A Second Chance:  Don’t Wait, Accept God’s Mercy Right Now

Shared on March 19, 2025

Introduction

One of the things that I used to find myself thinking about with certain people in scripture is whether or not their fate was sealed.  For example, it is common for people to wonder whether or not Judas Iscariot’s fate, his destiny, was sealed or could he have had a second chance.  Why do those thoughts come to mind?  The simple answer is choice – we want to feel like we have the opportunity to choose our outcome.

Freedom is what all of us desire.  We want the freedom to choose how we live.  We want to feel like we have control over our lives and not someone else, not even God, to have control over our fate.  Does God control our fate?  To someone like me, such questions are why I love to pour over scripture and study.

We are going to answer such questions in our study this week as we, once again, will be taking a look at King Saul in this study.  We are going to primarily be taking a look at scripture from 1 Samuel 24.  The end of Saul’s time is drawing near, and in those closing moments, we will find answers to our questions.

Saul’s Unending Vendetta Against David

After Saul had tried to murder David on two occasions with his spear, Saul became obsessed with killing the young man.  The distressing spirit that the Lord had given him had finally consumed Saul.  

When David had first escaped him, Saul sent men to the home of David to murder him (1 Sam. 19:11).  David’s wife, Saul’s own daughter, helped him to evade Saul’s men and leave the land.  David went to another city and stayed with Samuel for a time.  Saul sent men to that city and even came to kill David himself but the Spirit prevented him from being able to do so (1 Sam. 19:18-24).

The Holy Spirit was making it clear to Saul what he had already recognized – God was with David (1 Sam. 18:12).  So, you would think that Saul would have relented in his pursuit of trying to kill David but he didn’t.  Saul had become so obsessed and unhinged that he even had priests killed just for providing David service (1 Sam. 22:6-18).  

David Reveals a Harsh Truth

Is there such a thing as running out of chances with God?  We know that God is a merciful God and that He will forgive time and time again.  However, is it possible to run out of chances with God?  Will God ever give up on someone?

In 1 Samuel 24:1-2, after Saul had returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told of the whereabouts of David.  Saul gathered three thousand men of Israel to go find David.  

By this point in time, David had six hundred men with him (1 Sam. 23:13).  David had done battle with the Philistines, defeated them, and saved a city from them (1 Sam. 23:1-5).  David had received word that Saul had mounted up his army to come after David, which led him to retreat into the wilderness.

What had become clear to most in Israel was who God was with – God was clearly with David and not Saul.  You see, David would consult the Lord and move in obedience to God’s instructions.  Saul, on the other hand, displayed great disobedience.  

Yet, Saul truly believed that God was on his side and would deliver David into his hand (1 Sam. 23:7-8).  Again, as Saul desired to kill David he was hindered, this time by the Philistines invading the land.  I don’t believe it was a coincidence when the Philistines attacked; this was God interceding again for David.  

If you ever read David’s psalms, you will see that David always praised God for keeping him when he was surrounded by his enemies.  David was with God and God was with him.  God was not with Saul and had not been with him for quite some time!  Was God not with Saul because He had given up on Saul?  Let’s keep going.

After dealing with the Philistines again, Saul finally made it to the whereabouts of David, and a harsh truth was revealed to him.  Saul had entered a cave, not knowing that David and his men were in the recesses of the cave (1 Sam. 24:3).  This was a moment where Saul could have been struck down by David, but David chose not to do so (1 Sam. 24:4-5).

In 1 Samuel 24:6, David told his men that he would not strike down Saul.  In a manner, David said to them, ‘God forbid I do such a thing because Saul is also God’s anointed’.  David’s men were ready to end Saul, but David restrained them (1 Sam. 24:7).

When I was little, I used to think about how cool this moment was that David was able to sneakily cut off a piece of Saul’s robe without Saul knowing it.  However, now, when I look at this moment, I see a test.  I believe David and his men recognized this as well but their perceptions were different.

David saw temptation and he fought against it.  David’s men didn’t recognize the temptation and would have committed what David saw as a sin.  David had consulted what was in his heart, and his heart had him leave Saul to the Lord.  David was a man after God’s heart as obedience to God’s way was key.

When Saul left the cave and returned to his people, David revealed himself from the cave, behind Saul (1 Sam. 24:8).  David spoke to him, and even showed Saul the piece of his robe he had torn.  David said to Saul, “This day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord (1 Sam. 24:10).”

Saul, in that moment, would have finally realized a very harsh truth – God was not with him.  Saul was in shock, realizing that David could have easily killed him (1 Sam. 24:16).  He said to David, finally accepting the harsh truth, “You are more righteous than I … for when the Lord delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me (1 Sam. 24:17,18).

