This is one of those encouraging-sounding statements that is… just not true.

While God is the God of the second chance (and often the third, fourth, and more!), and while He loves to bring beauty out of the ashes of our sin, and restore the years which the locusts of waywardness have eaten… He does not make this promise.

There are times when He says, “Enough.” When His patience is exhausted. When He allows us to reap what we’ve sown.

The grumbling, obstinate children of Israel whom God brought out of Egypt failed to enter the Promised Land because of their disobedience. It was too late for them to be what they might have been.

The idolatrous people of the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel also pressed God’s long-suffering nature too far. There came a point when it was too late for them to be what they might have been.

The rich man who tore down his barns to build bigger barns thought he had plenty of time. But God said, “You fool. This very night your soul is required of you” (Luke 12:20). It was too late for him to be what he might have been.

King David repented of his adultery and murder and the Lord forgave him. But certain painful consequences persisted for the rest of his life. He could never be what he might have been.

This is why God says things like:

• “Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near” (Isa. 55:6).
• “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Heb. 4:7).
• “Be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming” (Matt. 24:42).

There is indeed coming a time when it will be too late to be what you might have been.

So let’s make the best use of our time! (Eph. 5:15-16)