A Second Chance ???

By Rev. Daniel True

(A message for the “unsaved“)

When ministering or preaching the salvation message,  I’ve had a lot of people pose questions about “the forgiveness of God“  – “can God be so cruel that He wouldn’t let me into Heaven when I die?” – “God is supposed to be merciful” and many other versions of that appeal.

While it is true that God offers forgiveness, is merciful, and is NOT cruel, like most anything that you find in this world, there are certain conditions that must be met, even with God.

How many times have you seen a TV commercial that offers incredibly generous or “free” products, and then you (sometimes) read the “fine print” to realize that there is a catch to it. “Free Credit Report” is not FREE unless you submit to their (binding) conditions!

While the promises of God in the Bible are not tricky, still you are responsible to know the “conditions”. So, let’s explore that aspect a little further.

One of those conditional items is the one that has reached (political) prominence lately: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chr 7:14 KJV). You see the condition “IF” and you see the response “THEN” . Without the first part, the second does not apply.

Your computer operates by virtue of   “If and then“   statements. Something has to first trigger the process or it “freezes up” – it won’t work.

In the preceding scriptural example from 2^nd Chronicles, one has to wonder if it works if only one person meets those conditions OR does it require everyone OR a simple majority OR what?? Obviously many believers HAVE been praying in light of the above scripture but – - – well, there hasn’t been a turn-around (yet)!

Then there is the “rest of the story” – - – if “my people” are involved in sin (breaking God’s laws), will God hear those prayers? Collectively, if a nation is breaking those laws, will God “honor” that nation? Personally, I think not, but I’m waiting to hear the rest of that story!

Getting back to the salvation message, I have presented it to a number of people who have responded that “I want to go to Heaven, but I’m enjoying this (perverted!) lifestyle too much to give it up right now. Surely, there is time later“. While it is true that God will accept you at any time that you meet the conditions for salvation, you must be careful lest your time runs out (you die) and have not made that conditional first choice! Then it is too late.

Regarding that last statement, I am aware that some (Christian) denominations have prayers “for the dead,” however that is not scriptural. There is no place in  the Bible where it says that praying for someone after they die will somehow miraculously wash away their sins and then they would be welcomed into Heaven!!  No, my Bible and faith tell me that an individual can only enter Heaven by salvation through Jesus Christ, not by a well-intentioned loved one on his/her knees.

On a similar matter, and echoing the title of this posting, God does allow second chances. In the Book of Revelation, after the Church is “removed from the earth” during the Tribulation period, there are at least three opportunities listed where God, even during the scourging, waits for the people to come to Him, or at least ask for forgiveness. But they would not repent; instead they cursed God. See: Rev 9: 20-21,   Rev 16:9,   Rev 16: 10-11.  Note, that after this third “offer” or chance to repent and be delivered, God then “shut the door” and would not offer or allow any more opportunities!

The question I leave you with – how long will you curse God instead of repenting? How long will God tolerate that?  How many chances will you be offered?

By waiting, you are gambling with your (eternal) life! Choose wisely.

“Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.” — Napoleon Hill

You now need to go to our guideline for Salvation in Jesus!