The God of Second Chances
Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness…, Hebrews 3:8
John Denver was a song writer, recording artist, performer, and even an environmental activist. He also appeared in a few feature length films. One was with the Muppets. Another had the title, Oh, God! For a season in his life, he had enormous popularity. John loved the mountains and the outdoor sports of camping, hiking, backpacking, and fishing. He was known as an avid golfer, photographer, pilot, and some considered him a daredevil. His wealth enabled him to pursue his passion for flying. He purchased a series of rare and experimental aircraft that he loved to pilot. He was flying one of those planes on April 21, 1989, it was a vintage 1931 biplane. While taxiing down the runway at Holbrook Municipal Airport in Arizona, it seems a gust of wind caught the plane. The plane spun around and sustained “extensive damage.” John Denver escaped unharmed. He got a second chance on life. But on Oct. 12, 1997, it was a different story. John’s Denver’s experimental Rutan Long-EZ plane crashed into Monterey Bay near Pacific Grove, California. He died on impact at the age of 53. John was given several opportunities to hear the Good News about Jesus. An offer he turned down. John’s father was a Lear jet pilot. One of his passengers had been a member of the mob but had come to faith. That man held the hand of John’s father when the senior Denver trusted Christ. He pleaded to this mob convert to share Christ with John if the opportunity ever came. It did. And as Bill Fay reported, “I met with John in a private room in the Denver airport for the better part of two hours. I took him line by line through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There wasn’t a single verse of Scripture he did not understand…nor was there a single verse of Scripture that he would accept.” Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart. There may not be a second chance.
Prayer
Lord God, keep my heart soft before you so that I may hear your voice and answer your call. Amen.