“And it's too late, baby now, it's too late,
Though we really did try to make it.
Somethin' inside has died, and I can't hide,
And I just can't fake it, oh, no, no”

Carole King’s 1971 song ‘It’s Too Late” hit number one on the charts partially because of the sheer beauty of her voice, but also partially due to the haunting lyrics. It tells the story of a once promising relationship that had died a quiet death, and could not be brought back to life. Many in the decade of the 1970s gave it political meaning as a symbol for the death of their hope for positive political and social change with the assassinations of the Kennedy brothers and Martin Luther King.

On a far grander scale the song is a symbolic anthem for the relationship of God to His people when they turn their backs on Him and bring judgment on themselves. Particularly haunting is the story of Ahab who, as king of Israel, had so many opportunities to honor God, but constantly turned away to his own desires. Time after time God sent prophets to call him to obedience, but every time his response was anger and resentment at God. Well, almost every time.

First was Elijah and the drought when Ahab called Elijah the “troubler of Israel” (1 Kings 17 & 18). Then God rescued Israel from a huge army, but Ahab refused to obey God in judgment on the Syrian King. When rebuked by an unnamed prophet he went home “sullen and vexed” (1 Kings 20:43). Later, after he had taken Naboth’s vineyard through Jezebel’s despicable plot, he was confronted by Elijah and accused of murder. For the first time it seems he actually showed a morsel of remorse so God relented on the judgment on his family, for a little while. It was still coming, but not until after Ahab’s death (1 Kings 21:20-29). Despite that little bit of repentance it was too late for Ahab. He just couldn’t fake a deep, heart felt, interest in serving God, and went to battle against Syria in open defiance of God’s warning. He tried to hide, but eventually died (1 Kings 22:34-40; 2 Chronicles 18:28-34).

It’s not too late for you no matter where you are in life, even if you’ve lived in defiance of God’s will. Whether steeped in a life of sin, or stewing on a pseudo-Christian pew, Christ calls out to you. And it’s only too late if you choose to remain defiant. He is calling. Will you come?