“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? 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, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39–43
I read a quote this weekend and thought this Monday morning might be a good time to share it with you. “Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. Your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace.” In the news from Haiti yesterday it was reported that Kenya was sending a preliminary force of Police officers to formulate a plan of action to deal with the gang violence in Haiti. To the gang leaders, that news was a bad day in their lives. Perhaps the coming large force of Kenyan police will be the beginning of their repenting and seeking God’s grace.
In the above verses from Luke, there were two thieves hanging on their cross; one on each side of Jesus. Take a moment to apply that quote to each of them. That had to be the worst day in their life and next to them was Grace. Their names aren’t recorded in the Bible. Just two thieves; left and right. They both, like each of us and this Haitian child need Grace. The repentant thief was able to observe everything that happened when Jesus was on the cross, including His cry: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”. Both thieves had to have heard those words and must have asked themselves why He was ready to forgive the man who drove the spikes into His hands and feet, maybe He was ready to forgive me too.
One thief kept hurling insults at Jesus, going along with the crowd. And the other thief said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”. The Holy Spirit came knocking on his door. The thief believed that Jesus was a king with a real kingdom. The thief believed that this king was more than an earthly king, He was a Savior King able to take him to His heavenly kingdom.
Jesus answered the repentant thief with the most hopeful words possible: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise”. A common thief who woke up in the morning on his way to hell had his eternal destiny changed with a simple plea to the Savior. “Jesus, remember me.”
The experience of the repentant thief is a perfect illustration for you, me and this Haitian child of the Biblical truth that salvation is a gift of God’s Grace that we receive through faith and not by works. What about the un-repentant thief? When the three lifeless bodies were being removed from their crosses it would seem from all outward appearances that one thief went to Paradise and the other didn’t. Ultimately, this story means there is Hope for all of us. The repentant thief believed in Jesus Christ in his last minutes and he found Grace in his final moments on that cross on Calvary. The other thief who heard what the King said to his cohort didn’t believe it. There are more like him who need to hear that same message; that is our job…plant the seeds of truth and ask the Holy Spirit to unharden their heart.
After reading the verses from the Gospel of Luke and sharing of my thoughts I heard the hymn ‘How shall they hear’ sung while worshipping online with Christ Lincoln recently. The words were written by Timothy Dudley-Smith and really brought home the importance of bringing the message of Hope to souls like the ‘other’ thief who appear along our journey on this side of Paradise.
“How shall they hear,” who have not heard news of a Lord who loved and came, nor known his reconciling word, nor learned to trust a Savior’s name? “To all the world,” to ev’ry place, neighbors and friends and far-off lands, preach the good news of saving grace; go while the great commission stands. “Whom shall I send?” Who hears the call, constant in prayer, through toil and pain, telling of One who died for all, to bring a lost world home again? “Lord, here am I: ”your fire impart to this poor, cold, self-centered soul; touch but my lips, my hands, my heart, and make a world for Christ my goal. Spirit of love, within us move: Spirit of truth, in pow’r come down! So shall they hear and find and prove Christ is their life, their joy, their crown.”
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay