Maybe they still do this, but back when I was a kid, when you were playing a game and there was a dispute over a call, sometimes we would say ‘do-over’ and just run the play again to avoid the conflict and hurt feelings of a bad call. And it worked! Both sides were in agreement and decided to remove the prior offenses from the record and move on. A similar thing happened in video games when your guy died and you could just press reset and try again as often as you wanted till you got it right. We don’t always get second chances at everything in life, but sometimes we do. Has anyone ever given you a second, third, or more chances to get something done right, before they dismiss you completely?
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Remember your first, or second job when you were younger. Someone had to train you how to do what you were supposed to do till you got it right. Even if it was something as simple as weeding fields, moving boxes, taking tassels out of corn, or making sandwiches, a boss or someone had to be somewhat patient with you till you could at least perform the job at a minimal level. How many mistakes did you make till you got it right? I have heard of someone starting a new job, for which they were 1 minute late and were immediately let go. Some bosses are more forgiving than others. Maybe you are much more proficient at your job now and rarely make mistakes (or admit to them) anymore, but you are still not perfect, as you are human. What happens when you are supposed to be the expert or teaching others and you mess-up, are you immediately kicked out, or do you learn from it and try not to repeat the same mistake? There is more room for error in some professions than others, but hopefully someone does not lose their life because of it. Do you know how many people have felt the effects of mistakes you have made?
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8
We all mess up, even when we strive to do what is right, but we should be learning from our mistakes and on average, getting better at it as we go. All of our actions have consequences, both positive and negative. We can’t always take back hurtful things we say to others, or that are done to us, but we can forgive. There are people in prisons around the world who are guilty and there are some who are innocent. To be wrongly convicted of a crime may be one of the worst injustices that could be done to someone, just ask Jesus. But no matter what kind of broken and messy situation we find ourselves in, there is always hope. Forgiveness is that reset button we can push to break the chains of anger, guilt, and frustration that can bind us and keep us and others from moving forward. Most of us should feel sorry for our sins and the mistakes we make, but there is One who sees us through our mistakes and wants us to be blessed, born again, beautiful and forgiven, despite our failings. Will you give others the same chance?
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Yours in Christ,
Clark
