Second Chances

His is a classic story. Winner of the 1970 Heisman Trophy, he was the first player selected in the 1971 NFL draft. Six years later, frustrated by his inability to stay healthy, his team traded him to another bad team, where he languished for three years, then was released, another Heisman Trophy washout. He was picked up as a backup quarterback, simply insurance against injury to the starter, but before the season was very old, he had taken over the starting job, and by the time the season finished, Jim Plunkett was the MVP in his team's victory in Super Bowl XV. Three years later, he took them to another title, at the time becoming only the fifth quarterback to win two Super Bowls.

Jim Plunkett's story is not about ability, although he certainly had some. It is not about teamwork, although it certainly took that. It is not even necessarily about determination, although he appeared to have tons of that. The Jim Plunkett story is about second chances, and that is what inspires its retelling. No one, in 1979, predicted he would be the MVP of 1980's Super Bowl. Most did not even picture him on a team, much less as a starter. But Jim Plunkett got a second chance, and he made the most of it.

It is a story Paul would have understood, because he got a second chance as well, about which he said, ""I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service; even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor . . . It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all"" (1 Tim. 1:12-13, 15).

Paul knew how fortunate he was to have a second chance in Jesus, and he spent the rest of his life trying to lead others to accepting the same.

Sinners today have the same need. None of us want what we deserve in judgment, and we come to Christ because we recognize that there is no other way to obtain what we need (mercy) in a second chance (Jn. 14:6; Acts 4:10-12).

The question is, how do we respond to having gotten a second chance? What do we do with our opportunity? What did Paul do?

He took the message to others, telling all who would listen about his new life. Paul was unafraid to speak pointed words even to those in powerful places (Acts 24:24-25; 26:27-29). He knew he might be the only one to tell certain people about Christ, and took every opportunity to do so, because he felt compelled (1 Cor. 9:16). We too, should feel compelled to talk about the salvation we have found in Jesus. It should be our desire for everyone to know Christ as we do.

Paul also took advantage of his second chance by living for Christ, understanding that he had to remain faithful to the God who had saved him. In fact, Paul said one of the things which drove him was his desire for the resurrection accorded the saints, saying, ""Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus"" (Phil. 3:12-14).

Second chances are wonderful gifts, in any fashion. But the second chance offered by the life in Jesus is beyond all comparison. It offers rich rewards, and great opportunities to serve a God we once rejected, but who loves us in spite of ourselves.