Luke 23:39
By: Alexander Rico
“Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him saying, ‘If you are the Christ, save yourself and us.’ But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we are 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 23:29, NKJV)
You see it plastered all over the television. Contests, and other events tell you to issue your entry form before such a time and date. Store discounts, and sales are also very infamous for these types of slogans and announcements. I myself have had this information flash before me on several different occasions. Mainly on the Internet, and TV; however, as we can see by our passage today, there is no deadline for a person to accept Christ. There is no specific date, and time given when this opportunity will be gone.
Jesus here shows this to us in his dying moments there on the hill of Calvary, on a wooden cross, between two criminals. When he forgives one of them, and assures him of his salvation.
Does that mean that everyone should wait to accept Christ until his or her deathbeds, perhaps thirty or even forty years from now? No, of course not! We do not know the specific time and date of our own deaths. Lord forbid, you could be reading this, turn your back to the opportunity to accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, shut down your computer, and get into an accident this very day. Thus, ultimately selecting your future, and ending up in an eternity of suffering, and torment.
Over my years in the Lord, I have run across many people. Some of them have jumped immediately at the opportunity, and others have said, “There is always tomorrow…”
Sure, there may be, and there may not be. Who are we to make that decesion?
It really breaks my heart to see many turn away from God, all because they feel that they still have many more days to live out their lives the way they want to (i.e.: drinking, partying, doing drugs, hanging out with close friends, etc.), enjoying what they consider to be the high life, and on their deathbed decide to accept Christ.
It does not always work out that way.
Sure, there may not be a deadline when everyone can no longer have the gift of salvation, but why wait for it? On your birthdays, do you sit around and wait patiently to open your gifts? I hardly think so. I mean, on my birthdays, I am eagerly bouncing around, anxious to open the gifts my family and friends have given to me.
So, why wait?
Jesus gave us an awesome gift of life, and the life to come. Why place it aside any longer?
If you’d like to accept Christ today; then, all you have to do now is simply cry out to him, and ask him to come and be the LORD of your life.
The Bible tells us in Romans 10:9,10, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart, God raised him from the dead, you will be saved!! For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved!!”
So, what are you waiting for? By all means, please join me in this simple word of prayer asking Jesus into your heart, mind, and soul.
“Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner, I take this time to confess all my sins to you, and ask for your forgiveness. Please come into my heart, my mind, and my soul. Lord, take complete control, and be the LORD of my life. In your son’s precious holy name, AMEN.”
If you prayed that prayer along with me, I’d like to announce that today, the moment you prayed that prayer accepting Christ into your life the Bible says,“…there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner represents.” (Luke 15:10)
Just like that, you are forgiven, and adopted into God’s family, no questions asked, no strings attached; although, there are several things that you should do to continue to grow in a relationship with God.
- Read the Bible This is God’s love letter to you. It also provides us with a foundation for relationships with others, and tells us about attitudes, motivation and truth. It is important to know, and enlist the principles in the Bible into your life; they keep you on the right way and allow us to make sound judgments concerning people and doctrine.
- Pray In any relationship communication is important, priority factor. God desires to communicate with each of us. Prayer is not just a forum for requests. God wants to hear our feelings, hurts, ambitions and joys. Through this he is able to change and refine those parts of us that need it.
- Have Fellowship Get plugged into a church or local group that studies the bible. As we begin to share with others what we have learned from the Bible and prayer, we encourage others to grow and ourselves. Fellowship as God planned it is not a clicke or special club designed for gossip. We must be careful to keep our conversations with others honest. It’s best described as a fire. One coal alone dies down quickly, but a mound of coals burn white hot, just as one Christian alone will struggle to stay ‘on fire’, while a group together keeps each other hot.
- Witness “Go into the world and preach the good news to all creation.” (Mark 16:15). Jesus gave this as a command, not an option. God has chosen all Christians to be agents of His gospel. We are either missionaries or mission fields. That does not mean that everyone should travel to different countries, but it does mean that no matter where go we should be prepared in life and in word to be ambassadors for Christ. “Pray for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given to me so I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.” (Ephesians 6:9)
May God continue to bless you now, as you grow in your new life with HIM!
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