Advocates of Justice for All

Not long ago, my wife and I were celebrating an anniversary with an overnight stay in a nearby resort town. As we perused the shops, she found a nice top she liked, and we went to the cashier to purchase it. That’s when I remembered I had a gift card for $50 in my wallet, received from my cell-phone company for plan renewal. I thought this would be an excellent time to use the gift card, since I was low on cash.

I was surprised when the card was rejected. The clerk looked at it and said, “Sorry, this card is expired.” What?! I had no idea that such a card had an expiration date! Without realizing it, I had waited too long. It was too late, and the value of the card had been reclaimed by the phone company.

This causes me to reflect on other “too lates.” For instance, think about relationships. Ministers often counsel alienated family members who wish there had been reconciliation before an untimely death. There is not much comfort or satisfaction in saying, “Sorry, please forgive me” while standing at a casket or a grave. It is too late.

More importantly, we may hear someone ask, “Is it ever too late to repair a relationship with God?” Our first impulse may be to reply, “Of course not! God is gracious and loving and will always welcome back His wandering children.” But our lesson text for today may cause us to rethink that response.

Mark S. Krause et al., “A Demand for Justice,” in The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2014–2015, ed. Ronald L. Nickelson and Jonathan Underwood, vol. 62 (Cincinnati, OH: Standard Publishing, 2014), 434.