Second Chance?

By Chaplain (Col) Stephen W. Leonard, USA, Ret.

To your eyes, perhaps, these are strange and peculiar verses in 1 Peter which suddenly appear as not quite right, but are spoken by the Word of God nevertheless. 

We know that only 8 persons escaped the universal flood, which God sent to destroy the Earth as punishment for people’s wickedness and ungodly behavior. Out of a total world population only 8 people escaped drowning. The flood waters rose so quickly on the Earth that nothing could be devised to save any other lives in the short span of time the rain fell. After all, the ark took Noah and his sons 55-75 years to build.

The onset of the mighty flood was a horrific time for those people all over the Earth. The waters of the flood rising to 22 feet (15 cubits) over the highest mountain peaks, according to Genesis 7:20, causing horrific terror among the people living at that time. The death toll, except for these people on the ark, was the entire population of planet Earth, whatever it was at that time. 

Noah and his family had preached to them to no avail as they were building the ark. Those who came to see the spectacle of a huge boat being built on dry land far removed from lake, river, or ocean did not believe what they heard. In fact, the scorn cast on Noah and his family was hard to take day after day. It required the patience of Job, and a belief in God which superseded all. 

If God said it, it will happen, as much as the sun will rise day after day. And when the rain began to fall, Noah was the least surprised. The rain was confirmation of all the hard work of building the ark over many decades and withstanding all the scorn of the ungodly and evil-doers.

This same population were the recipients of the preaching of Jesus Christ in the spirit, in the prison of the dead, all according to God’s Word. Is this really a second chance for those consigned to Hades in their death who had refused in life to believe during the days of Noah? How did they respond to the preaching of the Son of God? We do not know because we are not told. Is this a second chance for them of securing eternal life? 

We believe when someone takes their last breath after denying Jesus Christ their whole life, that the opportunity to believe in Him is past. And such still holds true as much as we know. But the three days that Jesus was in the grave, his activity in the spirit seems to tell a different story. 

This is the only occurrence in all of Scripture to such an event. Therefore, I would understand that no one person should count on this happening after their death and expecting a second chance when they have denied Christ and the Gospel their whole life. The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus teaches against such a belief. (Luke 16:19-31) 

Nevertheless, those who scorned Noah, and drowned in the greatest of all floods as a result of their unbelief, were preached to by the Son of God himself. If they do not believe, then they are of all people to be most pitied. How can you turn away from the gracious Savior of Men, and not deserve Hell? 

Turn to Jesus now while you have the time and opportunity to do so. He will never turn away those who come to Him seeking salvation and life eternally.

Encouragement