It’s never too late to rectify mistakes
Q: I stole some money from my employer (a doctor) 40 years ago and feel very guilty. I’d pay it back, but neither he nor his medical practice is still around. What would God want me to do? — M.B.
A: When we do something wrong, God wants us to do everything possible to make it right. Do you remember Jesus’ encounter with a man named Zacchaeus? Zacchaeus was a tax collector for the Roman government, and he had cheated countless people over the years by telling them they owed more money than they actually did — then keeping some for himself. After he met Jesus, he renounced his crooked ways, declaring, “If I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount” (Luke 19:8).
Seek God’s forgiveness for all your sins. When Jesus Christ went to the cross, all our sins were placed on him, and he took the judgment that we deserve. Accept his gift of forgiveness today.
Do what you can to bring good from your wrongdoing. You can not repay your employer, but you can make a generous gift to your church or an organization involved in medical work. The Bible says, “the restitution belongs to the Lord” (Numbers 5:8).