My 'I Believe'

One thing I believe in is second chances. I also believe in third, forth, or how ever many chances a person may need to get things right. I will admit that I have made some big mistakes. Some with my friends, family, and even with myself. Sometimes it's harder to forgive myself than it is to forgive a friend. But the biggest mistakes which I have made were my mistakes towards God.

God always has the will to forgive us when we make a mistake. It takes me so long to forgive someone, especially if they are my friend, yet God will forgive us as soon as we ask for forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”(1 John 1:9) It's not easy to forgive or ask for forgiveness, but once it's done you feel clean again. You first are dirty and ashamed, but through forgiveness he gives us rest.

For me, the hardest thing to do is ask for a second chance. I am a stubborn, punk, kid, that thinks he knows everything, but deep down I know I don’t. I feel that I would give up my dignity if I ask for a second chance, but if I don’t ask for a second chance I’m calling myself a “hypocrite!” I wonder why I can’t just man up, walk up to the person I have hurt and say “I’m sorry?” I’ll tell you why, because I’m scared. I’m scared of what the persons reaction will be. I’m scared of my reaction towards the person. I’m scared of what our relationship would turn to. But in all truth, if the person won’t forgive me then they aren’t a son or daughter of Christ and right now I don’t need to have a friend like that. There is no reason why I should be scared of asking for a second chance.

We should forgive and give second chances for three reasons. The first reason is for the sake of Christ. For me the cross is my paradigm for living. “Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.’”(Luke 9:23) The second reason is for the sake of others. God does not love us and forgive us because we repent; rather we repent because God loves us and forgives us. The third reason is for our own sake. In Mathew 18:23-35 Jesus tells the unforgiving servant that he will face unspeakable torture unless he forgives the debtor. This brings up a good point, among others, that we need to forgive for our own sake. For only forgiveness liberates us from a painful past to a brand new future. The societies complaint is that forgiveness is a sign of weakness, but they are weak to think that. It takes a real persons inner strength to truly forgive someone for what they have done.

To believe in second chances is to believe in Christ. Christ died for our sins and in my opinion, to go through our day without recognizing him is just foolish. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”(Romans 5:8) “To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness.” - Robert Muller