"And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43)
How awesome it was for this man to hear these words from Jesus! Here is Christ hanging on the cross, struggling for every breath - let alone every word - and He takes the time to hear this man's confession and respond. Hallelujah!
Jesus devoted His life and ministry to revealing to us the heart of the Father in heaven. Think about what He said: I only do what I hear my Father speak and the words I speak are not my own, but those of my Father Who is in heaven. The Bible tells us that Jesus went about doing good, healing, and teaching. First, though, was doing good.
Our world has become so crazy and frantic that we don't take the time to do good to each other. And it's been awhile since I've seen someone healed (although I know it happens all the time). We as the modern day church have totally skipped those first two and went straight for the teaching part. In our earthiness we have grown to believe you can give someone enough information that they will naturally just switch sides. I don't even read most Facebook or other social media comments on posts because they always seem to degrade into arguing about stuff - usually things that don't even pertain to the original post! And let's face it, our lives have become so busy we don't have time to slow down or stop and do good for others. We will donate to a non-profit (maybe) and let THEM do it, but we just don't have time or the inclination. We don't want to.
Yet here is our dying Savior listening to one last person confess his belief in Who Christ Is and then rewarding him with salvation and eternity with Him. Wow! Of the last precious breaths Jesus drew in His natural, earthly body, one of those was offered to a career criminal. Many of my brothers and sisters in Christ bristle at the thought that this man received this free gift from God at the last moment of his life. How sad that we have become so hardened.
And what about the soldier standing at the foot of the cross who, when Christ gave up His Spirit, declared, "Truly this was the Son of God"? What's going to happen when you meet him in heaven? Or how about Cain (back in Genesis - the one who killed his brother, Abel)? If you go back and read that account, his confession was, "God, your punishment is more than I can bear." In response to that, God placed His mark on Cain's forehead as a warning to anyone who would do him harm that he was protected by God Himself!
I have heard it said that we will be surprised when we get to heaven and see who all made it. I have also heard it said that when we get to heaven there will be many who can't believe WE made it. Lastly, I have heard some say that when they reach heaven they are going to be so surprised (and happy) that they made it, they aren't going to have time to look around in shock and surprise. I fall into that last group. I am confident enough in the loving grace and forgiveness of God that I know I will be there, yet I am also painfully aware of how unworthy I have been before Christ.
Today I challenge you to purposely slow down long enough to look around, find someone who is struggling, and do good to them. Not just for them, but to them. That makes it personal. And that is the first step in reaching others for Christ.
Be blessed.
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