It's Never Too Late

Lately I've thought a lot about the thief on the cross.

He was a condemned criminal, being executed right next to the sinless savior of the world.

According to Mark 15:25, Jesus was crucified at the 3rd hour (9 a.m. Jerusalem time). The chief priests and scribes were mocking him while he hung on the cross, and Mark 15:32b tells us that "Those who were crucified with him also reviled him."

But somewhere along the way, one of the thieves had a change of heart. Perhaps he saw something in the demeanor of Jesus that impressed him. No doubt he was moved when he heard Jesus say, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)

Maybe the Holy Spirit simply touched his heart and opened his eyes to what was really happening around him.

At any rate, he stopped harassing Jesus, and came to his defense.

Luke 23:39-43 reads, "One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he (Jesus) said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

By a simple act of faith and submission, a man who had squandered his life in crime, resulting in his execution, was ushered into eternal life by the King of kings.

The thief had never been to church, never read a Bible, never tithed, never went on a missions trip. He didn't know any doctrine, didn't make any pledges, didn't try to justify or excuse his behavior.

But he did the one thing he really needed to do. He came to Jesus in humble faith, and Jesus washed away his sins. That day he did join Jesus in paradise.

His eternal destiny did not depend on what he knew, it depended on who he knew.

I recently visited an elderly relative, who is on the brink of death. We've talked a lot over the years about God and life. He has spent his whole life, like so many other people, pushing God away and living for himself.

Now he fears it may be too late for him. He has a hard time imagining that God could forgive him. He is trying hard to understand how this could be.

I left him with these final words. "Uncle, it all boils down to this. All God really wants to hear from you is three things: I'm sorry...you're the boss...I give up."

Just ask the thief on the cross.