On New Year’s Day in 1929 California was playing Georgia Tech in the Rose Bowl. And Georgia Tech was marching for a touchdown when the ball was fumbled. A California player named Roy Riegels picked it up and he lost his sense of direction. And instead of running toward his opponent’s goal line he turned and started running toward his own goal line and he ran 65 yards before he was tackled by one of his own men. The end result was that California surrendered a safety for two points and they were behind 2-0 at the halftime and eventually lost the game. And during halftime you can imagine the gloom in the California locker room. The coach tried to pep them up, to brace them and inspire them for the second half but all of them were down, especially Roy Riegels. He sat in a corner by himself with his face buried in his hands, ashamed and embarrassed by what he had done.
When the talk was over the coach said that the same team that started the first half starts the second half. And the men jumped and raced out of the dressing room, all except Roy Riegels. He sat there, face in hands in a corner by himself. And the coach went to him and he said, “Roy, get up and get out on the playing field. We still have another half to play.” Those who were in the stands that day in all of their years never saw a player play with the intensity of Roy Riegels in that second half.
God is saying to you and to me, the game is not over yet. There is still the second half and I’m the God of a second chance. Will you take it?