Paradise promised instead of hell!
Luke 23:43-Jesus said to him, “Amen I tell you: Today you will be with me in paradise.”
There are reports that nefarious criminal, Jeffrey Dahmer, confessed to believe in Jesus before he was killed in prison. If he believed in Jesus as his Savior, then we will see him in heaven. “WAIT! THAT IS NOT FAIR! I CANNOT BELIEVE GOD WOULD ALLOW THIS ESPECIALLY AFTER WHAT HE DID!” These are the exact words I heard when I said this in bible study one day. From our point of view, what Jeffrey Dahmer did is unforgivable. If God was just, there would not be a way a person like Jeffrey Dahmer should be in heaven. Sometimes we think God should not forgive certain people because of things they did. But that is not God’s way!
If there was anyone who was unworthy of forgiveness, it would be the criminals who were hanging and the right and left of Jesus. They were thieves and murderers. They had a list of crimes that were truly punishable by death on the cross. If you asked the people who were impacted by their crimes, they would say that they deserved death on the cross. They would be appalled if someone suggested that they be set free and not punished at all! They would say they did not deserve to be forgiven but punished to the full extent of the law.
In the course of a few hours, one of the criminals heard what the people were saying about Jesus, and he watched as Jesus offered up a petition of forgiveness towards the ones crucifying him. After hearing and seeing all of these things, he came to the conclusion that Jesus was the only one who could forgive him. Jesus was the only one who could give him a place in heaven. The criminal could only ask that his King remember him when he entered his kingdom. In other words, please forgive me!
What a time to ask for forgiveness! Right then and there, Jesus was paying for those sins that lead the criminal to the cross. This is the reason why Jesus could tell him confidently, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Did he deserve it? Of course not, but neither do we! This makes God different from us. He only saves those who do not deserve it. This is grace! Forgiveness and a place in paradise does not depend on the sinner, but on the King who died on the cross. Even the vilest sinner in the eyes of the world can be in paradise through the King who gave up his life for everyone. Our King promises paradise instead of hell!
Dear Savior, thank you for promising paradise instead of hell for sinners. Let us see your amazing grace for the undeserved and rejoice this Good Friday that we are the undeserved! In your name we pray! Amen.