A little boy went out to the ball field by himself -- wearing his baseball cap -- & carrying a bat & ball.

In his eye was the look of brassy determination.

He was so full of confidence that he put his bat on his shoulder -- tossed the ball into the air -- & said: -- “I’m the greatest batter in the world!”

But he swung & missed. -- “Strike one,” he said.

He picked up the ball -- looked it over -- & then threw it into the air again.

As he watched the ball descend -- he repeated: “I’m the greatest batter in the world.”

But once more he missed. -- “Strike two,” he said with a puzzled look on his face -- & he stopped to examine his bat to make sure there wasn’t a hole in it.

A third time he picked up the ball -- adjusted his cap -- & tossed the ball into the air.

As the ball went up a third time -- he repeated the chant: -- “I’m the greatest batter in the world.”

He swung with all his might -- but he missed for the third straight time.

“Strike three. Y’er out!” -- he said with the emphasis of an umpire.

But instead of being discouraged -- the boy began to jump & shout across the ball field: -- “Wow! What a pitcher. I’m the greatest pitcher in the world!”

Let me ask you today: -- How are you doing?

Maybe things are going considerably well for you.

If they are -- allow me to congratulate you; -- but also may I give you a word of warning? -- It wouldn’t always be this good. -Things may change!

Or -- on the other hand -- you may feel like you have just struck out.

Life is not going so well! -- You have more defeats than victories!

We have all -- everyone of us -- struck out in some areas.

But the good news is that you don’t have to justify it somehow -- or call failure by another name --because even though you may have messed up -- there is always another chance to begin anew.

Another chance to begin anew; -- especially with God!

Does anybody here need another chance; -- a new beginning; -- a clean slate? -- You wish you could start all over again?

My friends -- we serve the God of second chances -- & I, for one, am enormously grateful for that fact!

Our sins -- our failures -- can never be greater than the grace of God.

Our failure can never be greater than the love of God.

We can never mess up so badly that God cannot fix up.

In Phil. 3:12-14 -- the Apostle Paul gives us some very encouraging words. -- (Read Scripture).

In these few verses -- Paul gives us a glimpse of what should be the attitude of the child of God -- the Christian!

I want to point out 3 attitudes this morning; --3 attitudes that lead to 3 actions we need to take; -- especially when we feel that we have failed!

1. The first attitude adjustment that God wants to plant in our minds is: --Failure is not Final.

If failure was final -- none of us would make it.

In fact -- none of the people of the Bible would make it.

The Bible is one story after another of people who messed up repeatedly -- & how they were coached along the way by God until they got it right.

Names like Abraham --Isaac -- Jacob -- Moses -- Jonah -- David -- Paul & Peter --come to mind -- along with many others -- including my own.

If failures were not included in the Bible there would be no one there.

If failures were not included in the church no one would be here either.

Perfection is not something we have; -- it is something we seek!

The Bible shows us that failure is not final.

The Lord says: -- “For I will forgive their wickedness -- & will remember their sins no more” (Jeremiah 31:34).

That’s why the Bible also says: -- “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy & find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

In the movie -- City Slickers -- Billy Crystal plays Mitch -- a 40-year-old radio ad salesman -- who lives in Manhattan with his wife & two children.

He feels trapped in the predictability & monotony of his life.

His wife encourages him to -- “Go & find your smile.”

So he joins his best friends -- Ed & Phil -- for a two-week vacation on a working dude ranch -- that turns into a full fledged cattle drive.

Not only is Mitch going through a mid-life crisis -- but his friends are in various stages of crisis as well.

One evening it all comes to a head -- as Phil collapses in depression over his failed life & marriage.

Mitch explains the concept of a “do-over” to Phil.

He says: -- “Hey Phil, -- now you’ve got a chance to start over. -- You know. Do you remember when we were kids & we would be playing ball, -- & the ball would get stuck up in a tree or something? -- And we would all yell, ‘Do-over!’ -- Your life is a ‘do-over.’ -- You’ve got a clean slate -- & do it over!”

My friends -- It is wonderful that God gives us a chance to do it over.

The Bible says: -- “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

We serve a God of new beginnings.

2. The second attitude that God wants us to adopt is: -- Bad Results can be Redeemed.

Bad choices lead to bad consequences.

Many of us are living with the results of a wrong decision.

It is true that God forgives our past sins -- & that He heals the wounds with which sin has injured us.

However -- there are scars that remain -- even from a healed wound.

But even scars can serve a purpose.

They remind us of what happens -- when we rebel against God -- & try to go our own way.

They also serve to help us relate to other people who have wounds.

We can help other people to know that wounds can heal; -- & that the consequences of our actions can be redeemed.

God uses everything in our lives -- even our failures.

Peter was the most confident of Jesus’ disciples.

He really believed that even if everyone fell away from Jesus -- he would still stand. -- He would remain true & loyal to Jesus.

But when it came down to it -- Peter was the one who betrayed Jesus in his most difficult hour.

Three times Peter denied that he even knew Jesus.

