Some of us carry something we think is too big to be forgiven. Something we did years ago, or last week. We may believe God could forgive other people, but not us. Not for that. The shame stays with us, even when nobody else knows.
The last conversation Jesus had before he died was with a man who had run out of chances.
Three crosses
Jesus was nailed to a cross outside Jerusalem. On each side of him was another man being executed. The Gospel of Luke, one of the four accounts of Jesus's life, calls them criminals.
One of them mocked Jesus. If you are the Christ, he said, save yourself and us.
But the other man told him to stop. We are getting what our deeds deserve, he said, but this man has done nothing wrong.
Remember me
Then he turned to Jesus.
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Luke 23:42-43 · King James VersionThe original Greek
καὶ ἔλεγεν· Ἰησοῦ, μνήσθητί μου ὅταν ἔλθῃς ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ σου. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ἀμήν σοι λέγω σήμερον μετʼ ἐμοῦ ἔσῃ ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ.
Found in Papyrus 75 (about AD 200), Codex Vaticanus (about AD 325), Codex Sinaiticus (about AD 350).
In the oldest copies the man says "Jesus, remember me," using his name. The word "Lord" appears in later copies.
In the oldest copies, he does not even say "Lord." He says "Jesus," by name, the way you would talk to a friend.
He did not have time to make things right. He could not pay anyone back, or go to the temple, or live a better life. He could only ask. And Jesus did not give him a list. He gave him a promise, for that very day.
What it means for you
This man is the clearest answer in the Bible to the question you are asking. If anyone was too far gone, it was him. His own words said he deserved his punishment. And Jesus still said, today, with me.
Forgiveness is not something you earn by making up for what you did. It is something you ask for. If you are carrying something heavy, you can say what that man said. "Jesus, remember me." He is listening. And there is still room for you.