Failed? Try Again!

Our reading is Proverbs 24:16

“The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.
But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.”

Everybody falls. It’s what you do after you fall that makes the difference in life. 

In December of 1914, a massive explosion and fire swept through Thomas Edison’s plant in New Jersey. The blaze destroyed several buildings, wiped out years of work, and caused millions of dollars in damage. Edison was sixty seven years old. 

I think that qualifies as a stumble. Most men would have been crushed. His son, Charles Edison, later told the story himself. He said that as the fire spread, he went looking for his father, afraid of what he might find. He found Edison calmly watching the flames. When Charles approached him, Edison said, “Go get your mother and all her friends. They’ll never see a fire like this again.”

What did Edison do next? The next morning he gathered his workers and said simply, “We will begin rebuilding tomorrow.”

Peter denied Jesus three times, but later preached the first Gospel sermon.
David murdered, but repented and started over.
Jonah ran from God, but turned and obeyed.

Good folks fail, but get up and try, try again.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.