On New Years Day in 1929, Roy Reigels made a mistake. A mistake that changed his life. Roy was playing defense for the University of California, Berkley and they were playing Georgia Tech in the 1929 Rose Bowl. Just before half-time, Georgia Tech fumbles the ball, Reigels picks up the fumble and begins to run it in for a touchdown. He scrambles to the 3 yard line, but the wrong 3 yard line. Reigels ran the wrong way. His teammate, Benny Lom turned him around, just as a wave of Georgia Tech players arrive. They are able to push Reigels back to the 1 yard line.

UC Berkley is unable to move the ball and punts from their end zone, only to have it blocked by Georgia Tech for a safety.

At halftime, Reigels sat alone,  slumped over, and in tears over his mistake. At the start of the second half something unexpected happened. Coach Price, sent Reigels back into the game saying, “Roy, get up and go back, the game’s only half over.”

Georgia Tech’s Coach Alexander said after the game that he never saw a player play like Reigels did in the 2nd half.

Second Chances

The Bible is full of stories of people whom God gives a second chance: Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8); Peter, David, Abraham, Jonah, Saul of Tarsus. The list can go on and on and on.

God still gives second chances.

You and I do and will fail to live up to the standard God expects.  We will pick up the ball and run the wrong way. But God is there to forgive us when we repent and send us back into the game. When you fail:

• Don’t give up on God, He has not given up on you.
• Don’t turn to self-pity. Turn to God, to His forgiveness, and His strength.
• Be like the Thessalonians: (1Th 1:8-9)
  • Turn to God
  • Turn from idols (sin)
  • Turn to serve God

-Scott

Bonus video – because I still like Classic Veggie Tales: