A couple of weeks ago the Winnipeg Jets were playing the Anaheim Ducks, and while I was working late that night, I was periodically checking the score on my phone. It’s been season of many disappointing losses for the Jets, so when they were down by two goals headed into the third period, I assumed another loss was pretty much inevitable.
On my drive home, however, curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to tune into the game. There was excitement in the announcer’s voice, as the Jets had just scored, giving them some momentum. I arrived home and turned on the TV just in time to watch Dustin Byfuglien tie the score with twelve seconds left in regulation time, and Mark Scheifele delivered the win with a great goal in overtime.
If you were watching that game, you’ll remember it well – what a victory! The experience reminded me that if there’s time on the clock, there’s still hope. You might be facing a situation right now that looks hopeless. Life might have come crashing down in an unforeseen way, or you might be experiencing the consequences of wrong choices made by yourself or others – either way, don’t give up hope.
No mistake is too costly for God to fix, and no problem is too hard for Him to solve. Romans 4:17 states that God “…brings the dead back to life and creates new things out of nothing.” Regardless of how desperate or hopeless your situation might appear, you can have hope that God is on your side, and He wants to bring you back to a place of victory. Don’t ever think you’re not a candidate for redemption – if you’re not dead, God’s not done!
The Bible reveals in so many ways that our God is a God who delights in redeeming those who see themselves beyond rescue. When I think of redemption, King David’s story comes to mind right away. David was king of a vast empire, and had incredible power, wealth, and prestige. Despite his accomplishments, David was a humble, Godly man who acknowledged that God had raised him up to rule over Israel. Yet, at the height of his reign, David murdered one of his leading army commanders, after committing adultery with the man’s wife, Bathsheba. Seems like a career-ending blunder, but the story doesn’t end there – God wasn’t done with David.
After being confronted on his heinous crime, David deeply repented, and cried out to God for mercy. God kept David on the throne of Israel, and the Bible records Jesus Christ as the descendant of Solomon, who was David’s son through Bathsheba. What a powerful picture of redemption – that God would willingly bring David and Bathsheba’s offspring into the lineage of His Son, Jesus!
Know today, that despite whatever has transpired in your life, there is still time on the clock, and God’s not done. He has good plans for you, and wants to give you a bright future. It’s time to set aside your regrets, release forgiveness to those who have failed you, and don’t give any focus to your shortcomings. God is able to carry out His purposes in your life in a way that is beyond your greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams!