Luke 23:42-43 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

I have always been taken by this simplest of confessions of faith, and the fact that this criminal was the first Christian in heaven as a result. There was absolutely no pretense here. After all, these men were nailed naked to crosses, so there was literally nothing to hide. The criminal had just acknowledged his own guilt, that he deserved nothing better than what he was getting, and then he asked Jesus for grace. I have no idea what he thought he might get, but his request was simply to be remembered. However, the fact that he spoke of Jesus’ kingdom, when Jesus was in the same physical situation that he was, testifies of a supernatural faith. From a humanistic standpoint, all he had reason to expect was that they would both rot in whatever graves they were given. Regardless, he spoke of being remembered from a position of kingly authority. That is faith! We can only speculate as to what and how he knew of Jesus, but that knowledge had obviously not been enough to keep him from a life of crime. So many people today know about Jesus, but it doesn’t make them turn from sin to follow Him in obedience. This criminal, at the last possible moment, threw himself on God’s mercy, and it was sufficient. That should be a huge comfort and encouragement to everyone who thinks about it. However, there are those who count on being able to make a “deathbed conversion.” That shows a fundamental misunderstanding of salvation and a love of sin, and that holds no hope at all. Every day spent in sin is a loss, and every day spent in obedience to and fellowship with Christ is gain.

I have had the privilege of baptizing a man in his late 80s, just days before he died, as well as baptizing a girl of five with a spiritual maturity far beyond her years. I rejoice at both, but I’m happier about the little girl. Incidentally, she is now a very active and dedicated disciple of Jesus Christ, over 10 years since her baptism. I quote the story of the criminal on the cross fairly often, to help people understand the transactional simplicity of salvation. It is also an illustration of the fact that genuine salvation often doesn’t change our physical circumstances at all; it simply changes our eternal destination. I deal with quite a few people who want salvation from their physical circumstances, sometimes to the point that it keeps them from understanding their spiritual need at all. It is a joy to be able to meet physical needs, but from the eternal perspective, the spiritual needs are infinitely greater. I need to keep praying for the Holy Spirit to open people’s hearts and minds to see themselves as God does, to repent of their sins and rejoice in His love and grace.

Father, thank You for arranging for that man’s salvation on the cross, and for having the event recorded. Thank You for the salvation that You provided for all mankind through Jesus’ cross, available to anyone who will repent and believe to receive it. Help me be increasingly effective in sharing the good news of that salvation, so that as many as possible may join me before Your throne, for Your pleasure and glory. Thank You. Praise God!