God’s rescue plan
“The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.” (Psalm 34:19)
Something terrible happened!
I remember enjoying the powerful and encouraging sermons from a fellow minister of God many years ago, when I was young and starting ministry. He, too, was young and filled with enthusiasm and infectious faith. Then something terrible happened in his life to change that. I don’t know what he did, but whatever it was, it caused him to lose his faith and quit the ministry in total defeat. I went to visit him. He sincerely believed he was no longer saved and was going to hell because of what he had done. He was greatly discouraged. I shared some Scripture with him and prayed with him. I have seen him a number of times over the years, but sadly, he never preached again. It was a great loss to himself, to God, and also to the many others he may have been able to reach with the gospel!
What to do when you’ve failed
· First, repent from it (Acts 3:19). Repentance simply means that you turn away from sin.
· Second, ask God to forgive you, and ask Him for help and for wisdom to deal with the consequences of your actions.
· Third, fix anything that’s in your power to fix. If you hurt someone, seek forgiveness from them, then do what you must do to make amends, whether they’ve forgiven you or not. Do the right thing.
Other things to know
Understand that God’s forgiveness is superior to your failure. The price that Jesus paid on the cross more than covers anything you have done. The Word of God is absolutely clear on the matter:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
Biblical examples
If you believe that your sin—what you’ve done—is beyond what God can and is willing to forgive, think again! The following are just two of many people in the Bible who totally blew it and yet were forgiven and put back to work.
· Peter: He had been very close to Jesus for three years. He was personally called by Him to be an apostle. He walked everywhere with Him. He ate meals with Him. He had many conversations with Him. He observed the many great miracles He had done. But, after all of that, when Jesus was betrayed, beaten, stabbed, humiliated, and nailed to a cross to die, Peter deserted Him, and denied knowing Him. Not just once, but three times! He even swore at one point and said, "I never knew the man!" Yet Jesus forgave him and told him to get back to work for Him.
· Paul: Saul (later renamed Paul) was a very religious man and was at the top of his field (Acts 23:6 & 26:5). But he was on the wrong side of things. He hated Christians and went about destroying their lives in every way he could. He persecuted them greatly and even sought out and obtained official letters against them, enabling him to pull them from their homes and cast them into prison. He even held the coats of a group of people while they stoned Stephen to death. Yes, he was complicit in murdering an apostle of God! Yet Jesus forgave him and put him to work doing the right things for Him. (Acts 26:12-23)
Apply God’s promises personally
· God is not willing for me to perish
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Pet. 3:9)
· God will return to me
“Return to Me and I will Return to You.” (Psalm 34:8)
· God will NOT forsake me
“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deut. 31:8)
· God will forgive me over and over
“Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!” (Matt. 17:21-22)
· God will rejoice at my return
“ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent..” (Luke 15:7)