This day, You shall be with me in Paradise.
-Luke 23:43
Hope is never full without the works of Christ. In our silent prayers, we call upon Him to put his power upon us. That we may be blessed whenever we go, in whatever we do, in all our lives, so that He may be glorified.
We may have sinned. We may rob, we may murder, we may commit adultery. we may even worship cast idols ordo all sorts of ungodly deeds. Yet, how do we respond to God? Do we say "If God is a God who loves us, He would forgive us." Or even yet, "There is no God. If God loves us, He wouldn't allow such things to happen." Then we would live our lives the way we wanted. Casting God aside and doing all sorts of unkindness towards others.
We all have a choice. When God created us, we're not simply dummies that He moves around all day. For if we are, then what is the purpose of our existence? What then are we here for? To be the toys God can kill and ressurect, toys that God can drown and float? toys that God can throw back and forth, drop and catch or even pass around to the angels? Such that when they get tired of playing with us they throw us away and get another one to play with?
By no means.
We are given a choice because like you and your friends, Jesus also treated us as friends. Because we know all the things Jesus wants for us to do... and it is summarized in two commandments: Love the Lord your God, and Love one another. By that we are given a choice. Condemn Him, or Honor Him. We choose our friends. We choose God as God chose us... or we may choose Satan. God gave us free will so that we may know what is right from wrong. so that we may enjoy the world in His glory. So that we may become His friends whom He can say his burden to and whom we can say our burden to as well (These are revealed in the Books of Moses and David... when God cried out of sorrow to those who loved Him).
Jesus came to the world to be the light. So that he who believes in Him will not stay in the darkness. Yet beyond belief, belief without deeds is like man without food. You can never satisfy the needs of faith if you do not feed it with love. You can never truly Love Jesus unless you put it into works... that other people may say, "Truly, this person love the Father and the Son. For he obeys their commands."
When Jesus was crucified with two criminals, one condemned him saying "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" (Lk 23:39)
True enough, many of our brothers who failed to believe that Jesus is the Christ did not had the chance to digest the Gospel of Matthew, which says:
"Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?" (Matthew 26:53-54)
Truly, if Jesus intended to cast them away and take their lives, He could. But because of His true love for these people... because of his passion, his hopes that we may change our ways... his hopes that we may turn away from our evil deeds and come back to him, he chose death. So that none of us may be destroyed...
This second word (or phrase if you may) reminds us that when there is life, there is hope. Just like the criminal who was crucified with Him, replying to the insults with the following words:
"Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." (Lk 23:40-42)
In the last few hours of his life, the criminal asked for forgiveness... because finally, finally he accepted Christ, and Christ accepted him.
While there is life, there is hope. Therefore my dear friend, as we have the opportunity, while we are still alive, may both of us, and all those who we love, and everybody in the world may believe... may everybody start repenting, and accepting Christ in our lives. May all of us one in our deathbed hear the words Christ has spoken to those who repented and believed.
"This day, You shall be with me in Paradise."
Grace and Peace be With You.
AMEN!