“TODAY!”

Luke 23:39-43                              (ESV)

“39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at HIM, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save YOURSELF and us!"

40 But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear GOD, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?

41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the DUE REWARD of our deeds; but THIS MAN has done nothing wrong."

42 And he said, "JESUS, remember me when YOU come into YOUR kingdom."

43 And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, “TODAY” you will be with ME in paradise."”

Recently my thoughts have been on whether we will have to give “an account” (Romans 14:12) before a HOLY GOD on Judgement Day.   Scripture teaches us that “our sins HE will remember no more” (Hebrews 8:12), so how can we get around Romans 14:12?  

GODs Grace is such an AMAZING thing that we can’t just ignore it because we don’t understand why it exists!  I don’t pretend to have all the answers to any question that “this world” can dream up regarding the magnificence of THE SALVATION PLAN.  What I do know is that JESUS told the thief hanging on a cross next to HIM that “TODAY” you will be with ME in paradise!   

This man didn’t have to walk down the aisle at church, he didn’t have to have his name on a church membership roll, he didn’t have to tithe or give alms to the poor!  He only had to humble himself and BEG ALMIGHTY GOD for mercy and he was granted forgiveness!  

We can prognosticate and speculate for our remaining days on the earth about the intricacies of how GOD will dispense HIS Grace and join the one thief who left “this world” without acknowledging WHO JESUS is.   Or we can join the forgiven one who JESUS said “TODAY” you will be with ME in paradise!  It is that simple!!!!