Repentance: When is it too late?

I was writing an email to my brother and was talking about how it feels good when you see people make good decisions, but sad when you see them choose not to.  Another way to put this is the feeling parents have while watching their kids grow up, or as I've experienced being an educator and seeing some students choose to succeed while others choose not to.  Anyway, I mentioned the sad part to him, but to be hopeful I started monologuing about how "there's always an opportunity for them to choose in the future."  That phrase got me thinking, how much time do we/others actually have to repent?

Putting any specific religion aside, I think we all hope that there is salvation for us, or if you prefer to think we're all doomed, I respect that; to each their own.  But for those of us "glass half-full-ers" I'm sincerely curious about this idea of repentance and when God, as the mediator of our life-test, says "Okay, time is up.  Stop praying, put your scriptures down, and wait for your test to be graded."

I expect that the opinions on this topic are many and varied.  Maybe we only have while we're here on earth to repent; maybe we have until the millenium; maybe we have 5 years after we die.  I don't know!  Trying to figure that mystery out just seems confusing.  So let's go to basics.  Scriptures say God is the same yesterday, today, and forever; that God is merciful; that even he follows rules of justice (hence the need for an atonement and a savior, someone to give his life for his friends).

Here's what I choose to think.  Knowing that God is merciful, that he cares about us, that he has indeed provided an atonement through his son Jesus Christ, I'd like to think that if a person is willing to confess and forsake their sins, and seek God, then they will be forgiven.  When can they not do that anymore?  Honestly, I don't think there is a limit.  "But Frans, what you just said means that we can do whatever we want and then repent of it later.  That can't be fair/true."

You're completely right, but here is the kicker.  My personal opinion is this, someone that truly chooses to be wicked will NOT choose to repent.  It wouldn't be what they really want.  For example let's say someone really wicked is admitted into heaven,  "What in the world are they doing there?" you think, but the people in heaven aren't worried.  Why?  Because sooner or later this person will either choose good (we can hope) or they will feel SO uncomfortable being around truly good people that they will leave and go to where they are comfortable, a place with a warmer atmosphere, and not the cuddly welcoming warm.

I mean, from an LDS view, we do ordinances for the dead, believing that this gives these people the opportunity to choose good; they are not forced but can choose to accept or reject the ordinance.  Why would we do this unless we believe there is always an opportunity to choose good?  So those are my thoughts about time for repentance, that there is always an opportunity open, it just depends on the individual.

If you have thoughts please share.  But I kind of feel like this is one of those potentially heated topics, where opinions vary and feelings may be hurt, so I ask that if you comment to be respectful.  Thanks! :)