Ready:
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “I assure you: Today you will be with Me in paradise.” — Luke 23:42–43
Set:
I didn’t know what was happening. I couldn’t breathe. It was the final moments of a close game and all of a sudden I began to hyperventilate. Many thoughts ran through my mind. One was of getting a bag and breathing into it; but how would
it look if the head coach were catching his breath with a bag around his head while the team tried to finish well. Finally our linebacker intercepted a pass and when he did, my breathing returned. It’s interesting that my panic subsided once I knew the outcome of the game.
Many people live their lives in a panic. The panic takes on different forms such as addictive behavior, obsessive overworking, material and financial ambition, and other diversions that many pursue because they don’t know the outcome—the outcome of eternity.
The Bible says, “He has also put eternity in their hearts” (Ec 3:11). We’re created with a built-in awareness that this world is not our home (Mt 7:13–14), yet so few people end up turning to the only One who can guarantee our eternal outcome—Jesus Christ.
The thief on the cross realized his helpless condition, a condition we all have because of our sin (Rm 3:23), and he turned to Jesus who was dying next to him. Jesus died to pay the sin-penalty of this thief, as well as the sins of you and me. The Bible says, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that having died to sins, we might live for righteousness; by His wounding you have been healed” (1 Pt 2:24). And it’s the sacrifice of Jesus that enables the thief on the cross, you, me, and anyone else who’s ever lived to settle their eternal destinies by faith. “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Rm 10:13).
Go:
Is your eternal outcome set? If not, in your own words tell the Lord Jesus that you want to repent of your sins and trust Him today as your Lord and Savior.
Workout:
Extra Reading: John 6:33–40
Overtime:
Lord, thank You for bearing my sins and giving me eternal life. Amen.