Better Late Than Never
When I was in high school, every PE lesson began with a cross-country run. In Year 7, it was 2km. The distance increased each year. There was also a minimum time set for each distance but I won’t say what that was because every serious runner will wonder how that could even be called running. I achieved a big milestone last week. For the first time in 44 years, including my whole time in high school, I broke the Year 7 minimum time for 2km. Better late than never.
There are other parts of life where some of us take longer than others. I know a number of people who struggled to complete, or didn’t finish high school, but who later went on to complete a number of university degrees. I know more people who took many years after leaving school to work out what they’d really wanted to do with their lives but are now happy and fulfilled. I know even more who think that getting to know Jesus is either not for them, or something that they can put off until some undetermined future time. And, to be honest, it doesn’t matter if we come to Jesus as a teenager or a ninety year old. The reaction in heaven is the same. The bible says, “…there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!” (Luke 15:7).
However, I don’t want to encourage anyone to use this as an excuse for putting off exploring a relationship with God because we never know when our time will run out and it will be too late. Jesus told another story about this which also resonates given the size of the last harvest. “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God” (Luke 12:16-21).
Yes, better late than never, but don’t leave it too late!
Neil Percival
There are other parts of life where some of us take longer than others. I know a number of people who struggled to complete, or didn’t finish high school, but who later went on to complete a number of university degrees. I know more people who took many years after leaving school to work out what they’d really wanted to do with their lives but are now happy and fulfilled. I know even more who think that getting to know Jesus is either not for them, or something that they can put off until some undetermined future time. And, to be honest, it doesn’t matter if we come to Jesus as a teenager or a ninety year old. The reaction in heaven is the same. The bible says, “…there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!” (Luke 15:7).
However, I don’t want to encourage anyone to use this as an excuse for putting off exploring a relationship with God because we never know when our time will run out and it will be too late. Jesus told another story about this which also resonates given the size of the last harvest. “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God” (Luke 12:16-21).
Yes, better late than never, but don’t leave it too late!
Neil Percival