Never Too Far Gone

Have you ever done something so wrong that you feel like there is no turning back? Have you drifted so far from God that it feels impossible to experience intimacy with Him again? Have you ever fallen into the same sinful behaviour so many times that you feel that you are beyond redemption? The people of Judah may have felt the same when they experienced the Babylonians coming in full force to attack and destroy them. It’s over. We will be totally wiped out. We are beyond rescue.

Earlier in Jeremiah 32, we saw how God pronounced His wrath and judgement on Judah. Here, God’s answer turns to His promise of restoration for the future. While Judah had to suffer the consequences of her disobedience and be driven out of her land, God will eventually bring them back home from exile. God reassures His people that He has not rejected them completely. In fact, He still had a glorious future in store for them.

As much as God was pained by Judah’s unfaithfulness and the need to exact judgement on them, His promise of restoration shows forth His determination to initiate reconciliation and redemption for His people. Just as a loving father would graciously re-embrace his son even after disciplining him, our loving Heavenly Father longs to restore us when we choose to turn to Him in repentance. As long as we confess our sins, He who is faithful and just will forgive us and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

John Newton, the author of the hymn “Amazing Grace” was a wild-living sailor and slave-trader before he came to salvation in Christ. In his later years, he said “My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Saviour.”

Today, you may feel so far from God that you honestly do not know if it is possible to draw near to Him again. Perhaps you are struggling so hard with the same sin and feeling hopeless and discouraged. No matter your situation, take heart that God is ever ready to restore us when we choose to humbly turn back to Him. You are never too far gone. The Almighty God’s arms are not too short to save and His mercies are new every morning.

"God, restore us so that we may turn back to You. Help me truly experience that amazing grace that You have shown us through Jesus on the cross."