Last words are powerful and can have a deep impact. They have the opportunity to bring comfort and assurance, or they can bring fear and doubt.
How can we have some assurance about our eternal future in such an uncertain time?
Scripture for today: Luke 23:32-43One 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.
Jesus spoke some incredible words for assurance to the thief on the cross. How did this man have such a turn around?
“Don’t you fear God,” Something has happened in this man. Something has changed. He seems to be aware of God. “Don’t you fear God?” He seems to have the fear of God in him now.
“We are being punished justly.” He understands that he is guilty and being punished with crucifixion because he deserves it. He doesn’t blame anyone else, he know where his deeds have brought him.
He begins to wonder what his deeds have earned him in eternity. He knows he is not ready to face God.
“But this man has done nothing wrong.” We are criminals and we are receiving consequences for our crimes that we are guilty of, this man is innocent. Not just that he has “done nothing wrong.” Jesus was the only perfect person ever and the criminal recognizes this.
Verse 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” The man is ready for Jesus to become his king.
Are you certain or uncertain? If we want to be certain we need to:Realize we need saving
Nicodemus believed that he was born into the kingdom of God. But Jesus told him otherwise.
Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.
John 3:3
Recognize we cannot save ourselves.
Your “good deeds” will never be enough for God. You holding up your good works to God and saying look what I’ve done is like saying these are better than what Jesus did.
Respond to Jesus.
Respond to Jesus every day. Learn who He is, learn what He said, learn to recognize what he desires in your life, learn to tell others about Him, learn what He loves, learn what he hates, learn to love Him, learn to cherish what he has done for you. Learn what it means for him to be your king.
