Better Late Than Never - A Devotional By LeBron Keener

The old saying goes, "Better late than never."

(While not a Bible verse, this saying aligns with themes of grace, redemption, and second chances seen throughout Scripture.)

Marcus was the kind of man who always said, “I’ll get to it tomorrow.” He said it about calling his mom, about fixing his porch light, and even about going back to church.

Years had slipped by that way - little delays that turned into decades. He’d grown up in church but drifted as work, weekends, and life got busy.

Now, at 68, Marcus sat alone on his porch, watching the neighborhood kids play ball. He wasn’t in bad health, but he could feel the weight of time - regret creeping in like a cold breeze.

One afternoon, his neighbor’s son, Jake, wandered over. The boy sat beside Marcus with a Bible in his lap.

“You ever read this?” Jake asked.

Marcus chuckled. “Used to. Long time ago.”

Jake smiled. “You should again. It’s got some good stuff in it.”

That night, Marcus dusted off the old Bible on his bookshelf. It fell open to a parable, the story of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16). In it, Jesus tells of men who came to work early in the day, some at noon, and some just before quitting time, yet they all received the same reward.

Marcus read the passage three times. It was as if God whispered, “It’s not too late.”

The next Sunday, Marcus walked into church for the first time in 30 years. The hymns stirred memories. The sermon spoke directly to his soul. And when the invitation came to give his heart back to Jesus, Marcus didn’t wait.

He didn’t need a new calendar, a younger body, or a perfect past. He just needed to come.

“Better late than never” is more than a cliché. It’s a glimpse of God’s heart. Scripture reminds us that God is not bound by our clocks or calendars. The thief on the cross came to faith in his final hours, and Jesus said, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

Don’t let regret keep you from returning to God. Whether you’re 18 or 88, it’s never too late to come home.

Prayer:

"Lord, thank You for Your patience. Thank You that Your grace is still extended no matter how far or how long we’ve wandered. Help me to respond today—not tomorrow—to Your invitation. Amen."