. Eventually Lent will point us to Christ, His death and resurrection. I am reminded of a song sung at the close of every Billy Graham crusade inviting sinners to come forward with repentance and receive restoration, Just As I Am. That song has been updated by Travis Cottrell, I Come Broken - Just As I Am.  

Just as I am, without one plea

But that Thy blood was shed for me

And that Thou bidst me come to Thee

O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot

To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot

O Lamb of God I come! I come!

I come broken to be mended

I come wounded to be healed

I come desperate to be rescued

I come empty to be filled

I come guilty to be pardoned

By the blood of Christ the Lamb

And I'm welcomed with open arms

Praise God, just as I am

Just as I am, I would be lost

But mercy and grace my freedom bought

And now to glory in Your cross

O Lamb of God I come! I come!

I thought we might also ponder over the original lyrics of Just As I Am

Just as I am, without one plea,

But that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee,

O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot;

To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am, though tossed about

With many a conflict, many a doubt;

Fightings within, and fears without,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;

Sight, riches, healing of the mind;

Yes, all I need, in Thee to find,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am, Thy love unknown

Has broken every barrier down;

Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

The Prophet Joel wrote Joel wrote,

'That is why the Lord says, "Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping and mourning." Joel 2:12

Lionel

Ref 1: Bishop Titus Chung, in Forward, Up From the Ashes Hope Will Arise, Daily Devotions for Lent 2022, Sower Publications.

Inspired by the Sermon 'Dealing Decisive With Sin' by Bishop Dr Robert Solomon on Ash Wednesday 2 March 2022

The Prodigal Father

"The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand" Psalms 37:23-24

The celebrated Rembrandt painting, 'The Return of the Prodigal Son' has a prominent place at the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg. Staring at it, I was quickly drawn to the figure of the father in resplendent red. Rembrandt's portrayal of the father captures the divine act of compassion in a most human person.

This was the moment when the father received his errant son back into the family with unconditional love and forgiveness. The father that Rembrandt chose to paint is that of an aging blind man. The significance is not lost to any repentant sinner; God is 'blind' to our excesses when we return to Him like this prodigal son.

I entitled this post the Prodigal Father to express the largess and magnanimity of this old man. This blind old man in red was not concerned about himself. He loved unconditionally, caring only for son. He gave without expecting anything in return. Seldom will one experience this kind of love.

George Matheson, preacher and theologian, was born on 27th March 1842. After excelling at school he entered Glasgow University where he studied Classics, Logic and Philosophy. He graduated with first class honours when he was only 19 years old but a deep tragedy was being worked out in his life.  He had an incurable condition that would eventually result in total blindness. Whilst at University he had met and fallen in love with a girl who was a fellow student and they were planning to get married. He broke the news of his impending blindness to her, would she still marry him? To his deep sadness her blunt answer came to him with the force of a dagger to his heart, “I do not want to be the wife of a blind man” she said – and with that they parted. George never did marry but he learnt soon enough that there was another love and this love is enduring - the love of Christ for the sinner. He penned these words 

"O Love that wilt not let me go,

I rest my weary soul in thee;

I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be."

When the prodigal son forsook his father and took his inheritance, he expected the father to disown him. There must have been a deep seated grief in the father when this unfaithful son left. That did not prevent an attitude taking shape in the the father towards this wayward son, a willingness to forgive. This forgiving spirit translates to generosity in the extravagant reception and feasting when the son, returning home was restored to his place and wealth.

King David of Israel confidently wrote in Psalms 23:6, "I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever". Unlike David, I am not so confident and ever so often, I need a reality check. Like the prodigal son, I feel that from time to time I will digress, stray and leave. Yet somehow there is a Love that will not let me go. Hence I believe, I will always return. There is a love that burns within us, a love that guarantees that although we may stumble, we will not fall for the Lord upholds us with His hand.

Lionel

True Repentance

The Prodigal Son in Repentance

"If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sins and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

In the heyday of the evangelistic crusades, scores of people answered the altar call to find salvation in Jesus. Despite the emotional outpouring and the prayers to receive Christ, many did not receive salvation. The Bible said that they are like seeds that when sown never took roots and did not bear fruits. Their encounters with Jesus were short-lived and no true conversions took place.

One would assume as these people stepped forward they would regret their sinful nature. They would make a U-turn and return to God and find in Jesus, forgiveness of sin and strength to live a new life. That would be true repentance or t'shuva in Hebrew and it means more than to regret or to feel sorry; it means to turn back. Unfortunately many were led by emotional responses instead of truly repudiating their past lives and sins and then, coming by faith to accept Jesus Christ as their saviour.

J I Packer in his book, Rediscovering Holiness (Ref 1) argued that Christians are called to a life of habitual repentance. Packer pointed out that the very first of Luther's ninety-five thesis, nailed to the Wittenberg church door in 1517, declared: "When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, "Repent" He willed that the whole life of believers should be one of repentance".

What is repentance? J I Packer outlined that repentance means:

• Realistic recognition that one has disobeyed and failed God, doing wrong instead of doing right
• Regretful remorse at the dishonour one has done to the God one is learning to love and wanting to serve
• Reverent requesting of God' pardon, cleansing of conscience, and help to not lapse in the same way again
• Resolute renunciation of the sins in question, with deliberate thought as to how to keep clear of them and live right for the future
• Requisite restitution to any who have suffered material loss through one's wrongdoing.

One example of true repentance is found in the return of the Prodigal Son. This man had disgracefully sought after his inheritance from his father and squandered it in riotous living. He left home with pride and money but he was reduced to looking after pigs, losing all his dignity. He was no longer considered a human being. He was down in the dumps. That was exactly where we were at until we made the choice to return to God. The Prodigal finally came to his senses and made the long journey home.

Repentance is not easy. Its effects must be deep, changing our characters, behaviours and lives. John Wesley said that God has forgiven all on the cross, but not all have repented. After we have repented and found the forgiveness of God, like son and father we are reconciled. This is the same place we should all want to be in; our relationship with God being fully restored. Henri Nouwen wrote in the "Return of the Prodigal Son", (ref 2) "The father's embrace of his son told me that I was desperately searching for the that inner place where I too could be held as safely".

Lionel

Ref 1: J I Packer, "Rediscovering Holiness - Know the Fullness of Life with God". Regal 
Ref 2: Henri Nouwen, "The Return of the Prodigal Son - A story of Homecoming." Image books Doubleday