Can a Lifetime of Sinning be Forgiven by Deathbed Contrition?

---By Billy Graham

Q: My cousin has gone off the deep end and is living like the devil right now. He says it doesn't matter, because before he dies he's going to ask God to forgive him, and God will, because (according to him) that's what God has promised to do. Is he right? -- B.N. 

A: No, your cousin is not right. God has only promised to forgive us when we repent of our sinful ways. But repentance means to be sincerely sorry for our sins and to turn away from them -- and from what you say, this isn't what he wants to do, either now or later. 

Does this mean God can't forgive someone who turns in faith to Christ at the last minute? No, not at all. One of the criminals who was crucified with Jesus turned to Him in faith, and as a result received His promise of salvation: "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). But this man knew he was a sinner, and he was sincerely sorry for his sins (as the previous verses demonstrate). 

Your cousin is in a very dangerous position spiritually. Not only is he deceiving himself about God's mercy and grace but he is deceiving himself about his future. How does he know he won't die suddenly, with no opportunity to turn to God? How does he know his heart won't grow colder and colder toward God as the years go by -- which often happens? 

Pray for your cousin, and urge him to face the emptiness and hopelessness of his life. Make sure, too, of your own relationship to Christ. The Bible says, "Now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2). 

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