Reference for Berakhot 68:23

ורבי יוחנן אמר לך מאי רחוק שהיה רחוק מדבר עבירה מעיקרא ומאי קרוב שהיה קרוב לדבר עבירה ונתרחק ממנו השתא

What means "To him that is far off"? To him who was far off from transgression from the first ; and what means "To him that is near"? To him that was near transgression and has now removed himself therefrom.

Jastrow