Immediately after the rooster crowed -- red hot shame burned within Peter -- hotter than the fire around which he & the others were standing.

Peter lived with that shame for several days; -- the day of the crucifixion -- the days of Jesus’ burial; -- even after the resurrection; -- until one day he & some of the other disciples were fishing out on the Sea of Galilee.

Jesus called to them from the shore: --“Friends, have you any fish?”

They answered Jesus in the negative.

They were even failures at their old profession.

They felt like they couldn’t do anything right.

But Jesus called them “friends”; -- these very disciples -- including Peter -- who had deserted & denied Him.

Recognizing His voice -- Peter jumped out of the boat & swam to the shore -- longing to be reconciled with the Savior he loved.

When he came to the fire -- Jesus looked Peter in the eye, & asked: --“Peter, do you love me?”

The fire brought back memories of his betrayal -- & Jesus’ words pierced him like a knife.

He said: -- “Yes Lord, -- you know that I love you.”

But a second time the question is thrust into his heart: -- “Peter, do you love me?”

Again -- Peter with torture in his heart -- answers in the affirmative.

Then a third time -- Jesus asks the question again.

Peter is distraught -- but answers what he knows in his heart to be true -- in spite of his failure: -- “Lord, you know all things; -- you know that I love you.”

It seemed to Peter that Jesus was asking repeatedly -- because Jesus didn’t believe him -- but then the truth dawned on Peter.

Jesus was giving Peter three times to affirm his love for Him -- after Peter had denied Jesus three times.

Jesus gave Peter a chance to redeem himself.

Jesus took Peter’s denial -- & turned it into a proclamation of love.

And Jesus wants to do the same for you -- today!

John Ortberg has written: -- “Redeeming is what God is into. -- He is the finder of directionally-challenged sheep, -- the searcher of missing coins -- the embracer of foolish prodigal children. -- His favorite department is ‘Lost & Found.’ -- If there is one way that human beings consistently underestimate God’s love -- it is perhaps in His loving longing to forgive.” -- Wow, I like that!

3. The third point is that all of this means: --The Future is Open!

My friends -- the future is as bright as the promises of God.

Failure does not mean that you are finished.

God can not only forgive your sin -- & your failure -- God can also redeem what you have done.

You are not doomed to repeat your mistakes -- & relive your lifestyle.

Your future is not dictated by your past.

Something new awaits you! -- It is a future designed by God, Himself

Jesus said: -- “I am making everything new” (Revelation 21:5).

The apostle Paul knew how to face the future -- & therefore he said: -- “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things -- or that I have already reached perfection! -- But I keep working toward that day -- when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for -- & wants me to be -- No, dear brothers & sisters -- I am still not all I should be -- but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing; -- Forgetting the past -- & looking forward to what lies ahead -- I strain to reach the end of the race -- & receive the prize for which God through Christ Jesus -- is calling us up to heaven” (Philippians 3:12-14 NLT).

How do we press on toward the goal?

It is important to have another chance & a clean slate -- but there is also something important required on our part.

Do you remember what Jesus said happened when an evil spirit came out of a man?

The evil spirit found no place to dwell -- so he came back to the man to find the house of his heart swept clean & put in order -- but unoccupied.

Jesus said: -- “Then [the unclean spirit] goes & takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself -- & they go in -- & live there. -- And the final condition of that man is worse than the first” (Matthew 12:45).

So now let me give you 3 actions -- (3 steps) -- which we must take.

True change comes when -- first of all: -You have a new occupant.

It is not enough to straighten out your act -- & have things clean -- & in order. -- We must actively invite God to occupy our lives.

We are no longer keeping God in our pocket; -- or using Him when we are in trouble.

God is no longer a hobby; -- or a passing interest; -- He is life itself!

God is in control! -- We have completely surrendered our heart to Him -- & we have given up trying to get our way -- & run life ourselves.

He is not just in the guest room; -- He is invited into every room of the house. -- And suddenly life begins to work!

You are not only swept clean -- & have things in order -- there is a new Occupant in the house. -- Everything is different now.

New power comes with a new Presence in your life.

When you are full of self -- you are really empty -- & there is a malicious hostile force waiting to fill the void.

You may think your house is in order -- but without the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit -- it will not stay that way for long.

This indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit was what changed the early church from a band of people -- who shared a common belief system -- into a transforming movement that changed the world.

The Bible describes them this way: -- “After they prayed -- the place where they were meeting was shaken. -- And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit -- & spoke the word of God boldly” (Acts 4:31).

When they allowed God’s Holy Spirit to fill them -- then God used them to change the world. -- The same thing must happen to you today.

Secondly -- true change comes when: -- You Seek Truth.

Part of the reason that you have had failure & dysfunction in your life is that you have believed the wrong things.

Sometimes you have even consciously -- or unconsciously -- rejected the truth of God.

You wanted to be able to figure things out on your own.

You wanted to trust your own thinking -- rather than submit your mind to the Word of God.

