Today You Shall Be With Me In Paradise         Luke 23:39-43
"And Jesus said to him, Truly I say to you, Today you shall be with Me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43)

During old times in Persia, there was one unique way that the king did to show respect to a man of special reputation. The man will be invited to to walk with the king in a garden called Paradise, a beautiful castle garden that belonged to the king. In the Scriptures, the word Paradise is used three times: in Luke 23:43, II Corinthians 12:4 and Revelations 2:7. This word has a meaning as the place where God resides, or "Heaven".

In His last moments on the Cross, Jesus said to the criminal that was put to the cross beside Him, "Today you shall be with Me in Paradise". This saying of Jesus was not just an invitation, but it was more of a proclamation that on that day there was a criminal that has received a place with Jesus in heaven. Not long after that, the criminal died. Every man will die, and we do not know and can't choose when, how, and where. But did we ever consider, that if death comes to us today, where will we be? Even if he was a criminal, but on the last seconds before death came to him, he realized who he was and who was Jesus that was beside him. He repented for his sins, and thus he gave all of his hopes to Jesus Christ. In the end, he received heaven.

Whoever you are, no matter how large are your sins, there is no "too late" for you as long as you will come to Him, repent for your sins, and receive Him as your personal Savior. Then Jesus will say to you, "Today you shall be with me in Paradise". Have you owned this precious gift today?


••• Tuesday, April 06, 2004 •••