What an inappropriate and foolish statement!
There is a time and a place men would say, but to the thief on the cross
Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Luke 23:43
Those standing around the cross hearing the words of the Lord Jesus would no doubt have thought how foolish a statement it was! Coming from the mouth of one who was himself, being put to death.
In a time of fear for the thieves, pain, sorrow…….and death. How foolish they would have thought for the Lord to say such words!
The Bible tells us that is exactly what men say,
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18
It is foolishness to the world when we preach that:
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures…. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
When we think upon these words of the Lord, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise” in the time and place that they were spoken:-
- The place was Calvary, a place pain and suffering.
- The time, when they were going to die!
They were notfoolish words to the thief to whom they were spoken, they were words of comfort and hope and life, because they wereTrue!
To the other thief, they were foolish words and he blasphemed the very one who could have given him life!
Today, at large, the world says the Gospel is inappropriate and foolish. “Let US deal with the present crisis,” they say. In unbelief they still refuse to hear the very words from the Saviour that can give them life!
“Today you will be with Me in Paradise” What comfort and victory these words gave to the believing thief, because the one who said such words had the power to fulfil them.
As the apostle Paul wrote,
Death is swallowed up in victory.
O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:55,57
“Today you will be with Me in Paradise”
“Today” the thief was given, and that is all we are given, “Today.” The Lord says we are not to worry about the future or tomorrow, it is sin to worry about the future.
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34
Today we miss our normal days and we think we live in unprecedented times, but we do not! Unprecedented maybe in our lifetimes, but not in history. There have been many pandemics over the centuries. Churches were closed in 1918 during the Spanish flu epidemic. Many believers have had their lives turned upside down by persecution, famine, wars and earthquakes and so on.
The Apostle Paul reminds us he never had “normal” days, he could write
We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed
2 Corinthians 4:8-12
Paul wrote of his difficulties that he faced, every day in 2 Corinthians 11:22-29, he said he was in prison many times, beaten, five times received 40 stripes, less one, stoned, ship wrecked. In perils on the sea, land, and from his own country men, from the Gentiles, tired often, hungry and cold….plus he was burdened with great concern for the church each day.
Many believers over the years have had to face many uncertainness and difficulties, not according to the norm or how they thought their plans might go..
How wonderful to know, in days when there is fear and uncertainty we have a Saviour who has given us the victory over sin and death, who is sovereign and in control of all events.
Death has lost its sting and fear!
The Apostle Paul could write that he was living, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. Phil 1:23
Might the Lord help us to live in the reality that this world is not our home, as the apostle Paul could, but live for the Lord in the present. The world lives only for today, because that is all they have!
“Today you will be with Me in Paradise” What words of comfort and real hope, at the right time and in the right place. In a place and time when a sinner needed to be saved!
Might we rejoice this day in our living Saviour, to speak words that are most appropriate for today, Words of life in a fearful world!
God gives us help for this day, Today, not tomorrow!
Whatever, “This day” might bring, Our God will, and has promised to give help when we need it – Today- if need be!
God’s mercies are new each day
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:23
“This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it”
Psalm 118:24
As someone has written:
Tomorrow always belongs to God. . . . Whenever we try to take hold of it, we try to steal what belongs to Him. God has given us only today. He strongly forbids us to become concerned about what might happen. . . .
Might we be blessed, as we think upon the blessed words of our Lord Jesus today and His complete power to keep and fulfil all that He has promised.
For one day, we shall be with him!
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:7
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