Today you will be with me in Paradise!

Nehemiah 3; Nehemiah 4; Luke 23
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Scripture

Luke 23

32 Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33 When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left.

34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.

35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37 They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 A sign was fastened to the cross above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”

39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”

40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

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

Observation

Paradise … Where do you think Paradise will be? I know the answer. Where ever Jesus is that is where paradise is!

Why did this criminal get to go to paradise and the other criminal on the other side of Christ obviously did not? What was the difference? What happened? What needs to happen in your heart for you to be able to go to paradise? Let’s look at the thief’s response to the other thief’s words about Jesus.

First he asks the other thief, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” This thief realized that he was nailed to a cross next to the Messiah. He realized that he was sinful and deserved death. Then he called out to Jesus for forgiveness.

This thief did just what you and I must do to be saved. We must admit that we are sinners. We must believe that Jesus can save us. And we must ask Him to save us from our sins.

It doesn’t matter to me where paradise is located. It could be here or on a new earth; it could be anywhere and I don’t really care. As long as I am with Jesus it will be paradise. It will be better than we can even imagine or think and that is one thing that I know for certain.

Application

Most people will not get the opportunity that this thief received to accept Christ at the time of death. The time is now to preach the Word. I will look for every opportunity to share Christ.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me share with everyone the Good News of Jesus. I pray for folks that are struggling with sin. I pray that they will turn to Jesus and I pray that they will turn away from sin.

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