Late

Luke 19:41-48 (The Message)

41-44 When the city came into view, he wept over it.

"If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you!

But now it's too late.

In the days ahead your enemies are going to bring up their heavy artillery and surround you, pressing in from every side. They'll smash you and your babies on the pavement. Not one stone will be left intact.

All this because you didn't recognize and welcome God's personal visit."

45-46 Going into the Temple he began to throw out everyone who had set up shop, selling everything and anything.

He said, "It's written in Scripture,

My house is a house of prayer;
You have turned it into a religious bazaar."

47-48 From then on he taught each day in the Temple.

The high priests, religion scholars, and the leaders of the people were trying their best to find a way to get rid of him.

But with the people hanging on every word he spoke, they couldn't come up with anything.

In my thinking this passage represents some of the most heart-breaking words that Jesus ever says in the Gospels.

But even though they're heart-breaking, he still says them.

"It's too late."

That's not something I ever want to hear him say.

"Too late" is a truly crushing situation.

Did you ever turn in an assignment after the deadline, hoping that the professor could somehow extend you some grace, and maybe just take a little off the grade?

Did you ever hear that teacher say, "no, it's too late...I can't accept that assignment now."

Or did you ever need someone, or something...only to have it arrive after the moment had passed?

"Too late." If it's really "too late," there's nothing you can do to change it. It hurts.

We really, really like to live with the idea that it will never be too late.

We tend to always put off until tomorrow. And then the tomorrow after that.

But here in this scripture we hear Jesus saying that it's too late for Jerusalem. He predicts the complete destruction of the temple (which happened only a few decades after his crucifixion).

The moment was passing. Why?

"All this because you didn't recognize and welcome God's personal visit."

What about us? Is it possible that even though God may give us many, many days, one day it could be too late?

We can do something right now. We can welcome God's personal visit. Let's do it...while it's today...right now...

Prayer: Father, we pray that we might learn the lesson of Jesus in Jerusalem. May we open our hearts completely...right now...and may the terrible possibility of too late give us the urgency that grow our hearts toward you.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.