God of the Second Chance

Scripture Text: Luke 23:39-43

Many of us have experienced being given a second chance and must have been very grateful for that ‘break’. I remember clearly an incident when I was given a second chance. Due to an administrative miscommunication, I actually missed the deadline to register my eldest child for Primary One (Phase 2A) schooling. Can you imagine that?

When I realised the mistake, I prayed hard. I remembered praying something like this, “God if it is Your will for my daughter to be in this relatively ‘prestigious’ school, I know that you can re-open the door. I do not know how, but I know You can, for nothing is impossible with You!” The next morning, I received a call from the school to say that they have just received a fax from the Ministry of Education (MOE) stating that another opportunity would be granted to some parents who have genuinely missed the registration to reapply. This is certainly not a common practice of MOE. The rest is HiStory!

Hence, if I had been so grateful for this second chance, what more would the criminal hanging next to Jesus, who was on the brink of death feel like, when given a second lease of life, that is, eternal life? The best part was that this criminal did almost nothing to deserve this. He simply believed and showed remorse, that is, a change of attitude.

Again, it was the wonderful Saviour’s amazing love that made this possible. This Gift of Life was given to the criminal.

Jesus could forgive him:
1) despite his hour old sin, no grudges were borne.
2) despite the criminal having nothing to offer (not even to be baptized)
3) despite the pain He was in. This amazed me, as even in His hour of need, He met others’ needs.
4) a forgiveness that is more than expected. It was given Today, not tomorrow or in the years to come.
Jesus did not focus on the criminal’s sins; instead his sins were wiped clean, instantly.

There were three crosses on Calvary’s hill. On one was a man dying in sin – he did not accept Jesus. On the other was a man dying to sin – he trusted Jesus as Saviour and Lord. And on the middle cross was One dying for sin. The centre One made all the difference – He gives forgiveness and hope.

Prayer Response:

Dear Lord Jesus, I thank You that You suffered loss and gave Yourself because You saw my need. It was my sin that nailed You to the cross and I cannot blame any other person for that deed. I thank You that nails could not have kept Jesus on the cross if Your love for me had not held You there. Amen.

Devotional based on Rev Joel Yong’s message