Never Too Late

They got up early the next morning and went up the ridge of the hill country, saying, "Let’s go to the place the LORD promised, for we were wrong." - Numbers 14:40

I'm sure we are all familiar with the expression "too little, too late." When the Israelites realized their error (in rejecting God's clear instruction to enter the Promised Land) they tried to move ahead without His express approval. They thought that admitting the mistake would be enough and God would still give them what they wanted.

There was a problem.

For even though they had realized their error and sin, they never confessed it to God or repented, which led to their utter defeat and failure. The Almighty wanted more than acknowledgement of guilt. He required broken, obedient hearts.

We make a lot of mistakes before God and it is always good to recognize it when we do, but recognition is just the beginning, a first step. Confession and repentance must follow if we expect to succeed in God's service, and while the consequences of our actions may still be borne, it is never too late to turn.

Affliction comes to us, not to make us sad but sober; not to make us sorry but wise. - H. G. Wells