At this time of the year people are racing to get things done before the end of the financial year. Balancing the books, checking the previous expenditure and spending what they need to before it’s too late.

There’s a bit of a hurry happening.

But what if you don’t get it done in time? What if you forget to do something?

What if it’s all too late?

When it comes to the financial year, the answer to that probably depends on who your boss is and what they might do.

But what about for other things in life? There are plenty of other things for which we might be late.

So is there ever a point in life when we not only hurdle the Best Before, but also leapfrog right over the Use-By-Date?

Maybe for some things there are, but not with the gospel.

Or, to put it another way: not when it comes to forgiveness. If you are still alive, forgiveness is still available.

Just take the thief on the cross. You’d look at this guy and think it was all too late for him. Jesus thought otherwise.

Luke’s gospel sets the scene at Golgotha like this:

There was a written notice above [Jesus], which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

It wasn’t too late for this man. He was forgiven entirely. We know this because Jesus welcomes him into the kingdom.

Flat out welcomed.

No balancing of books. No proving your worth.

Just a welcome.

It wasn’t too late after all.

If you’re still alive and kicking forgiveness is still available.

The gospel revolves around forgiveness.

And forgiveness is a beautiful thing. Because forgiveness is free and freeing.

Both for the one who receives forgiveness and the one who gives it. Both are trapped in different ways until the forgiveness exchange can take place.

For the one needing forgiveness, they are freed from their feelings of shame and guilt, and free from the need to ‘perform’. Instead they can now rest in grace.

For the one needing to forgive, they are freed from the trap laid on their heart, rendering it liable to sin through wrong thoughts about the offending party. They are freed and able to move on.

So why not practice forgiveness?

There’s no balancing of books. No performing. No fear of shame.

Just freedom. And a welcome.

A flat out welcome.

Because it’s never too late in God’s timetable. Just ask the thief on the cross.

Yours at the end of the Financial Year,

Alison