Our second last word of Jesus on the cross is also found in Luke 23 and is given in response to one of the criminals crucified next to Him (v.32).
And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23.43
The only deathbed conversion in the Bible gives us hope that it is never too late to turn to the Lord, but, it is the only deathbed conversion in the Bible, so it shouldn’t give us a false sense that we can wait until the very last minute to ‘get religious’ as many people see it.
Imagine floating down a river towards a waterfall and there is a big rock right on the edge of the drop that you plan to grab on to. Whilst you are floating towards the edge there is a man on the side of the river calling out to you with a life-saver but you reply ‘Don’t worry, I’m good, I’ll grab that rock just before I fall‘.
But, in the course of floating down the river the current has taken you so far from the rock you now can’t grab it. In the course of your floating you’ve also taken on so much water than you may not be physically able to grab it. The man on the side was willing and able to save you should you have called out to him but you never did, instead vainly hoping to wait until the very last second and then save yourself.
Sadly, this is how many people view salvation and eternal life:
‘I’ll wait until I’m old and ready to die, then I’ll think about all that‘.
Sadly many never get this chance, meaning that decisions made in the here-and-now become all the more important.
These words spoken by Jesus on the cross are – like many others – a comfort and a challenge. For those that have trusted Him they are a huge comfort but the context they are given in brings a real challenge.
Friends, who do you need to talk to about salvation and eternal life today?
Who do you need to send this to and have them read it today?
James Travis 