“Truly I tell you, today, you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43 / Redemption

Prologue.

One of my friends recently engaged me in a discussion about Redemption.  Specifically, they wanted to discuss “death bed conversions.”   Their question was, “Can someone who’s not been a Christian suddenly ‘convert’ as they are dying?  And, can that person then go to Heaven?”

Their observation was that such a conversion seemed somehow to be “cheating” or “unfair.”  Their theory was that the person being discussed had the privilege of having lived their whole life without a thought about God or any of His commandments, and suddenly, at the last moment, they’d “found God” and were eligible for paradise.  Presumably, they’d been able to “sin at will” without any consequence to their actions or lack of faith.  To them, it just didn’t seem “right.”

I understand this sentiment and acknowledge that the answer to the question may be troubling for some.  But the fact is that Jesus doesn’t care so much about when a person recognizes Him and accepts His gift of salvation (i.e. they are redeemed).  What He cares about is that the person does convert and genuinely accepts Him and His gift.

What did Jesus Do?

Jesus spoke about this more than once.  In John 5:34, Jesus says, “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death unto life.”  He also said, “I am the resurrection and the life.  The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;”  [John 11:25]  Many other instances can be found.  See Matthew 10:28, John 5:28-29, and John 6:47-50, among others.

But the quote that had started my friend’s question was from Luke 23:43. There Jesus says to the condemned man hanging on a cross beside Him, “Truly I tell you, today, you will be with me in paradise.”

Jesus had just granted salvation to a criminal on the very edge of death.  We know virtually nothing about this man, other that that he had been seized, tried and convicted of crimes against Roman Law that were sufficiently egregious to warrant this most brutal of executions; being hung on a cross to die.  We don’t know the nature or extent of his crimes.  And, we don’t know whether he was a Hebrew or a Gentile.  Finally, we know nothing about his spiritual life, or even if he’d had one.  All we know is that, however or why he was placed beside Jesus, he was able to discern Christ’s legitimacy and to appeal to Him for mercy.  And Jesus being Jesus, granted his request.

What did Jesus Say?

This story demonstrates just how simple it is for us to find and experience salvation.  Jesus set out only two “qualifications” for us to have eternal life.  Those were:

1. That we repent of our sins. “…Repent for the kingdom o f heaven has come near.” [Matthew 4:17] “…unless you repent, you too will…perish.” [Luke 13:5], and that we
2. Accept that Jesus was the Christ, and that He is the path to our salvation. “…the one who believes in me will live…” [John 11:25]  “… that whoever believes in him (Jesus) shall not perish but have eternal life.”  [John 3:16]

That’s all.  That’s it.  There are no other “qualifications” to be fulfilled.  And, for the purposes of this discussion, there is no requirement that a person must have been a Christian for a certain time-period before their death to be eligible to enjoy Heaven.

Jesus spoke to this very issue when he told the parable of the unhappy laborers. [Matthew 20:1-16]  In this story some workers who had been laboring all day in a farmer’s field were upset that other laborers who arrived late and only had to work for a short while received the same wage as they did.  Their reasoning was that since the “newcomers” didn’t work as long, they shouldn’t receive the same reward as did those who had worked all day.

The farmer’s response was direct and succinct.  To paraphrase, he said, “What do you have to complain about?  Am I not paying you what I said I would when I hired you?  These are my fields, and it’s within my prerogative to decide who gets paid what and when, not yours.”

The inferences are obvious.  God is the “farmer,” we are the “laborers,” and the “work” that is to be done is living a life in concert with Christian principles.  Since God owns the “fields,” He is the one who selects the laborers and determines what each of them is to receive according to His determination of their worth.  Laborers aren’t paid according to what they think they are (or should be) worth, but rather according to His determination.  And, the Good News is that He has “determined” that everyone who follows Steps 1 & 2 as described above is “worthy.”  All who repent and believe are deemed to be “worth” spending eternity with Him.

Understanding the Point.

Now, I do understand the workers’ complaint.  It may seem, at first, that such a policy treats those “late to the party” more favorably than those who have “labored” their entire lives under the Christian faith.  But this viewpoint ignores some important facts.

First, Christians who have done their best to live by the tenants of their faith have had something that the “late bloomers” haven’t.  Truly committed Christians get to live with God every day of their lives!  They don’t have to wait until they die and go to heaven to be with Him.  They get to do that now, here!  I cannot speak for you, the reader, but from my perspective having that privilege for as long as possible, before I die, is a blessing.

Next, we need to remember that none of us is “more valuable” to God than anyone else.  Luke 15:7 says, “…there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”  Just as the father of the Prodigal Son rejoiced over the return of his son who had been lost, so God rejoices over any soul that is saved.  And, we don’t want to emulate the Prodigal’s brother.  Rather than rejoice over his brother’s redemption, he decided that he’d pout and missed the whole party!

Finally, we need to remember that Jesus didn’t come just to those who immediately recognized and accepted Him.  Jesus came to save everybody.  God does not “play favorites.”  He wants everyone to have a place at His table, including the sinner hanging on the cross at the very end of his life.  So, He has made provision for all of us to be able to enter His kingdom.

Thanksgiving.

And aren’t we glad that He did?!?  For, truth to be told, none of us is ever going to be “good enough” to get into Heaven.  It is a task that is simply beyond us.  But God sent Jesus to us.  Jesus was sent to offer redemption and salvation to us all regardless of how or when we recognize Him and cleave to Him.

So, yes, the thief hanging on the cross by Jesus had just as much opportunity to go with Him into Heaven as did Jesus’ earliest Apostles.  And, yes, anyone alive today also has that opportunity, whether they live for the next five minutes or for the next ninety years; regardless of how their lives are, will be, or have been lived.

I suggest that rather than “pouting” over the inequity that our neighbor, the lifelong atheist, is suddenly converted and saved, we should instead celebrate that victory and rejoice that there will be another voice in the Heavenly Choir (and be grateful to God that we have the opportunity to be there as well).

God’s Blessings on You All.

Richard

June 7, 2019

P.S. This post marks the end of the first year of the Exploring Christianity Blog!  Next week, we’ll start on Year 2.  My thanks to all who have supported this effort, read the posts, and shared them with others.  I’m looking forward to seeing God’s plan for this effort unfold in the coming year.  Stay Tuned!!

R