I'm glad God gives second chances! I have made plenty of mistakes in my life. I'm certainly glad God didn't give up on me but instead He keeps coming back until I let him have his way with my heart. Praise God for His longsuffering and mercy.
Jonah too received a second chance. Can't you imagine That part of Jonah's prayer was, "please God, give me a second chance". Many times after salvation, like Jonah, we find ourselves in need of a second chance. You know the times I'm talking about. The times when we have made a total disaster of our lives. The times when, because we have turned a deaf ear to God, He had to get our attention the hard way. God used a storm, And three days and nights in the belly of a whale to get Jonah's attention.
What is He using to get our attention? Has He gotten It yet? If He has, are we taking advantage of that second chance?
I. We need a second chance when:
A. We have evaded our responsibilities. Jonah 1:2-3
1. Jonah was guilty of knowing what to do but refusing to do it.
2. His field of labor was East and he went West.
3. He wanted to get as far away as he could from the work he knew no one else could do but him.
4. Are we evading our responsibilities like:
a. The Tekoite nobles.
(NEH 3:5) "AND NEXT UNTO THEM THE TEKOITES REPAIRED; BUT THEIR NOBLES PUT NOT THEIR NECKS TO THE WORK OF THEIR LORD."
b. Demas.
(2 TIM 4:10) "FOR DEMAS HATH FORSAKEN ME, HAVING LOVED THIS PRESENT WORLD, AND IS DEPARTED UNTO THESSALONICA; CRESCENS TO GALATIA, TITUS UNTO DALMATIA."
5. Evading responsibilities robs us of manifold blessings.
B. We are asleep when people are in danger. Jonah 1:5-6
1. Running from god exhausted jonah so that he slept during a fierce storm.
2. He was asleep both physically and spiritually.
a. We often joke about people falling asleep in church but the real tragedy is when we are asleep spiritually.
b. Note Paul's admonition.
(1 TH 5:6) "THEREFORE LET US NOT SLEEP, AS DO OTHERS; BUT LET US WATCH AND BE SOBER."
c. Peter's heavy eyelids caused him to deny the Lord.
(LUKE 22:46) "AND SAID UNTO THEM, WHY SLEEP YE? RISE AND PRAY, LEST YE ENTER INTO TEMPTATION."
d. Our enemy never sleeps.
(MAT 13:25) "BUT WHILE MEN SLEPT, HIS ENEMY CAME AND SOWED TARES AMONG THE WHEAT, AND WENT HIS WAY."
e. Notice what sleep will do in both the physical and spiritual realms.
(PROV 6:9-11) "HOW LONG WILT THOU SLEEP, O SLUGGARD? WHEN WILT THOU ARISE OUT OF THY SLEEP? {10} YET A LITTLE SLEEP, A LITTLE SLUMBER, A LITTLE FOLDING OF THE HANDS TO SLEEP: {11} SO SHALL THY POVERTY COME AS ONE THAT TRAVELLETH, AND THY WANT AS AN ARMED MAN."
f. Certainly those in danger are astonished at the sleepiness of the church today.
(ROM 13:11) "AND THAT, KNOWING THE TIME, THAT NOW IT IS HIGH TIME TO AWAKE OUT OF SLEEP: FOR NOW IS OUR SALVATION NEARER THAN WHEN WE BELIEVED."
C. We endanger other people's lives by our own foolishness. Jonah 1:11
1. When we follow the downward course we usually carry someone with us.
2. Peter is a good (or bad) example of this.
(JOHN 21:3) "SIMON PETER SAITH UNTO THEM, I GO A FISHING. THEY SAY UNTO HIM, WE ALSO GO WITH THEE. THEY WENT FORTH, AND ENTERED INTO A SHIP IMMEDIATELY; AND THAT NIGHT THEY CAUGHT NOTHING."
3. If we are acting foolishly, remember, someone who may be weaker than we are could be watching and their lives might be changed forever for the worst if we persist in this action.
D. We are swallowed up the whales of our own making. Jonah1:17
II. We get a second chance when:
A. We realize we have blown it and admit it. Jonah 1:11-12
1. David is another one who blew it but got another chance.
2. But it was not until he confessed that he received the chance to start all over again.
(PSA 32:5) "I ACKNOWLEDGED MY SIN UNTO THEE, AND MINE INIQUITY HAVE I NOT HID. I SAID, I WILL CONFESS MY TRANSGRESSIONS UNTO THE LORD; AND THOU FORGAVEST THE INIQUITY OF MY SIN. SELAH."
3. The reason so many never seem to get another chance is because they won't admit that they blew it.
4. Jonah must feel pretty good that he is not alone in the fine art of blowing it, he has plenty of company today.
B. We pray and repent. Jonah 2:1-2,7
1. We put ourselves in the place of getting the second chance when we pour out our heart to the all seeing God.
2. He already knows all about us; He wants us to confess (agree with him) that we are sinners.
3. Yes, often times it is the whales of our afflictions that drive us back to God.
(PSA 88:9) "MINE EYE MOURNETH BY REASON OF AFFLICTION: LORD, I HAVE CALLED DAILY UPON THEE, I HAVE STRETCHED OUT MY HANDS UNTO THEE."
C. We keep the promises we have made to God. Jonah 2:9
D. We hit the ground running. Jonah 2:10
(Note: the only thing sicker than Jonah was the whale.)
III. What happens when we get that second chance?
A. People will receive the much needed good news from us. 2:4f
1. Note that it was after David repented that he was able to be a witness again.
(PSA 51:12-13) "RESTORE UNTO ME THE JOY OF THY SALVATION; AND UPHOLD ME WITH THY FREE SPIRIT. {13} THEN WILL I TEACH TRANSGRESSORS THY WAYS; AND SINNERS SHALL BE CONVERTED UNTO THEE."
2. Ninevah could not receive the message of repentance until the message bearer got straightened out.
3. When God gives us the next chance will we use it or blow it?
B. God's method has not changed. Jonah 2:2
1. He is still calling us to be messengers.
2. He is still expecting us to give out his Word.
3. Will we take advantage of the chances we are receiving?
Are we tired of being swallowed up by the whales of our afflictions? Why don't we cry out, "Please God, give me a second chance". He will.