Too Late – The Book of Jeremiah

 

Sad words that Signify Change

"Too late" can be two of the saddest words in the English language. Too late - you missed your flight; you can't go to the beach. Too late - you missed your anniversary and you cannot make up for it. Too late - the assignment was due at three o'clock and it is now 3:02 - no grace period. While I have never missed a plane or forgotten an anniversary, and I never missed a deadline serious enough to fail a class, I have been too late on enough occasions to feel the anxiety when I hear those two words together. I think it is this anxiety that turned me into a rather punctual person. I prefer to show up on time or early to most events and meetings and will often accomplish that goal. It is a statement of respect for the person that I am meeting (Romans 12:10). It is also an issue of integrity. I said I would be somewhere at a certain time, and I will try to accomplish that goal (Matthew 5:37). I have served in other cultures where the perspective on punctuality differs and still find it difficult to understand the difference, though it is easy to be respectful.

Judah’s Spiritual Procrastination

The issue for Israel was also a "too late" issue. They had put the Lord off for years (Jeremiah 25:3–7). They put off His worship and opted to worship pagan idols (Jeremiah 2:11–13). They put off his Law in favor of living in a way that pleased them - choosing not to free their slaves or forgive debts (Jeremiah 34:13–17), choosing not to observe festivals, and approach God through the sacrificial system (Jeremiah 7:21–24). They continued to put it off...until Babylon was at their door (2 Kings 24:1–2).

When it came to the Lord fulfilling his promise to discipline them by sending them into captivity in a foreign land (Jeremiah 25:8–11), they cleaned up their act quickly (Jeremiah 26:12–13). Yet, not without complaint.

The Lies of the False Prophets

False prophets spoke up and gave the message everyone wanted to hear: "God has chosen us, he won't ever give us up to a foreign people! The Lord is on our side!" (Jeremiah 6:13–14; Jeremiah 23:16–17). Their messages seem hopeful, optimistic, patriotic, and encouraging. The Lord had redeemed them when they were occupied by Philistines and Midianites (Judges 6–7; 1 Samuel 7:10–14). He had rescued Judah when Assyria was at their door (2 Kings 19:32–36). Surely the Lord would honor their last-minute repentance and protect them again.

Jeremiah spoke the truth (Jeremiah 1:7–10). The Lord would not accept their 11th-hour solutions to the problem of their disobedience (Jeremiah 7:10–16). They were going into captivity (Jeremiah 20:4–6). It was too late.

Another Old Testament Example

Just like when they failed to enter the promised land, the opportunity had passed (Numbers 14:22–23). In that case they sent spies into the land and of the 12 only 2 believed that God could deliver on His promises (Numbers 14:6–9). The people refused to go up and received the verdict - they would wander in the wilderness until that entire generation died (Numbers 14:29–35).

Just like a husband who finally decides to stop drinking once his wife has packed her bags this verdict causes them to try to go up without the Lord (Numbers 14:40–44). Of course, it was too late. They were routed and many died (Numbers 14:45) - and they still did not get to enter the Land.

The person who comes to a change of mind too late often claims that they didn't know that it would be too late (Proverbs 1:24–28). They say they would have changed with just one more chance. Yet, God had sent prophet after prophet to warn them (Jeremiah 7:25–26; 2 Chronicles 36:15–16) and even given them some good kings to lead them (2 Kings 18:3–6; 2 Kings 22:1–2) - they continued to choose to go their own way. And now it was too late to avoid the Lord's discipline (Jeremiah 5:19), but it is never too late to obey the Lord (Lamentations 3:31–33).

Jeremiah’s Shocking Counsel: Surrender!

Jeremiah gives them a most perplexing message - "GIVE UP! SURRENDER!" (Jeremiah 21:8–10). He tells them that this invasion is coming and they have two choices. First, they could take their medicine. Surrender to Babylon and they would remain in their land, and nobody had to die - the Lord would redeem them in His time (Jeremiah 27:11). Or second, they could listen to the false prophets and fight (Jeremiah 27:14–15). If they resisted many would die and ultimately all would go into captivity, the temple would be destroyed, and it would be much more difficult (Jeremiah 39:6–8).

They had not yet learned their lesson (Jeremiah 32:33). They chose to continue to resist the Lord's discipline and direction. They fought, they lost, they were conquered (2 Kings 25:1–7). They rebelled, they lost, they were deported (2 Kings 25:11).

Refusing to respond to God in humility and obedience did not cause God to reject Judah - Jeremiah 31 absolutely promised that He would never fail in His promises to them (Jeremiah 31:35–37). However, they suffered immensely because they refused to obey Him and walk with Him (Jeremiah 30:14–15). It was too late for them to have what He wanted for them (Jeremiah 7:23–26). He wanted them to live in the land (Deuteronomy 5:33). He wanted them to be blessed and safe (Deuteronomy 28:1–6). He wanted to protect them from every empire and superpower (Deuteronomy 7:17–24) - so that the light on the stand would shine forth the redemption and power of the God of Israel before the world (Isaiah 42:6; Isaiah 49:6). Yet it was too late for that.

“Too Late” with God for Today

As Christians today we too can experience the sorrows of being "too late" with God (Galatians 6:7–8). The person who lives their life for themselves and then wants to pull out a fourth quarter reversal and become a pastor (1 Timothy 3:2–7). The person who drank until their liver is out of commission - but now they are ready to turn things around (Proverbs 23:29–35). The man who indulges his lusts in secret until his marriage is ruined (Proverbs 5:3–14). There are years that we cannot get back (Ephesians 5:15–17), and there are failures that will bring painful natural consequences and discipline (Hebrews 12:5–11). It may be too late to fix the problem, but it is never too late to respond in humility and rely on the Lord to forgive and restore (1 John 1:7–9). That is the wonderful thing about God's grace. God never ignores sin - He deals with it (Romans 6:23). For the believer in Jesus Christ sin is forgiven - finally, fully, and completely at the Cross of Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:13–14). Sin in the life of the believer is dealt with both by allowing us to experience the consequences of our sin (Galatians 6:7), discipline in the Church (1 Corinthians 5:12–13), and the loving divine discipline of the Lord (Hebrews 12:6). It may be too late to fix what has been done, but it is never too late to humble ourselves and respond to that discipline in faithful anticipation that the God who loved you, and gave His Son to save you (John 3:16), will forgive you and restore you (1 Peter 5:10). The One who wounds us for our edification is the One who binds our wounds when we return to Him in humility and faith (Hosea 6:1).