Saul knew that if he had been in that position he would have killed David.  Yes, Saul realized that God was with David and favored David more than him.  Saul had come to that he lacked righteousness and had lost it all.  Saul realized that David was the future king of Israel (1 Sam. 24:19-20).  Do you think that God had given up on Saul?

Doomed to Destruction?

If you have been with me throughout this entire season of studies, then you have seen that both “choice” and “second chance” have been key points throughout this season.  

Remember how Joseph gave his brothers a second chance to get right in his eyes after they had given him up?  Remember the tests that Joseph put his brothers through so that they could prove they had changed?  The point of a second chance is to change— to make corrections!

Remember how the people of Israel wanted a king and God had Samuel warn them (1 Sam. 8:10-18)?  The people didn’t heed his warnings, and they were settled with the kind of king they wanted.  God was now giving them a second chance with David, and many of the people were accepting of David.

When we start talking about fate and destiny, whether some are doomed to destruction or not, we must remember God’s way.  When the subject of fate and freedom is brought up, I point to God’s thoughts when making mankind.  Genesis 1:26 tells us that God made mankind in His image, according to His likeness.

God did not make us to be a slave to anything or anyone.  As He is free, we are free. – God made us that way.  God put mankind in the garden to live free of aches, pains, burdens, and bondage. With that freedom, God gave man the freedom to choose how he would live.  

Think about it:  In the garden, man was given the choice to live in obedience or to live in disobedience.  So for anybody to think that some of us are doomed to destruction because God has deemed so, they blatantly ignore the making of man.  To think that we are doomed to destruction also blatantly ignores the garden.  

God did not make mankind for the purpose to sin and to live in sin.  The harsh truth is that in the garden, man chose disobedience rather than obedience (Gen. 2:15-17; 3:1-7).  Man chose rebellion in the garden.  Man chose sin in the garden.

There are many who love the idea of rebelling and choosing not to live in submission to God.  The reason why there are so many that love such a thought is because they view rebellion as choosing “freedom”.  Yet, the irony of this thought is that such freedom is actually in the chains of sin (Rom. 6:16-17).

The problem with choosing sin is that sin leads to destruction – eternal condemnation.  You see, there are only two “endpoints” that we may reach, if you wish to think of eternity as a final destination for the soul.  Heaven is one of those endpoints but heaven is impossible to reach for the sinner.  God will never abide with sin and that alone will bar any sinner from dwelling in God’s kingdom.

Revelation 20:11-15 shows us the other endpoint is eternal separation from the Lord, eternal condemnation.  Many desire for faith and worship to be taken out of the world and, in a manner of speaking, God will give them what they want.  God will cast them away from His presence so that they can enjoy a world vacant of faith in Him.  

While this may sound like paradise to some, a world without God is a world that’s empty, dark, and empty of joy since God’s presence won’t be there to permit such a feeling.  Now, will God have doomed those who desire to live a life without Him to such a condemnation?  No, God would simply be faithful to give the sinner what they wanted and choose for themselves – they doom themselves.

A God of Second Chances

One thing that scripture makes very clear is that God repeatedly gives man chance after chance after chance.

For example, in Genesis 6:1-7, there was a point when God saw that the desire of man’s heart was only evil.  Seeing that man’s heart was only evil, continually, was not pleasing to the Lord.  Scripture tells us that the Lord was sorry that He had made man and had set forth to destroy man.

Now, had God gone through with destroying mankind at that point in time, then you could say that God doomed – or judged – man to destruction.  However, Genesis 6:8 tells us that the Lord took note of Noah and Noah found grace in God’s eyes.  In the midst of such a wicked day, Noah caused God to give mankind a second chance.

Sadly, after the great flood, when mankind began to refill the earth again, sin rose back up as well.  I imagine that stories of God’s judgment with the great flood set man straight for a time but then the story faded away.  Man has it in his nature to think that God’s “silence” means that He is absent.  When one thinks the Lord is absent, they act like a child whose parents aren’t at home.  

The pattern of man’s choosing sin and God showing mercy is something that repeats itself constantly throughout scripture.  For example, the first generation of Israel which was freed from the bondage of Egypt was given a second chance to continue to the Promised Land after their sin at Mount Sinai (Ex. 32).  Their great sin at Mount Sinai occurred within forty days of them making a covenant to faithfully follow the Lord!

Then, on their way to the Promised Land, the children of Israel were a people of doubt, grumbling, and complaining.  Numbers 11 documents their complaints against God about not being able to enjoy the food they once ate when they lived in bondage.  Though they grumbled and complained, God provided them with the food they desired to eat.  

