"I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me."
by: Mark Peji
A retrospective of Jesus’ days of agony and crucifixion in a “place of the skull” (Golgotha).
Jesus was crucified along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. One of the criminals hurled at him with bitter sarcasm: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the second criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”. Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise”.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, my life was changed practically overnight. Health scare, financial worries, extreme pain from the loss of my loved ones, fear of the future and fear of not knowing whether I can still cope with that future. It was a perfect storm that ultimately tested my faith. I was exceptionally spiritually dry. My spiritual life was in a rut. I knew I loved God but had lost a sense of being “in love” with God. I sinned, confessed, then I sinned again, an incessant cycle. I felt emptiness and weariness. God was very distant. Finally, one day, when I was struggling to pray, I stumbled upon these verses:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.” (John 7:37)
I felt shame but also relief. I cried. God had not abandoned me. He was with me in silence throughout.
My experience conveyed the same message as what was demonstrated by the second criminal. No one is too far gone to where they cannot respond to the Gospel’s message. It does not matter who you are and what you have done. It does not matter how far down the road of sin you have gone. Jesus is just waiting and ready to reach out His hand. It is never too late to repent and offer your life to Him. God always respond to a heart of repentance.
But how about when I eventually face my death? Will I still see myself through the eyes of the second criminal? Am I flinging in pride and arrogance, or am I responding in faith? They say people die differently. Some die calmly; some anxiously. Some are assured, some fearful. Some are pleased, and some are enraged. People live differently, and how they live will likely determine how they die. I don’t know when my time is up, but I know death is inevitable. I can only pray fervently that I continue to live in Christ so that in the end, I have no fear in the death of the flesh, and I can gratefully utter that I’m going back to my God - the God of salvation like the second criminal. Life is precious! We only live once and we cannot watch it again. One day, all of us will eat our last meal, hug our family for the last time, and take our last breath. May we always live in Christ and hold on to His promise to be with Him in paradise.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, our Lord and Savior, Today, I ask for your forgiveness and surrender to You all my anxieties. Help me to let go of my worries and trust that You have an excellent plan for my life. Please grant me the strength and courage to face my fears and challenges. Let me find peace in my thoughts and deeds. Lord, I take refuge in You. Fill me fresh with Your Spirit. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
