Friday, July 10, 2026
The God of Second Chances
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 NLT)
Our nation was founded on Christian principles but has turned its back on many of them. In his 1796 Farewell Address, President George Washington said, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.”
The good news is that God loves to give second chances. The psalmist wrote, “He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve” (Psalm 103:10 nlt). Those who repent receive God’s mercy and forgiveness. We see His mercy and forgiveness at work in His dealings with the city of Nineveh.
Yet if the people of Nineveh had rejected Jonah’s message, the consequences would have been dire. The very existence of Nineveh hung in the balance. Our country will find itself in the same precarious position if we continue to reject God and His Word.
Job wrote, “You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer” (Job 14:5 nlt). That applies to nations as well. So as the salt and light of our nation, believers must develop a sense of urgency about igniting the flames of revival in this country.
Every nation’s days are numbered. Every great empire in history has had a beginning, a middle, and an end. The same will hold true for the United States of America, according to God’s timing. So, here’s what we’re praying for: one more great spiritual awakening—or maybe two or three. That’s up to the Lord. But our job, our mission, is like Jonah’s. We are to proclaim the Good News and tell people that there’s a God who loves them. Ours is a message of mercy but also a message of judgment for those who reject that mercy.
In John 3:16, Jesus said, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son” (nlt). That’s a message of mercy. But then He said, “so that everyone who believes in him will not perish” (nlt). That’s a message of judgment.
In Romans 6:23, Paul wrote, “For the wages of sin is death” (nlt). That’s a message of judgment. But then he wrote, “But the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (nlt). That’s a message of mercy.
Those two themes must be present in our gospel message. They are the twin pillars of revival.
Reflection question: In your circle of acquaintances, who needs to hear that God offers second chances?
Copyright © 2026 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
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Greg Laurie is the pastor and founder of the Harvest churches in California and Hawaii and of Harvest Crusades. He is an evangelist, best-selling author, and movie producer. His latest film ‘Jesus Revolution,’ from Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company, is now available on-demand worldwide.
For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org
and
Listen to Greg Laurie's daily broadcast on OnePlace.com and weekly podcast on LifeAudio.com.
Watch Greg Laurie's weekly television broadcast on LightSource.com.
Long before America became a nation, a young evangelist named George Whitefield stood in open fields and town squares proclaiming a bold message: You must be born again. His preaching helped spark the First Great Awakening and shaped the spiritual foundation of a generation.
The powerful new film A Great Awakening brings this remarkable true story to life with compelling performances, rich historical detail, and a timely reminder of what God can do when people respond to the gospel.
Request your copy this month with your gift to Harvest Ministries.
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