PARADISE: A MOMENT OF COMPASSION

 

PARADISE: A MOMENT OF COMPASSION

Luke 23:43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” NLT

There were two thieves on the cross. One thief turned to Jesus and found help and hope in the hour of his greatest need. The other thief did not, and as far as we know, ended up in a godless eternity.

The thief that turned to Jesus turned to Him and asked Him to not forget him. He didn’t have time to jump through the hoops we normally would say are essential for entrance into heaven. All he could do was cry out to the Lord, and Jesus answered his heart’s cry. He was given the promise that he would be with Jesus in paradise that very day.

There are a couple of important observations that we need to make. One is that being saved does not necessarily save us from the consequences of our sins. The thief was still on the cross, and he wasn’t going to come down until he was dead. The Lord does not always remove us from paying the price for what we have done, even though He forgives us. We may have physical suffering. We may have to suffer at the hands of the judicial system. We may have to live with broken marriages, estranged children, loss of home and finances. Broken relationships may never be mended. Etc.

Even though we may make a real mess of our lives and things may be irreparable on earth, it does not have to be the end of the story. Jesus forgives sin and gives us in its place peace, joy, hope, a life worth living for, and a life worth dying for.

Jesus loves us. He came to give us eternal life in the presence of God. He came to make us new people, a people belonging to God, a holy people acceptable to God. He came to cancel our sin debt and set us free to live eternally without sin and its consequences. The love of Jesus for us cost Him everything, but it costs us nothing. All we have to do is accept Him as our Savior and let Him take control of our living.

If you have never accepted Jesus as your Savior, as the forgiver of your sins, now is the time. Don’t put it off and take the chance of your entering into eternity without Him. “If you confess your sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive you of your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9