The Savior’s Dying Promise

Then he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom. And Jesus said to him, Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.

Luke 23:42-43 

The Scripture declares, that during the days of His earthly ministry, Christ, ‘went about doing good.’ Even the most cursory perusal of the gospels confirm that this is so. From the turning of water into wine, to the personal encounter with Nicodemus, to the evangelization of the woman at the well, to the raising of Lazareth, to the healing of the man born blind, and a host of other acts the accounts of Christ’s well-doing are myriad. Even to the last hours of His earthly days, He continued to do good. He healed the severed ear of Malchus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He guaranteed the liberty of His disciples. He took care of His mother’s future from the cross. While on that cross, He performed another good work. The dying thief was in the pains of death. He rebuked the other thief for his insult of Christ. He then spoke to Christ the words of our text today, ‘Then he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’ Here was one who, at the last hour, repented and sought Christ. Christ answered graciously. ‘And Jesus said to him, Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’ So, Christ yet receives the last hour repentance and faith of the failing one. You may be such a One as the dying thief. Why should you not be as hopeful as he was? Repent and embrace the Christ Who saves to the last hour. He even now stands ready to forgive and to receive. 

Our Gracious God and Loving Savior, 
we rejoice that You forgive to the very last hour. 
We praise You, that where there is life, 
there is for us yet, the hope of repentance and faith.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning