Colossians 2:13 - 15

Glyn Barrett

If I was the devil .
Day 3

I'd make you think.it's too late

As a Youth Pastor, I have seen young people stand and make the most fantastic decision they could ever make - 'to follow God and do anything He asks them to do!' But then something happens. Somewhere along the line, that incredible young person, with an awesome future in God, makes a mistake! Maybe you are that young person - and you are saying right now - "HEY, I have made a mistake - in fact - loads of them!"

Maybe you got involved with the wrong crowd. Maybe you've been doing stuff or watching stuff you shouldn't have. Maybe you said something, maybe.... there are 100's of maybes!

IF I WAS THE DEVIL, I would be whispering in your ear

" ...it's too late!!"

Listen to what Colossians says about what Jesus did when He died on the cross.

"When you were dead in your sins..God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us ALL our sins.He took it away, nailing it to the cross." (It's about to get better - tell the devil this one - he hates it) "..and having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them" (in other words, as my friends in East London would say, "He was avin a larf!" - in their face) ".triumphing over them on the cross!!" (Colossians 2:13 - 15)

What does that mean? It means 'It's not too late!' Can we have a relationship with God? YES. Can He forgive us? YES. Can we live for God again? ABSOLUTELY! Will the devil tell you it's too late? PROBABLY! Is it? NO! Can we stand before God again and pray that awesome prayer, "Here I am God. I am prepared to do anything for you!" TOTALLY! In fact, right now, where you are, if you have felt like it's too late, you can let God give you a new start.

Here are two practical ways God can help into you build the mindset that says- 'it's not too late!'

1. Make the decision to start again

Right where you are, you can make the decision to start again. Listen to what 2 Corinthians 5:17 says,

".if anyone is in Christ (A Christian) he is a new creation; the old has gone and the new has come!"
God gives you the right and the power to start again. You can wake up in the morning and begin to live with a sense of 'newness' about you. He gives you the ability to make that decision

2. Remember the first time.

In Jeremiah 7:12, God says, "Go now to the place where I first made a name for myself in your life."

Remember in your life, the time when you first had an encounter with God? Maybe it
was in church, or at youth group, or at a youth camp. Remember what He did, what He said and how it changed your life!

I go back in my mind to those times when God first began to stamp his presence and power in my life. I even begin to sing some of the worship songs I used to sing back then as I 'remember' the time when God 'first made a name for Himself in my life'. As I do that, the focus comes off me. I stop thinking about me and my problems and I am directed more onto Him. In the place of worship, I begin to encounter God again in a fresh way.

PRAYER: "God, I realise it's not too late. I thought it was. I believed the lie, but thank you that despite the fact that I make mistakes again and again, you always have a plan to turn it around. I'll do my best to live for you, but when I make mistakes, thank you that you forgive me and help me move on. Help me to really receive and take on board your forgiveness. Amen.

Devotion extract taken from the book, "If I was the Devil". Written by Glyn Barrett. Published by Sovereign World, ISBN 1852404035. £4.99