Ezekiel 36:36
“Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.”
When I was in school, the type of curriculum that we used allowed us to get a second chance at correcting our mistakes. If we got it wrong the first time, then we could go back to our seat and correct what we got wrong. The purpose of the second chance was so that we could learn what we did wrong so that we wouldn’t do it again.
God is a second chance God. The verse above says, “I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate:…” In other words, God was saying that He was giving these people a second chance to do right. Their sins ruined their country, but He wanted to rebuild the places that sin ruined.
I find in this verse the importance of a second chance. Maybe you are a person whose life has been ruined by sin. Let me encourage you that God is willing to give you a second chance. Certainly, the Devil is telling you that you could never be used again, but he is lying to you. Throughout the Scriptures God gave people a second chance. If God gave David a second chance, then He will give you a second chance. If God gave Peter a second chance, then He will give you a second chance. If God gave Jonah a second chance, then He will give you a second chance. Always remember that the character of God is to give people a second chance, and that includes you.
Let me add to this thought by saying if God is willing to give people a second chance, then you should be willing to give people a second chance. Don’t be guilty of doing the Devil’s work by kicking people when they are down. Take up the work of God and give people a second chance.
Furthermore, when you take God’s offer of a second chance, realize that it is not going to come back quickly. God is going to have to rebuild your life. In order to rebuild your life, He must remove the wastes that sin has left. Rebuilding is never a quick process. First, there is a tearing down of that which sin built. Second, there is a removing of the wastes that were torn down. Third, there must be time to rebuild your life. Don’t be too hard on yourself when you’re not immediately back to where you want to be. Give God a chance to rebuild you.
Moreover, if you are going to be rebuilt, then you must plant yourself in the Word of God so It can grow you where sin left you desolate. You will ruin your second chance if you don’t spend much time in the Word of God allowing It to get It’s roots into your heart. Friend, only God’s Word can cleanse and rebuild you. Spend time reading, memorizing and meditating on God’s Word, as it is His Word that rebuilds and plants your life.
Don’t ever believe that you have gone so deep into sin that God can’t rebuild your life. If you are saved, and God has not taken you to Heaven, then God still has a plan for your life. It will take some time for Him to rebuild, but He can use you. I challenge you to take God up on His offer to give you a second chance and let Him rebuild what sin has torn down. Once He has rebuilt you, then learn from the first time and don’t make the same mistakes that led to your destruction.