A Thought for March
From the Rev Bobby Liddle.
Dear Friends,
Thomas A. Edison was working on a new invention called a “light bulb”. It took a whole team of men 24 hours to put just one together. The story is told that when Edison was finished with one light bulb, he gave it to a young boy helper, who nervously carried it up the stairs. Step by step he cautiously watched his hands, obviously frightened of dropping such a priceless piece of work. The inevitable happened and the poor boy dropped the bulb at the top of the stairs. It took the entire team of men twenty-four more hours to make another bulb. Finally, tired and ready for a break, Edison was ready to have his bulb carried up the stairs. He gave it to the same young boy who dropped the first one.
That’s a second chance!
There is actually a web-site called secondchances.com dedicated to telling the stories of people who overcame adversity. The web-site strap-line is…
“Many are given. A few are taken. What have you done with yours?”
The Bible is full of people to whom God gave a second chance. In fact it could be argued that the whole of the Old Testament is about God giving His people chance after chance after chance. Telling the story of the lost sheep in Matthew 18 Jesus tells us something very important about God. He says, “In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.” Matt. 18v14
He is the God of the second chance! The God who goes after the lost sheep; who searches for the lost coin and who waits for the return of prodigal sons and daughters.
Leading up to Easter some of our organisations and some folk in the congregation will be showing the Billy Graham film, ‘Second Chance’. It tells the stories of three people who were given everything they ever wanted in life but found that it wasn’t enough. Through faith in Jesus Christ each of them was given a second chance at life. If you get a chance (or even a second chance!) to watch the film, go along.
Our Easter services will focus on people in the Bible who were given a second chance through Jesus Christ. Come and invite others!
Wherever we have been, whatever we have done, however we are feeling, whatever the future looks like, God is the God of second chances. He sent His Son to die for us on a cross and to rise again on the third day to give the whole human race a second chance. What have you done with yours?”
Yours in His name,
Bobby Liddle
A Thought For March
