39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, [a]“If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”
40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said [b]to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43 NKJV)
We do not consider enough the two men who hung on crosses next to Jesus. One represented denial of the Savior and the other salvation through Him. These two men represented the choice each human has to either accept of deny God.
Now, we may look upon the one who was saved and ask why. No good deeds, no baptism, only an admission of guilt and a realization that Jesus was the Son of God. In this very aspect we see the free gift of salvation offered even up to the moment of death. There is nothing we can do to deserve it, it is given freely and once received our desires change. We should want to spend what time we have left doing those good works. Not because they provide salvation, but because they are a byproduct of it.
Reflect on: Your view of salvation and that if even now you need to ask for that free gift. Either we accept or deny.