God is a God of second chances.  Jesus, we should understand, was, and is a second chance from God.  You see, God made man to dwell with for everlasting life but mankind’s sin in the garden blocked that from happening.  However, Jesus said that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).  Jesus reconciled (restored and brought harmony) God and mankind’s broken relationship.   

So, we have a second chance at life everlasting today, while we still live and breathe.  The choice we choose between today involves either choosing to sincerely believe in Christ or not.  Again, those who believe in Christ will have everlasting life and choose not to believe will have missed out on their opportunity to be with God.  Jesus said those who do not believe are condemned already (John 3:18) – there will be no second chance.  

Can You Run Out of Chances With God?

So, can we run out of chances with God?  Will God give up on us and take away our opportunity to be with Him for everlasting life?  Let’s consider Saul once again. 

God never gave up on Saul.  When we take a look at Saul’s story, Saul had every opportunity to change the direction he was going in life.  God gave Saul chance after chance, opportunity after opportunity to simply heed His instructions.  What did Saul do?  Chance after chance, and opportunity after opportunity saw Saul choosing to live according to his own will, not God’s will.  

Question:  Do you think God will still abide with you if choose not to abide with Him in obedience?

Consider this:  how long are you going to be in a relationship with someone who isn’t faithful (loyal) to you?  Saul made it clear that he wasn’t going to be loyal in his relationship (fellowship) with God.  So, did God give up on Saul or did Saul give up on God?  I would tell you that Saul gave up on God before God ever gave up on him.

Had Saul chosen to heed God’s rebuke and keep God’s instructions, he would have been fine.  Saul believed that he could use God as a tool.  Saul believed that God lived in obedience to him!  Remember his cursing the people not to eat and how he deemed that God would kill Jonathan because Jonathan went against his curse.  God didn’t move for Saul because that was Saul’s will and not the Lord’s.

The one thing we must remember about the Lord is that nobody is the boss of Him.  God moves according to His will and according to His timing.  When we pray to God, we are asking God’s permission, not demanding Him to do anything.  This is something that Saul and several others fail to understand about our relationship with God.  Yes, God will permit the desires of our hearts according to His permissive will.

However, if you seek not to live in obedience to God, He is not going to move on your behalf.  Now, what God will do is permit you to live according to your own will.  As we have seen, God will give you over to a debased mind (Rom. 1:28-32).  One should not look at this as a reward as there is no reward when one chooses to live in disregard of the Lord.

So, God gave Saul what he wanted – he let him do his own thing.  This is when Saul was given over to a debased mind, a distressing spirit.  It wasn’t that God had given up on Saul, it was that Saul had given up on God.  In fact, it had gotten to the point where Saul didn’t sincerely give God a chance. 

The Sincere Believer’s Second Chance

When one chooses not to walk with God, God won’t walk with them.  This is why repentance – turning from – is required to walk with God.  Yes, one must turn from sin to walk with God because God will never dwell with sin.  

When one chooses to walk with God, there is no such thing as running out of second chances!  This is what Saul failed to realize, but David came to understand in his life and with the great sin he committed.  It is good to walk with God because when we stumble, God will be there to catch us and lift us back to our feet!

God is going to always be there for those who faithfully walk with Him because he is faithful – faithfulness is His nature.  God is love (1 John 4:8).  When you choose to walk with the Lord, should you acknowledge your error and turn to the Lord, He will show you mercy (1 John 1:9).  This is all Saul needed to do but he was to foolish and prideful to do so.

Now, does this mean that we keep sinning just because God will show us mercy?  Absolutely not (Rom. 6).  We shouldn’t make a mockery of God’s grace nor should we make a mockery of the cross.  No, our efforts should always be to fight against sin with every fiber of our being.  We must fight against sin and the temptation to sin with all we got!

Admittedly, we are going to have our errors, and it hurts us when we give in to temptation and sin.  It should hurt us and we should regret when we sin – that makes us different from the sinner!  Like David, we are going to have our great sins, but God will never give up on His children.  

To the one living in sin, you have a chance still to turn to the Lord.  Jesus has given His life for you and I would encourage you to take advantage of God’s mercy right now.  After death and it will be too late – you will have run out of time. However, if you choose to never turn to the Lord, God will let you have what you desire (Rom. 1:28).  As we have seen, the end of the debased mind – the distressing spirit – is not one I would wish for anyone.

Alright, so that ends our study this week.  In our next study, we are going to finish Saul’s story!  So, I certainly hope that you will come back for next week’s study.