A Chance to be Whole Again

This is the first sermon in a series I am preaching entitled Second Chances. I preached this sermon on September 28, 2008.

Text: Luke 19:1-10

Introduction: What many of us need is a second chance. There isn’t anybody here that has never needed a second chance. We have made mistakes, we have done things we regret, there are times we wish we could go back in time and do things differently. There are times that we think if only we had a second chance we would get it right the second time around. God is a God of second chances. Maybe you have strayed from God, maybe you have made some bad decisions, maybe you have made mistakes or you have purposely turned from your Lord, well I want to encourage you that God can give you a second chance!
Zaccheus was a man in need of a second chance. Like all of us, his life was incomplete, he was missing something. He was trying to find fulfillment, something to make him whole again. Zaccheus tried to find wholeness, completeness in wealth. He was a rich man. As a tax collector he could make quite a living. Yet Zaccheus life was still incomplete, something was still missing, the riches weren’t enough to make him whole again.
There are many like Zaccheus who are trying to find fulfillment, to fill that incompleteness in their lives. Some try wealth, but riches are never enough. Some try substances, alcohol, drugs, etc. but it only makes the pain deeper. Some try relationships but there is only one relationship that will complete us. Some try accomplishment and success, but ambition is never satiated. All of these things leave us feeling empty, alone and wanting something to make us whole again. That something may seem elusive, always out of reach. But it is not, that one thing that you need is an eternal relationship with the Savior. As Zaccheus was looking for that one thing to make him whole again, that one thing found him up a sycamore tree and Jesus called him down and filled his life with what he always craved, what he always longed for.

He had a full living but an empty life
Zaccheus was chief among publicans, an administrator for the Roman government’s tax office, Zaccheus had amassed great wealth, overcharging Jewish people and taking a cut from the taxes gathered by other tax collectors whose work he administered. But for all his wealth he was still empty, he did not have the one thing he wanted more than all else. Why was he not satisfied? He had a full living, but an empty life, maybe Zaccheus understood the volatile nature of economy (we have seen that these last couple of weeks)
-1 Timothy 6:17-19 17: Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18: That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19: Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Maybe Zaccheus heard the parable of the rich man that Jesus told Luke 12:16-20 16: And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18: And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19: And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20: But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
He wanted to simply catch a glimpse of Jesus knowing that maybe just a glimpse could make his life better. But he had a problem, he was too short. Like the woman who had the issue of blood that thought if she could just touch the hem of his garment. But he would not let the crowd stop him from seeing Jesus. He is so desperate for a glimpse of Jesus that he climbed a tree – this is a very undignified thing for a jewish man to be doing. But he laid his dignity aside. If we had the desperation that Zaccheus had, imagine what our relationship with God would be like, at one time you did have that burning desire for Jesus, but what happened? Galatians 5:7Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
Isaiah 55:6-7 6: Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
If you are in need of a second chance here is a good verse for you! Jeremiah 29:11-13 11: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12: Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13: And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

He emptied his living in exchange for a full life
Jesus called him down from the tree and he received Jesus joyfully (joy with relief)– this relationship with Jesus is just what he always longed for (John 1:12)
Jesus was a guest in his home, he would have had a meal with Jesus – a meal with Jesus made all the difference, dinner with Jesus changed this man. If you let Jesus sit at the table with you what a difference it will make! See Revelation 3:20. Jesus will sit at the table with you and it will give you the full life you have been searching for!
He Gave away the most important thing to him. He will refund those he cheated 4 times the amount he owed them. Somehow acceptance by Jesus made money of little value, riches and wealth was insignificant, He had a new life because he had a new Lord.