Q: If I sin willfully for a long period after receiving knowledge of the truth, but after that period strive to stay away from sin for the rest of my life, will I be saved? – T.D.
Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC:
A: God is always willing to forgive a repentant sinner, even one who has sinned grievously for a long time.
We can think of the so-called good thief who was crucified on Calvary.
In his final moments he showed a spirit of repentance and of trust in Jesus. Our Lord’s reassuring answer: “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).
That said, a person would want to avoid the dangerous trap of presumption.
If someone thinks he could lead a life of sin now and count on the grace to convert later, he is risking his eternal salvation.
God won’t be played like a fool. If a person decides to pursue a lengthy period of sin, Our Lord might leave him to stew in his juices. The grace of conversion is a gift, not a right.
So, it wouldn’t be wise for someone to presume that that grace will arrive in time to keep him from eternal loss.
People tend to die as they live. And then they deal with the consequences of their decisions for eternity.
If people want to reach heaven, the time to start living an upright life is now. We never know when Our Lord will call us from this world.
