In Life, It's Never Too Late

"Can one come back to God though long astray?"
Asked an old man of me one Sunday night;
His hair was turning white though still partly gray;
His trembling hands he tried to hide from sight.
"He sure can; he's more welcome than before!
Would you like to tell me the whole story?"
"I'm too late; Satan waits outside the door;
I gave up my place reserved in glory
For his protection in federal pen.I was released from jail at noon today;
He let me stop by here, confess my sin,
And then I must go with him and pay!"
The pulpit cloth contained a crimson cross;
I draped it from his shoulders to his feet;
Asked God to save this soul from being lost;
We went out; all we could see was the street!


"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him, 'Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!' But the other criminal rebuked him. 'Don't you fear God,' he said, 'since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.' Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.'" (Luke 23:39-43)

As long as mortal flesh lives, the soul can be given to the Lord,A and Satan can do nothing to stop it. God is not bound by any socalled bargain with the devil. Satan is not honorable enough to hold anyone to any promise. A life cannot be lived evil enough to prevent its owner from giving his soul to God so long as he lives. It is never too late.

A confession of faith in Jesus made in childhood is still good no matter how sinful the grown-up gets. If it is sincere, God can read it in the heart even on Judgment Day. We know this from the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, told by Jesus in Matthew 20:1-16. In it, workers hired late in the day were paid the same amount as those hired early in the morning. It won't work by the standards of the world, but everyone who goes to heaven experiences equal joy.