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  • Last Minute Decisions

    Come to Christ Before It’s Too late

    Three crosses by Rembrandt - Jesus and the two criminals. Today's devotional talks about Jesus conversation with his fellowed condemned men
    Three Crosses by Rembrandt

    This morning, during my pre-Easter reading, I looked at the  account of Jesus’s crucifixion. Specifically, I was reading the account of the two thieves who were crucified alongside Him.

    It’s a story with several huge contrasts. Firstly. the two criminals were guilty of the crimes that led to their deaths and knew it. In contrast, Jesus was innocent of everything they convicted Him of. Secondly, we see one of the guilty pair openly mock Jesus while the other recognizes who Jesus is and turns to HIm.

    One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Luke 23:39-42 ESV

    We’ve heard it before, so Jesus’ answer has lost some of its impact. Yet, it really is stunning.

    And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:44 ESV

    The thief has done nothing of merit. He has no good works to cling to. Yet, he recognizes his own wretched state, understood who Jesus is, and threw himself into Jesus’ mercy. Yet, that’s all that he needed to do.

    Jesus willingly submitted to rejection, humiliation, torture, mocking, and death to set us free.

    No one can come to Christ after they have died, but there is always hope that in the moment of those final breaths, they will understand and be saved. 

    I don’t know who will be in paradise when I get there. There will be many horrid sinners who came to Him at the last possible moment. Many “good” people who rejected Him until it was too late will be absent.

    When I was pastoring, I did funerals of believers and non-believers alike. If I wasn’t certain of their final destination, I always held forth the promise and real hope that before it was too late, they, like the thief, understood the truth and appealed to Jesus.

    If you know Jesus, keep praying for your unsaved friends, family, and loved ones until they have passed on. Jesus can work miracles.

    If you don’t yet know Him, seek Him and turn to Him now. You may not have an opportunity later.

    Your salvation isn’t about how good or bad you are. It isn’t about weighing your good deeds against your bad. It’s about the love of Jesus and trusting Him.

    I pray that you and yours find Him and that we will see each other in Paradise.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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  • Love Your Enemies

    The pastor plans his sermons as far in advance as a year at our  local assembly. That makes the timing of yesterday’s text providential.

    The text? Jesus is speaking…

    “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tuniceither. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

    “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:27-36 ESV

    A Federal election was announced this weekend here in Canada. South of us, the President is making massive changes, many impacting our country. The result? Panic, anger, hatred. The politicians demonize their opponents, and their followers drink the proverbial Kool-aid. It is happening on all sides of the political spectrum.

    People we have known for years are suddenly our enemies. Civil discourse is tossed out the window. Our social media pages are filled with horrific hate and fear-filled rants.

    I’ve had to snooze many people’s posts because of it. I read their posts and want to retaliate in a similar manner. I confess it is a struggle for me. I couldn’t hold back without the Holy Spirit working in me.

    I can easily forget that conspiracy theories aside, most of these people are well-intentioned and want the best for others. They often want a solution radically different from the one I see as correct. I can struggle to keep from throwing out relationships because of these differences.

    The text made a dialogue between myself and the Lord happen in my head. Perhaps you can relate to this to some degree.

    Love them? But Lord, do you know what they stand for?

    Bless them? But Lord…?

    Pray for them? Okay, Lord… smite them! No, Kevin! Pray for them to be drawn to me. Pray blessings, not curses. Remember, I love them, and they are created in my image.

    Pray for them? You mean so they think like I do? No, Kevin! Pray so that your heart is changed and I’m magnified.

    Lord, don’t you know how hard that is? Of course, I know. That’s why I have given you my Word and my Spirit.

    Lord, I don’t want to! Kevin, I didn’t ask if you wanted to. I commanded you to do so. You show your love for me by following my commands and loving. So you want us to “love your enemies.”

    Fine! If I have to. I guess. 

    So my friends, I will strive to trust in Him. I will do my best to love you and pray that you are blessed, even if (especially if) we disagree and somehow see each other as enemies.

    His ways are not my ways. His ways are always right. I’m going to need a lot of help from the Holy Spirit.

    I pray that you join with me in praying for those you find it difficult to love.

    Let us be known as people who love no matter what.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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