The song ‘Never Too Late’ on the new album by Kutless is a powerful reminder that ‘as long as there’s a breath left to take, it’s never too late.’ So often, our lives are filled with regret which holds us back and keeps us ashamed. Our Bible studies (next one scheduled for this evening at 7.30 p.m.) on 1 John are reminding us, though, that there is a difference between remorse and repentance and that the answer to shame is to confess our sins to One who is faithful and just not only to forgive us but to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
The enemy would have us believe that we are ‘too far gone’, that we have sinned beyond forgiveness, that we are wretched and miserable and undeserving of grace. We may well be wretched and miserable and are all definitely undeserving of grace, but the amazing, wonderful, liberating and soul-freeing fact remains that all our mistakes are covered by grace and it is not too late. Jean Valjean, the hero of Hugo’s ‘Les Misérables’, discovers this when the bishop refuses to press charges against him for stealing and allows him to go free, giving him the silver he has stolen (‘use this precious silver to become an honest man’.) We too can discover it is never too late if we simply come to the Cross, for peace, freedom and forgiveness are indeed waiting for us there.
‘I see you staring at the sky,
All of your regrets just running down your face,
You think you finally crossed the line,
Feel you sealed your fate…
It’s never too late to call on Him
Whatever you’ve done, wherever you’ve been,
All your mistakes are covered by grace,
And as long as there’s a breath left to take
It’s never too late…
It’s hard to hide the pain of life,
It’s a losing game that you have played too long,
You’ve listened to the voice of pride,
It says you’re too far gone, but believe me you’re wrong…
It’s never too late, to cry out to Him,
Whatever you’ve done, wherever you’ve been,
All your mistakes are covered by grace,
And as long as there’s a breath left to take
It’s never too late…
To all who may be listening, it’s never too late,
To all who may be lost, there is peace, there is freedom and forgiveness,
Waiting at the cross, waiting at the cross.’ (‘Never Too Late’, Kutless)