There are many times of God's restraining mercy on our lives and those in the scriptures though we are guilty and condemned in the eyes who we stand naked before, God himself. We can name King David who was guilty of adultery with Bath-sheba and causing the murder of her husband, breaking of the 6th and 7th Commandments, Apostle Paul who was guilty of murdering Christians, Moses striking the rock when he was supposed to speak to it at God's command. All these acts were in disobedience to the command of God and were sins and God had a right to judge according to those acts of sin done against Him. Even we ourselves are guilty of sinning whether we knew it or not, things we should have done and did not(sin of omission) or things we should not have done but did anyway(sin of commission). But God gave them and us 2nd chances or more to repent and ask for forgiveness and get right with HIM even though we are not deserving.
There is one in the Old Testament that stood out today that I had forgotten received such a chance or opportunity from such depths of darkness of sin. His name is Manasseh who was a King over Judah who had a Godly dad named Hezekiah but at the age of 12 reigned over a nation and caused it to fall spiritually from God.
In 2 Chronicles 33:1-23 you can read about his story but I want to pull out the stops of sin he caused:
1. v2...did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.
2. v3...For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.(false idol worship)
3. v4-5...Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever. And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.
4. v6...And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
5. v7...And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:
If this wasn't wicked and bad enough against God read verse 9: So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.. He took the whole nation with him! It's one thing to sin and be yourself guilty but he took everyone down with him. Very, very guilty man! Verse 6..he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. So what did God then do with him?
If you can believe, he restrained his anger...And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.verse 10. So then the Lord allows the consequence of our sins to overtake us verse 11 ..Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
This is the best part! verse 12 and 13..And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, And prayed unto him: and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God. He had to first be broken and afflicted to realized he was wrong and ask for forgiveness. He got a 2nd chance to make things right with God.
verses 15 and 16..And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city. And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel.
Verse 18-19 Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God....His prayer also, and how God was entreated of him, and all his sins, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers.
I had never read of such a person falling so far in sinful wickedness and rising so high after his repentance, rom extremely bad to extremely good in the Old Testament. It is a wonderful picture of God's restraining mercy(not giving us what we deserve) and Grace(giving beyond what we don't deserve) and allowing a 2nd chance to this man who was restored to his role as King after and only after he confessed his sin and God forgave him.
One more quick story.
There was an elderly lady who came to Church on a regular basis for years and when the invitation was given never came forward or prayed to receive Jesus and be forgiven of her sin. Well, one day the Pastor got a call. It was her and she was on her death bed. And the Pastor prayed in another room while his wife ministered unto her. "Why have you never received Jesus to save and forgive you?" She answered..."because God could never forgive me because I had done so many wrong things in my life for 70 years doing it my way." But after the Gospel of the love of God was relayed unto her and how God already did the work needed for forgiveness on the cross she realized.."God can forgive me? I can receive forgiveness right now through Jesus?" And the Pastor's wife said "yes" Surely she asked God to forgive her and Jesus to save her and she was forgiven and had peace in her heart before she passed 2 days later. I tell you, God is the God of 2nd chances!!
For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye...Ezekiel 18:32
Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die,...Ezekiel 33:11
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance...2 Peter 3:9
If you ever feel or someone you know ever feels that "God can't save me because I am too bad a person and done many bad things" let me remind you that he will give you a 2nd chance to get right with him as these were just 2 examples. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved..Romans 10:13 Amen
If you think that you are too bad a person and did bad things that God can't forgive you and receive you unto himself. Think again. If he can accept this fallen sinner under demonic influence, how much more can he forgive you right now and make you clean and remove your shame and past.
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