Saturday, May 17, 2014
Two men were crucified at the same time as Jesus, one on his right hand and one on his left. Luke 23: 39-43 gives us this account: 39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 “And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”
This narrative is very touching, even as Jesus Christ is suffering the excruciating and torturous pain of being nailed to the cross and mocked; He saves! He still hears the passionate pleas of a criminal and shows His love and compassion for him. Jesus was not concerned about the crime the criminal committed, He didn’t ask him what He stole or whether He killed anyone, but He told the rogue that he would be with Him in paradise and on the very day he promised Him heaven. 
Imagine, we as Christians have a smug attitude toward criminals. It’s called self-righteousness; If it were up to us all criminals would be denied access to heaven. As an intercessor for women on death row, many people ask me about the crimes the women committed and I remind them that my assignment is only to pray. I wonder why it is important to know what someone did since Jesus never required it? The repentance of the thief on the cross is a fantabulous story; it shows us that conversions can happen at the end of one’s life; that even the vilest criminals will be accepted by God if they come to Him; that no more than a request for salvation made in faith is required by God.
What we learn from the saved thief on the cross is that we are all sinners standing in need of a Savior, and no matter the number of our sins and no matter if we, or the world, think our sins are trivial or extreme, all sin is sin and it is never too late to repent because the gift of salvation is Free. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Revelation 22:17)
Praying Without Ceasing 