Title: The Destiny of Two Sinners - A Blessed Hope and Holy Warning
Text:
Luke 23:39-43 (HCSB)
39 Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at Him: "Aren't You the Messiah? Save Yourself and us!"
40 But the other answered, rebuking him: "Don't you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment?
41 We are punished justly, because we're getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong."
42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!"
43 And He said to him, "I assure you: Today you will be with Me in paradise."
Observation:
The selected passage from Luke provides hope and a warning. The hope is that it is never too late to receive deliverance from eternal separation from God.
However, there is a warning. We should not be inclined to put off doing today while we have life and opportunity to make the right choice. Notice that only one of the criminals asked for deliverance.
Luke 23:42 (HCSB)
42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!"
Salvation does not take a long time to be effective; it begins immediately. Notice what Jesus told the criminal who sought salvation.
Luke 23:43 (HCSB)
43 And He said to him, "I assure you: Today you will be with Me in paradise."
The deliverance by the seeking criminal just prior to his death should not be an encouragement to delay coming to Jesus for deliverance.
As someone has said, "One was saved at death's door so none would despair, but only one so none would delay."
2 Corinthians 6:2 (ESV)
2 For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Jesus will do for anyone who asks him what he did for the repentant criminal.
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I praise and thank you for this timely message of the importance of making the right choice concerning where we will spend eternity.
Father, one of the criminals on the cross railed at Jesus, and one of the criminals received Jesus. One died condemned, and the other died delivered. Oh, the cost we pay for unbelief.
Father God, I pray that you would open the eyes of any that cannot see the condition of their soul without Jesus in their life. Lord, I thank you for loving us, even to the very end.
Father, you are the only God who was willing to die for the sake of rebellious sinners like me. All I can say is "Thank you Lord for saving my soul". In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:
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