ANOTHER CHANCE

At the Second Chance Bike Shop near where I live, volunteers rebuild bikes that have been chucked away or donated to them—and give them to families who can’t afford to buy them. Shop founder Ernie Clark also gives bikes to the homeless, the disabled and ex-military personnel struggling to make it in non-army life. Not only do the bikes get a second chance but sometimes the people get a new start too. One ex-soldier used his new bike to get to a new job.

Second chances change lives, especially when the second chance comes from God. The prophet Micah talked about this during a time when the nation of Israel was filled with bribery, violence and lies (MICAH 6:9-12). Micah described the nation like this: “The faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains” (7:2).

God would rightly punish their selfishness, Micah knew. But being loving, He would give another chance to those who truly said sorry and turned back to Him. Humbled by such love, Micah asked, “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression?” (V.18).

We too can be in thankful awe that if we ask for forgiveness, God doesn’t give up on us despite our mess. As Micah said to God, “You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea” (V.19). God’s love gives second chances to all who trust Him.