Second Chance

May 31

Adulterer, thief, extortionist, alcoholic, liar, hate monger, racist…these are not things we want to come to mind when people think of us. Even if we know better than to entertain a grandiose opinion of ourselves, we distain the thought of having anything negative associated with our name.

Ecclesiastes 7:1 tells us that a good name is to be preferred above fine ointment, so we understand that our reputation is to be valued, that it precedes us in our social relationships, in our places of employment and in our neighborhoods. Wherever we go, people want to know who we are. Who we really are.

Not just the façade we carry around, but the inner character that is the essence of our selfhood. In His first letter to the Corinthians, chapter five, verse seven, Paul put it this way: “Clean out the old yeast so you may be a new batch, since you are unleavened for Christ our Passover that has been sacrificed.” You are a new batch. You have a fresh chance to do things right.

Paul placed great significance on the second chance a believer receives the moment he embraces Jesus as his Savior. Paul makes us aware that our great opportunity is to empty our lives of all the rot and corruption and accumulated decay of sin and embrace the fresh start Jesus gives to us. It’s too good a chance to ignore so shed your old identity today, according to II Corinthians 6:2.