Good Morning Friends,
"One of the criminals who hung there
hurled insults at him: 'Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!' But the
other criminal rebuked him. 'Don't you fear God,' he said, 'since you are under
the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds
deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.' Then he said, 'Jesus, remember
me when you come into your kingdom.' Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth,
today you will be with me in paradise.'" (Luke 23:39-43)
I'm amazed at how two people can respond so
differently to Jesus. Both thieves were in the same situation, they were being
executed. They would soon be facing God. Yet, even in that kind of dire
situation they responded differently to Jesus. One mocked Jesus. The other
turned to Jesus for help.
The thieves provide an illustration of two
different responses to Jesus that are still seen among people today. There are
those in dire situations, who deeply need help, yet who hurl insults at Jesus instead
of asking Him for help. They refuse to admit their need. They refuse to
acknowledge that God might be able to help them. And there are others who see
in Jesus the only One who can help them and turn to Him for mercy.
What these two thieves had to offer God was the
same. Both of them had absolutely nothing to offer God. The spiritual condition
of the two thieves was also the same. Both were convicted criminals, obvious
sinners who deserved punishment by man and condemnation by God. Yet, one left
this world to face what he deserved from God. The other left this world with
the promise of paradise awaiting him. The only difference between the two is
that one turned away from Jesus and the other turned toward Him.
Ultimately, our eternal destiny hangs on the
same choice. Turn away from Jesus and we face the eternity we deserve. Simply
turn toward Him and paradise awaits us, too.
His, by Grace, Steve
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