Thief

Luke 23:34-43 (The Message)

34-35 Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them; they don't know what they're doing."

Dividing up his clothes, they threw dice for them. The people stood there staring at Jesus, and the ringleaders made faces, taunting, "He saved others. Let's see him save himself! The Messiah of God—ha! The Chosen—ha!"

36-37 The soldiers also came up and poked fun at him, making a game of it. They toasted him with sour wine: "So you're King of the Jews! Save yourself!"

38 Printed over him was a sign: this is the king of the jews.

39 One of the criminals hanging alongside cursed him: "Some Messiah you are! Save yourself! Save us!"

40-41 But the other one made him shut up: "Have you no fear of God? You're getting the same as him. We deserve this, but not him—he did nothing to deserve this."

42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom."

43 He said, "Don't worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise."

Some people really seem to resent the idea of "deathbed" conversions.

Can it really "count" if a person throws themselves on the grace of God at the last minute, after a lifetime spent out of relationship?

Thank God...yes.

In fact, in a sense, I'm not sure there's really any other kind of true conversion at all.

If we are to live with Christ, we're going to have to die...one way or another.

What I mean is, at the heart of the Christian faith, following Jesus is about relinquishment. It is about humility. It is about renouncing our pride and ego, admitting and fully and embracing our need for a savior.

Most of us can't do that in the "good" times. Often, there is a need for a kind of spiritual "bottom," from which the seeds of our faith can grow and develop in the full light of God's strength.

Really, that's what it's all about. God's strength. 100%. Not ours, in any way.

Do you know who may have understood that better than almost any other individual we will ever read about in scripture?

The thief who hung, crucified, beside Jesus.

He makes his deathbed conversion.

And Jesus' response?

Welcome to the Kingdom. Today you will be with me in paradise.

Here's to "deathbed" conversions for us all.

Father God, we pray that our old selves could die away, that you would crucify our wounded egos and allow us to live new lives, fully dependent upon your strength alone.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.