It’s Never Too Late
This phrase, “It’s never too late to _____,” seems to be everywhere. In these days of shutdown, it seems that everyone is starting this or that. A new hobby here, a new commitment to eat well, exercise, to start the project, or finish one. It’s never too late to give that person a call, to restore something lost, etc…
But there will come a day when it is too late. Too late to know Jesus. Too late to escape eternity without him. But as long as you still have breath in your lungs, its not too late, and you’re not too far. Louie Giglio wrote an entire book on this idea, that the grace of God reaches to the outermost and the farthest…so I’m not writing here to belabor that point, but as I read in Luke this morning, I am again reminded of the goodness of God to redeem even in the very end that which is lost. Hanging on the cross with two criminals, this interaction is amazing:
39 Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us! ”
40 But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? 41 We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:39–71 (CSB)
Two completely different responses to the savior dying with them…
- Mocking, yelling, reviling the Son of God.
- A beautiful response to the Son, called even in their final breaths.
What a statement of faith considering their current circumstances. Nailed to a cross, bleeding, suffering, struggling for every breath they take. And yet… he believed that Jesus would come into His Kingdom as just that: KING.
Jesus’ answer to the repentant sinner? Promise. Today, you will be with me in paradise. “My Kingdom,” Jesus said, “is not of this world.” And the thief knows it. In that moment of the gospel’s call and his salvation, he knows what is coming.
Wonderfully, even though he knew he was guilty and the punishment of crucifixion was due him, the thief at the end of his life is granted the right of sonship in the Kingdom. Earthly justice scoffs at the idea that someone could live their entire life apart from God and in the last days repent and be granted life eternal with Jesus. God makes it plain, however that the days of salvation, and the day of each repentant sinner, is not for us to lament should they come in one’s final breaths, but rejoice that the son who was dead is now home.
Selfish nature however often leads us to questions, not praise. “Is this person really saved? How could God allow him or her to live that way for soo long and still save them?”
God’s ways. Not my own.
God’s plans. Not my plans.
God’s purposes, not mine.
