He was dying. Everyone knew it. As he realized his days were ending only one thing was on his mind. One question permeated his thoughts: What do I need to do to be right with God?

After a heartfelt examination of the New Testament, he submitted to baptism for the remission of his sins. A few days later his body gave out and his spirit departed this realm, carried by the angels to Abraham’s side.

Though the majority of his life had been lived for other things, he came to the truth before it was too late.

These thoughts drew my mind to Manasseh. What a life he lived. Outside of king David, no other kings are as praised as Hezekiah and Josiah. None did so much good as Manasseh’s father and his grandson.

Yet Manasseh is a man who lived as wickedly as any king in Israel or Judah. He “did what was evil in the sight of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 33:2). He undid the good of his father, even building altars in the temple (2 Chronicles 33:5).

This wickedness culminated in him burning his sons as an “offering in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom” (2 Chronicles 33:6). He shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another” (2 Kings 21:16). His leadership was so toxic — so sinful — that the people followed him in doing “more evil than the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the people of Israel” (2 Chronicles 33:9).

God’s punishment was declared upon Jerusalem, “I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down” (2 Kings 21:13).

As part of this punishment, Manasseh was captured with hooks and taken bound to Babylon. It was here that Manasseh, in distress, entreated the favor of the LORD. He humbled himself greatly and prayed to the Almighty (2 Chronicles 33:11-13).

God brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and it was there that Manasseh used the remainder of his life to undo what he had done.

Manasseh “took away the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built on the mountain on the house of the LORD and in Jerusalem, and he threw them out of the city” (2 Chronicles 33:15).

There were things that Manasseh could not undo. His evil influence on the people was hard to shake. God’s punishment was still going to be carried out. His son Amon was very wicked.

But it was not too late for Manasseh to repent and to find reconciliation to the God he once mocked. God forgives completely if one humbly repents.

No matter how wicked one may be, no matter how long they rebel against God, while there is breath there is hope.

Two brief thoughts in conclusion:

• Praise God that he does not hold onto grudges like men! He does not wish “that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Manasseh would have received a “too little too late” answer from many people, but not from Jehovah.
• Perhaps you have a Manasseh in your life. Don’t give up on them. Pray for them, speak a good word for Jesus to them. God can forgive if their hearts will turn in humble obedience toward him.