Never Too Late For Teshuvah
My rosh hayeshiva, zt’l, would often quote the following Gemara in Menachos (a partial paraphrase based on various commentaries): Rebbe Yitzchak said, “At the time when the Beis HaMikdash was destroyed, Hashem found Avraham Avinu standing in the Beis HaMikdash. Hashem inquired, “What is my beloved doing in my Temple?” Avraham answered, “I have come on account of my children.” Hashem said, “Your children sinned and were exiled.” Avraham then attempted to defend Klal Yisrael. “Perhaps they only sinned accidentally?” Hashem then replied that Klal Yisrael sinned deliberately. Avraham persisted, “Perhaps only a minority of them sinned?” Hashem countered that the majority of Klal Yisrael sinned. Avraham then claimed that even with all the sinful behavior, their observance of the mitzvah of circumcision should have saved them from being exiled. Hashem replied that they abandoned that mitzvah as well. Avraham, still attempting to be an advocate for Klal Yisrael, said, “Perhaps if you would wait for them they would repent.” Hashem replied that even potential opportunities for repentance were used instead for sinning. Whereupon Avraham put his hands on his head and said, “Heaven forbid, is there no possibility of repentance for them?” Hashem replied, “Klal Yisrael is like a leafy olive tree. Just as an olive tree takes a long time to bear fruit after it has been planted, Klal Yisrael can and will repent, though it will take time.”