So the result was that you believed things that were not true -- & you acted upon them.

You believed that you did not have to obey God in everything -- & you could get by with doing what you wanted.

But chaos & dysfunction began to come into your life.

Things began to fall apart.

The point is this: -- Wrong thinking results in wrong living.

Actions begin as ideas.

If your ideas are wrong -- then the things you do will be full of error.

You need to fill your mind with the Word of God -- just as you need to fill your life with God.

The Bible is glorious food for the brain -- as well as for the soul!

Would you want a mechanic working on your car -- who was unwilling to take any training because he liked to figure things out for himself?

How about a dentist? -- (Have you ever noticed how dentist are always down in the mouth?)

How about a doctor who was never willing to submit to the authority & knowledge of his instructors -- but who still likes to prescribe medicine --& wield the knife in the operating room?

You hear him say: -- “I’ve never seen this before! -- It must not be very important; -- I think I will just cut it out.”

How about a husband -- or wife -- who knew something of what the Bible said about life & family -- but had their own agenda?

How about someone who thinks they can develop their own standard of morality?

How about a Christian who thinks that none of the rules apply to him -- or her -- because getting their needs met at this particular time is more important than obeying God?

My friends -- you have to seek the truth -- & apply it -- if your new chance is going to end up being a new beginning.

The most dangerous thing in the world is for a Christian to think: -- “I know enough already. -- I don’t need anyone to teach me anything.”

When that happens you have stopped growing.

It is the beginning of ignorance & arrogance.

It could be your spiritual downfall -- especially since the Bible tells us: -- “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18).

This is why we have Sunday School -- & area Bible Studies -- so you can learn & grow.

These are times of learning -- sharing, encouragement & fellowship.

It is spiritual food that enables us to mature spiritually.

It fills our minds with spiritual truths that bring about true change.

The third thing that brings about true change is this: --You Change your Actions. -- You change your actions in accordance to God’s Word.

The most destructive thing you can do is to say: -- “This is just who I am. -- I can’t change at this stage in my life. -- People just have to accept me this way.”

That may be true when we are talking about your basic personality type -- but when it comes to hurtful & destructive actions -- then you have to be humble enough to be willing to change.

You cannot expect your life to work when you think that you can love God -- & do as you please.

The Bible says: -- “What shall we say, then? -- Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? -- By no means! -- We died to sin; -- how can we live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:1-2).

One of the greatest frustrations to me as a pastor -- is that there seems to be a great disconnect in our culture -- between our Christian beliefs -- & our moral behavior!

People want to be Christians -- but they want to do what they want to do. And when it comes to being a Christian -- or giving up something they want -- they let their Christian life go out the window.

A second chance will not mean much -- if you are going to continue in some sinful behavior.

During the great Welsh Revivals of the 19th century -- the Holy Spirit came upon people in a powerful way.

They became so aware of their sin -- & their need to turn from it -- that the whole culture was transformed.

Conviction was strong -- & many people felt a need to make restitution. (Boy, that is an old fashion word -- “restitution” -- but a mighty good word!)

But the need to make restitution -- created an unexpected problem for the ship yards along the coast of Wales.

Over the years -- workers had stolen everything from wheelbarrows -- to ropes -- to hammers.

As people sought to be right with God -- they began to return what they had taken.

The result was that the ship yards of Wales were soon overwhelmed with returned property.

There were such huge stockpiles of returned tools that several of the yards put up signs that read: -- “If you have been led by God to return what you have stolen -- please know that the management forgives you & wishes you to keep what you have taken.”

Imagine with me; -- imagine with me -- what would happen -- if that kind of conviction -- & resulting obedience would happen here in this Valley.

Conclusion:

My dear friends -- our second chance might actually lead to a whole new life.

And the lives of Christians might actually impact the culture!

The Church is supposed to influence our society! -- But instead, society has influenced the church!

Oh that we might set it right!

We have all made our mistakes -- & experienced our failures.

Many Christians go to any length to hide a failure.

But failure is God’s greatest way to begin to speak to us.

Of course -- failure can wipe a person out!

When some people fail -- often they throw in the towel & call it quits.

They wallow in self-pity -- & blame others for their mistakes.

This doesn’t have to be the case!

If we acknowledge our part of the problem -- confess our sin -- & ask God’s forgiveness -- we can rise to be His servants again -- in an even greater way than before!

Out of the defeat -- a new husband -- a new wife -- a new father -- a new mother -- a better church member -- can emerge!

Remember: -- Failure is not final!

Bad results can be redeemed!

The future is open to us!

So be sure God’s Holy Spirit occupies your heart!

Seek the truth -- in & through the Word of God -- the Holy Bible!

Change your actions as you learn to walk in obedience to God’s Word.

Failure doesn’t have to be the end of the road!

It can be a stepping-stone to greater victory than ever before!

(I am deeply indebted to Pastor Rodney J. Buchanan of the Mulberry St. UMC in Mt. Vernon, OH, for much of this material; -- used with his permission.)