Often when people try to achieve something, they fail because they do not try hard enough. Then the second time they put all their effort into it, and they succeed.

Now in this game of life in which every man, woman, and child is involved, not one has succeeded the first time.  We read, “Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Psalm 53:3

Paul repeats the same, “They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Romans 3:12

Man lost his birthright because of his sin. He lost his place in the family of God. He also lost the Holy Spirit, which is the spirit of adoption, and was sentenced to die. But then God in His great mercy and love toward the fallen human race decided to purchase us a second chance. The Holy Spirit is given to us again, and we start with a clean page because our past sins are forgiven.

Job writes to us, “For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.” Job 33:14

God speaks a second time to us; this is the second chance that we have, but He will not speak a third time; we do not have a third chance for salvation.

“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame.” Hebrews 6:4–6

The prodigal son was able to return to his father’s house because he had previously never been born again and had not been made a partaker of the Holy Spirit. Therefore he was still being drawn by the Holy Spirit as he had not rejected the Holy Spirit.

Once the Holy Spirit dwells in us, we might unintentionally make mistakes (and repent with bitter tears as did King David [Psalm 51]) without losing the Holy Spirit, until we sin willfully (as with King Saul [1 Samuel 13–15]) and commit an unpardonable sin. Then the Holy Spirit will leave us and never return anymore.

Because the second chance was offered to us so readily, many think that God always forgives, but that is not so. There are millions of professing Christians in the world today who cannot be saved anymore, because they lost the second chance. The second chance is offered to the greatest sinners, to the murderers, thieves, adulterers, drug addicts—people like the thief on the cross.  “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18

Jesus spoke a parable of a man who owed the king ten thousand talents.

“But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his Lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped Him, saying, Lord have patience with me, and I will pay Thee all. Then the Lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.” Matthew 18:25–27

He had utterly failed in his service to the Lord, but his Lord, in His great mercy gave him a second chance. As we read the story, he failed again, and no third chance was offered to him. “Then his Lord, after that He had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desirest Me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his Lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto Him.” Matthew 18:32–34

What made his sin so grievous? Because it was done after he was forgiven, and granted the second chance. He may have done greater sins earlier which called for tormentors and the death penalty, but they were all forgiven conditionally, depending on his future obedience.

Jesus healed the man who had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years, and said to him, “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” John 5:14

What could be a worse thing for a person who had been paralyzed, unable to move for thirty-eight years? Many times, Christians suffer sickness, blindness, and even death; they are in tribulation, sometimes closed in prison cells, they have trials, being rejected, and yet they praise God, and seem very happy. The worse thing for this man, who was paralyzed for thirty-eight years, would be to lose salvation and to have no more forgiveness for his sins.  To live in the poorest condition, in sickness, alone, but having salvation is a happier life than having riches, health, and luxury, but in a lost condition.

Sin against the Holy Spirit may appear to be done sometimes in a moment, as in the case of Uzzah, who touched the Ark of the Covenant (2 Samuel 6:6–7). Other times it is clearly done by continual refusal to repent. If we stubbornly continue to practice sin, being selfish, proud, covetous, jealous, unfaithful in obedience, we eventually cross the limit of salvation. (See Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 634 for further explanation of Sin against the Holy Spirit.)

Every sin we commit brings us closer to the line of no-return. Every neglected opportunity to serve God is a step away from salvation; for instance, neglected meetings, neglected Bible study, neglected prayer, which are mediums that God has given for our salvation.

The day may come when the Holy Spirit leaves us, and the spirit of Satan enters in. Then there is nothing we can do in order to receive salvation. It is then forever too late, because the second chance was neglected and there is no third chance. Then all the sins that were forgiven conditionally will be put back on us again.  The only purpose for this present life is to receive and hold on to this second chance that God has purchased for us, with the extreme cost of His Son, Jesus Christ.

In this game of life we are winning and losing. We make the moves, we plan and we execute our plans. What we may think is a loss can be really a gain, and what we think is a gain can be a loss to us.

People, rich and poor, healthy and sick, young and old, are all playing this game of life, and all the winners gain eternal life, while the losers receive eternal death.

To gain even the whole world by sin is losing, to waste time in worldly entertainment is losing, while doing missionary work is winning, reading the Bible is winning, to pray without ceasing is winning.

Millions of professed Christians have developed cheap characters by continuous losing; they have no true greatness in them, nothing noble. They have developed their characters after worldly standards while pretending Christianity. They are easily offended, they are lovers of themselves, they are revengeful, and they fight for their rights. They are constantly grieving the Holy Spirit and causing Him to leave them alone.

If you still hear the voice of God calling, harden not your heart.  Humble yourself, fall on your knees and beg for mercy and help, as a drowning person. Cast away every idol, including selfishness and pride. It may be that the Lord will still be merciful and answer your prayer.

“Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if He will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind Him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God?” Joel 2:12–14

God wants your heart and your full surrender. Be determined to succeed and win the crown of life. Do not sell heaven for the little enjoyment in sin, but give up the world and sin and be an overcomer. Do not let this precious second chance go by, but hold on to it and remember, there is no third chance. AMEN.

Timo Martin