One More Last Chance
Wyatt Webb
time. It was no more than the average child, but it did happen. Of
course, most of those episodes were repeat offenses for things he had
been clearly warned to avoid. After a few times being punished for the
same crime, I'd start to explain to him that he had lost his last
chance and now the punishment would be handed down. Realizing that I
was serious, he would often plead his case by asking me, "Please, give
me one more last chance!"
The humor, of course, is in the idea that your last chance isn't
really your last chance. If this approach works, you can keep getting
"one more last chance" indefinitely.
I read this parable today and thought of his "one more last chance"
phrase:
"Then he told this parable: 'A man had a fig tree, planted in his
vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any.
So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, "For three years
now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't
found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?"
"Sir," the man replied, "leave it alone for one more year, and I'll
dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If
not, then cut it down." ' " Luke 13:6-9
I read this parable in a couple of ways. The tree could represent the
unsaved person who needs to begin producing fruit (following Christ)
or he will be cut down (going to hell). The tree could also represent
the cold believer who needs to begin producing fruit (walking with
Christ) or he will be cut down (set aside until the final day).
Either way, the idea of the caretaker asking for one more last chance
is Jesus buying us time. We can't miss the opportunity to accept
Christ and to follow Christ. If you skip the opportunity, eventually
the caretaker will have to cut you down.
Don't attempt to string out the last chances forever. Eventually, it
really will have been the last chance and you'll be out of luck.
Take advantage of your "one more last chance".
Wyatt