TOO LATE

 Jeremías 8:19-22, Génesis 7:16

The Word of God clearly warns that there are two dangers: that the unconverted will despise the opportunity for salvation, and that those who know the things of God will live carelessly with the false confidence that in the end God will give them an opportunity to correct their lives.

The people had refused to believe Jeremiah’s message from God, so God had to send a foe from the north to judge them. As they were surrounded by these troops, the crops on the outside were ready to be harvested. But they were unable to harvest them, and as they were starving on the inside, the crops were rotting in the fields. The summer had ended, and the harvest has pasted. Time had run out on them. The people of God had plumbed the depths; they were now in a state of hopelessness. The situation is well summed up in the words of Jeremiah, "The summer is ended, the harvest is passed, and we are not saved" (8:20).

Jeremiah had spent all his energies in warning the people to put their house in order, but they were too busy enjoying the pleasures of the world; too stubborn to repent of their sinful ways. And now it was too late, the door of opportunity had closed. When God closes the door, this indicates that His patience has run out.

One of the most serious mistakes a person can make is putting off until later those things that must be done today, in the present moment. The popular saying, “Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today,” contains a great truth.

A member asked his pastor when he should make peace with God. The pastor thought for a moment and then said, “Just a moment before you die.” “But, pastor,” the member protested, “I don’t know when I’ll die!” “Exactly,” the pastor replied. “Do it now!”

WHEN THE DOOR CLOSES

The concept of "The Closing of Doors" in the Bible often symbolizes the end of an opportunity or divine judgment. This theme is present throughout Scripture, illustrating both God's sovereignty and His interaction with humanity. There are people who carelessly live with the false confidence that God will ultimately give them a chance to correct their lives.

The closing of doors also signifies spiritual separation. In response to the question of how many would be saved, Jesus said, "Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. After the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you stand outside and begin to knock, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us,' he will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you from where you are'" (Luke 13:24-25). The image of a closing door is a picture of an opportunity that is ending; the door of opportunity has closed.

When God closes the door, it indicates that His patience has run out. God is a God of patience. Peter wrote, “…the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water” (1 Peter 3:20). Peter also declared, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

In every age, God has demonstrated His patience and longsuffering with sinful man, and He continues to do so today. But, as the time of the flood has come, the time will come when God’s patience will come to an end. After Peter made that declaration about God’s longsuffering being the reason the Lord had not yet returned, he said, “The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night” (2 Peter 3:10). When God closes the door, it means His patience has come to an end.

God's closing the door indicates that His preaching has been rejected. God's patience allowed Noah to preach for about 120 years, but when man continued to reject that preaching, the time came when God stopped the preaching and closed the door. When the door to the opportunity to obey the gospel has closed, it will be too late.

FLEEING FROM DANGER WHEN IT IS TOO LATE:

Things that must be done today cannot be done tomorrow. Let's now consider some things that some people wish to do out of season and therefore without any benefit.

A case that vividly illustrates this error is that of the Egyptians (Exodus 14:23-28), when they found themselves in the middle of the Red Sea. They had been pursuing the Israelites during the night. At dawn, when they were in the midst of the sea, God severely disrupted them by taking off their chariot wheels and causing the waters to flow back over them. It was then that they said, “Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord is fighting for them against the Egyptians” (V-25).

They may have wanted to repair their chariots at that moment, but the waters were already violently returning over them. At that moment, they wanted to travel an entire night's journey in an instant. It was too late!

Sadly, that's how it is with some people. They live their lives, giving free rein to their desires and passions without keeping in mind that one day they will die and have to give an account to God (Eccl. 11:9). They fail to obtain or take advantage of the blessings God offers them in life. When they finally want to flee from danger, it is too late.

Some, instead of avoiding danger, prefer to provoke it (Samson) and then, trying to escape it, end up being its victims, being swallowed up by the sea, like the Egyptians.

WANTING TO SERVE WHEN IT IS TOO LATE:

In chapter 14 of Numbers, something very interesting is mentioned that illustrates this. When the twelve spies returned from exploring the Promised Land, the people of Israel believed the ten spies who gave negative reports, and the two who gave positive reports were almost killed. The people rebelled against Moses, and this greatly displeased God.

The ten spies who shook the people's faith perished from a plague God sent them. Then the people of Israel wanted to go to battle at Hormah against the Amalekites and the Canaanites. They said to Moses, "Here we are, to go up to the place of which the Lord has spoken..." (v. 40) Moses replied, “Do not go up, for the Lord is not among you…” (v. 41)

They wanted to serve God when God no longer wanted them. The Israelites went up to fight their enemies and were greatly ashamed. They didn't realize they couldn't serve God when God no longer wanted them.

There are some people who are indifferent to serving God while they can. They can serve God, but they don't. They have talents, but they don't use them. They have strength, but they don't use it either. The sad thing is that by the time they want to, it's too late.

REFLECTING WHEN IT'S TOO LATE:

There are some people who only stop to think seriously about the things they've done until they're already in the middle of trouble. When Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of pottage, he said, “Look, I'm about to die. What good is my birthright to me?” (Gen. 25:32). However, after he sold it, “…he was desirous to inherit the blessing, and was rejected, and there was no opportunity for repentance, though he sought it with tears” (Heb. 12:17).

Judas said to the Jewish authorities regarding Christ: “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you? And they assigned him thirty pieces of silver” (Mt. 26:15). Yet he later exclaimed: “I have sinned in betraying innocent blood” (Mt. 27:4). If only they would think things through carefully before doing them!

SEEKING SALVATION WHEN IT IS TOO LATE:

Saul had been rejected by God because of his disobedience. Now he searched tirelessly, but it was too late: “Then Saul inquired of the Lord, and the Lord did not answer him, neither by a dream, nor by the Urim, nor by the prophets” (1 Sam. 28:6).

The five foolish virgins said to the bridegroom, “Lord, Lord, open the door to us!” (Mt. 25:11). He replied, “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you” (Mt. 25:12).

The closing of doors in the Bible serves as a powerful symbol of divine judgment, missed opportunities, spiritual separation, and God's sovereign will. These instances remind us of the importance of readiness, obedience, and trust in God's perfect timing and plans. It would be a tragedy if at the end of our lives the sad words spoken by Jeremiah were to be true of us, "The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved."