Just last night, I read an excerpt of a shmuez given by R’ Henoch Leibowitz, Shlita:
Noach was criticized for not having done enought to try and influence his dor about the pending diaster and the need to do teshuvah. Why, though, should Noach be faulted? The dor ha’mabul was the most corrupt ever, so much so, that Hashem deemed it necessary to wipe them out and start all over.
The answer is, while a person is still alive, THE TZELEM ELOKIM IN EACH PERSON can always be salvaged.
Never give up! (cleverjew, I hope you’re still checking back on this thread)