Walking in the Word with Pastor David Henry

March 17, 2008

The Opportunity of a Lifetime

Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “if you are the Christ, save yourself and us.”

But the other rebuked him, saying, “do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.”

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 –

Luke tells us this incident of what happened while Jesus was on the cross. One of the criminals ridiculed Jesus in an attempt to be set free. The other admitted his own guilt and asked Jesus to remember him when he enters his Kingdom in heaven. The prisoner was looking forward to being with Jesus some day in the distant future, if his request was granted. Jesus said to him: you will be with me in paradise today! Wow! What an opportunity.

Luke’s account is the story of opportunity that is lost and opportunity that is seized. Two men had equal opportunity to enter paradise; two men had equal access to Jesus; two men had a choice between being in the presence of God eternally or experiencing eternal torment away from God. How sad that a person would come so close to Jesus and still be so far way. But one of them took the opportunity of a lifetime

This account by Luke reminds us that God hears and responds to our call, even in the hour of our greatest need. No person is too sinful that God will not save. He that comes to me, Jesus says, I will never turn away (John 6:37). God is merciful, loving and kind. He is able to save to the uttermost. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9).

Making the most of every moment,

Pastor David Henry

© 2008 Calvary Baptist Church Shawnee

www.calvaryshawnee.com

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