Wanting a Do-Over

A Common Feature

It is a common feature in many types of games to have the opportunity to have a “do-over.” This chance affords the ability to retry where one made a wrong choice or performed badly. Depending on how serious one takes the rules, this chance exists in sports (e.g. the “mulligan” in golf), in some table games (e.g. a “reroll” or “taking back” a move), and in many video games (e.g. just “reload” a saved game).

Of course, this ability distorts the reality of the game in some fashion, taking away from the spontaneity and truth of perfect performance. It is technically cheating, but in the name of good fun, this is usually ignored, as getting the “do-over” allows one to enjoy a triumph as opposed to endure a defeat.

Games vs. Life

The problem with this practice is it does not translate to the choices of everyday life. There are many choices made by men and women every day and those choices are not perfectly wise or correct. If honest with ourselves, there are likely many choices in our own personal lives we wished we could have a “do-over” with.

When this becomes particularly dangerous is with those who expect the same kind of “do-over” they get when playing games in real life. Their reasoning might be something along the lines of “I wasn’t serious” or perhaps never having been disciplined as a child they expect adult authority figures such as bosses or the State to offer such second chances. In truth, there are numerous choices in life with consequences you cannot “do-over”!

The Greatest Blessing

Man is eternally blessed, though, to have the ability for a second chance in Christ. Through His sacrifice, foolish choices to disobey God through sin can be removed. There is a temptation, however, to treat this as the same kind of “do-over,” which is not quite the same thing as forgiveness of sin. In Christ, it is not the opportunity to “do-over” a poor choice with a chance to make the same mistake again. It is instead Christ replacing the poor choice with a chance to “do-better.” By taking on Christ we are allowing Him to be the chooser, not simply using Him as a last-resort lifeline when our own choices go bad.

It is natural to want a “do-over” when we fail. In Christ we have something even better, but only if we allow Him to be the Lord of our lives. Otherwise, we are no better than those who cheat at a game.