PARADISE

One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” —Luke 23:39-43

Let this promise sink down into your soul! One criminal crucified at the time Jesus was said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” Jesus promised him— “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Hear that? “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” The statement of the one criminal showed that he put his faith in Jesus. He was calling on the Name of the Lord (Romans 10:13). At the time of his death, when his spirit, the real person inside the body left, he went to be with Jesus in “paradise.” Doesn’t that sound wonderful— “paradise?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIpnW3rtRQ4

The Apostle Paul states the similar truth when he said, “Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (II Corinthians 5:6-8). Doesn’t “At home with the Lord” sound wonderful? “At home…” We are not there yet. May we be faithful to the Lord until we get “home.”

Dear Father, thank You for my home in Heaven. I look so forward to being home with Jesus and all who love Him. Paradise… sounds so wonderful and I desire to be there. May I be faithful with what You have for me until then.