Second-Chances!

For Tuesday, December 31, 2024 New Years Eve!

Genesis 3:21 NLT: “The Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.”

 Genesis 3 – God had barely finished creation when the train went off the tracks! Only one thing God commanded the couple to do – just one thing! Don’t eat fruit from the tree of life. But the serpent, master of temptation, told Eve, “Your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” Now who wouldn’t want to be “like” God?

 Eve fell into the serpent’s trap, and brought her husband along too. But this New Year’s Eve, as people are making resolutions to do better in the coming year, I want to look at God’s reaction to this whole mess. Let’s consider the character trends of God.

 God made them new clothes from animal skins, much better than the fig-leaf apparatus they had rigged for themselves. After this initial sin, the first disobedience to God’s instructions, God’s initial reaction was to be loving, forgiving and caring. Second chances and do-overs fit with God’s character. And that goes for all of us, not just Adam and Eve! If we confess our sins and admit we have been wrong, God will forgive us and grant us a fresh start in life.

 Draw a line in the sand separating the old you from the new you, and take a Mulligan on the old you. Our God is a God of second chances!

Pastor Norton Lawellin
Jesus In the City Fellowship