Too Late to Change?

For those of us who might be asking at this time of our lives, "Is it too late or can I still change?  Can I undo patterns that have dominated me most of my life, for example, my inbred pessimism or self-doubt?"  A look at the story of Zacchaeus in Luke19: 1-10) demonstrates that it's never too late.  Zacchaeus, although a son of Abraham, was well established as a despised tax collector, indeed, the chief tax collector and a man of wealth as a result of taking money for himself from the taxpayers. Hearing that Jesus was coming to Jericho, a desire to see him, perhaps at first from curiosity, led to something deeper.  So much did this desire grow, that he had to run ahead of the crowd and like a child, climb a sycamore tree to see him, for Luke tells us that he was short in stature. Then the turning point, he hears Jesus tell him to come down for he MUST stay with him at his house.  As Zacchaeus longed to see Jesus, he learns that Jesus longed to see him!  Confrontation from the murmuring crowd about a sinner welcoming the revered Jesus, moves Zacchaeus to promise to take drastic action: to give half his possessions to the poor and to pay those he cheated four times the amount.  What a change, and reinforced by the assurance from Jesus: "Today, salvation has come to this house." (Lk 19: 10).  How assuring for us who are asking the above questions:  seek him and you will find a Jesus who is seeking you.  With him as the focus of our desire to change, "salvation" (Jesus) will come to our house.
Bro. Rene