Two opportunities one lost and one gained
Lk. 23:39-43.
INTRODUCTION:
Email: jazubuike904@gmail.com
;josevangelseven@hotmail.com
On the day that Jesus was crucified, he
was crucified along with two thieves, one on his right and one on his left. One
of them began to insult him saying, “If you are the son of God, save yourself
and us”. He said “if you are the son of God, save yourself and save us”. That’s
to say, “You are here on the cross with us and still claims to be the son of
God”? “Save yourself and also save us”. That was a great insult to the Lord,
from one who committed a crime.
But the other one began to rebuke his
fellow man saying “why are you talking to him like that”? This man had not done
anything (worthy of death), or anything at all to receive this crucifixion. But
we are receiving or have received the reward due us”. He then called on the
lord saying “Lord”, remember me in your kingdom. Jesus there and
then gave him the promise saying “Today shall thou be with me in Paradise”.
That’s a careless talk and a wise decision altogether.
OPPORTUNITY GAINED:
This thief got his own pardon on the cross
and therefore gained his own opportunity on the cross, at the same time. Two of
them were thieves but had different dispositions. One in his disposition
had the opportunity to consider why they were judged and condemned. And he used
the opportunity that came to him wisely, by asking for forgiveness from the
Lord and he was forgiven immediately. And he received Jesus as Lord. This means
that what the book of Romans said is true, that “if you shall call with your
mouth the lord Jesus and believe in your heart, you shall be saved”
Rom.10:9-10, and that “there is now therefore no condemnation for those who are
in Christ Jesus” Rom.8:1.
The other thief had no time to consider
anything. He was asking his savior, “are you sure you are the
son of God? Save yourself and save us”. Even if Jesus was a confused person,
could he save a sinner like that without remorse or repentance? The answer is
no. The other one began to rebuke his neighbor saving, “why do you talk to him
like that, we are suffering for what we have done, but this man is suffering
for envy”. He then asked the Lord saying, “Lord, remember me in your kingdom”.
It was there that Jesus promised him saying, “Today, shall thou be with me in
Paradise” Lk.23:43.
Though the thief did not come down from
the cross, neither did Jesus also, for they all died that same day, but the
thief secured his eternity before he died. They also went to Paradise the same
day. This is incredibly true about Jesus Christ. He does not fail in his words.
People need to believe on what we read from the Bible, than what our country
President and Newspapers are saying. This man got himself into Paradise; no one
shall ask him further questions as the King of kings forgave him.
OPPORTUNITY LOST:
People always say “Opportunity comes but
once”. In this regard we may say it was true, but in the other way we say no to
it. Those thieves were condemned as a result of what they did. Both of them had
the opportunity to be saved if both had asked for mercy from the lord of glory,
even though they would not be released from the tree. But only one was able to
use the opportunity and he received mercy and pardon from the Lord. The other
instead went on to jest on the lord because he was on the tree as himself.
He may have thought that since Christ was
also crucified along with them, maybe he was just like them. Christ is
the way, the truth and the life for all humanity Jon. 14:6. This man had that
opportunity but lost it? This kind of opportunity does not repeat back. There
are different kinds of opportunities. This kind comes only but once because he
was on the tree, and would die from there. This man was very foolish, in
the sense that he was bragging under sin.
He had no remorse for his guilt. People
will die in their sins, not because they sinned much no, but because they
failed to call on the name of the Lord who forgives sinners sins. The
Bible said “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” Rom.
10:9-10. One should call on this name with a heart of repentance, it works.
The thief on the cross tried it and got it there.
Did they not hear about Christ even before
they were caught as a criminal? Yes, even as they decided to continue stealing.
They were among those for whom Christ came? Jesus made it clear that he came to
call sinners to repentance. When the Pharisees brought a woman who was caught
red handed on the very act of adultery, this woman stood before the Lord
expecting him to pronounce the law of Moses as desired by her accusers.
But he decided to save the woman because
1. Those people who accused her were also sinners with the woman, so no sinner
would judge another sinner. 2. It was the reason for his coming, to save
sinners. All those people (the Pharisees) were among the people he came
to save, for he confessed that he came to save sinners. And all humans are
sinners by nature Rom. 3:23. No one measured up to the glory of God. This glory
was the condition Adam was enjoying before his fall. God used to come down and
have fellowship with him, so says the scripture Gen. 3:8-9.
One of the thieves on the cross lost his
opportunity to be saved from his savior who was by him on the cross. Maybe he
thought within him saying, “since the so called savior was on the cross as
himself, was there any difference”? He didn’t know that Cross pass cross. Even
if he had whispered it that no man would hear it saying to him “Lord forgive
me” Jesus would give him the same promise there. So many people are like
that, who shall come face to face with a good opportunity and they let it go.
Don’t lose such opportunity as it comes to you in many ways, get saved today
even now.
THE PROBLEM WITH MANY PEOPLE:
Many people shall go to Hellfire, not
because of what they have done or the amount of sin they have committed, but
because they chose not the savior who is ready to save them. There is no amount
of sin that God cannot forgive. In the book of Isaiah 1:18-19 God said, “Though
your sins are as crimson, something that symbolizes blood, they shall be as
snow”. This means even if you have shed blood, he could cleanse and forgive it.
A man asked me in the cause of evangelism saying “shall God be able to
forgive the number of sins I have committed”? He said it because he knew how
many people he had killed. When I said yes, he doubted it.
Others argue on their ability to believing
what God says. This is a really a problem, when somebody argues God. And for
this reason many people shall not be saved. Paul said “they believed not the
truth that they might be saved” 2Thess. 2:10. People believe lies easily than
the truth. Again others desire to pay for their sins than to trust God for his
forgiveness. But the Bible concluded that no one shall be able to pay for his
sins, all humans are to trust in Christ for Redemption. Surveying this earlier,
Apostle John said “For God so loved the world (humans only) that he gave his
only begotten son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have
everlasting life” Jon. 3:16.
God does not require man to clean his way
by himself no, but to come unto him who is waiting with open arms to forgive
our sins or instead have forgiven our sins ie (Jesus). For this reason the
prophet Isaiah said in his lifetime that “All our righteousness are like filthy
rags before him” Isa. 64:6. The thief on the cross jested on Jesus as one would
jest on his age mate or companion. He didn’t know that he was jesting with his
Salvation. Thank God for the other one who was reasonable enough to understand
how to plead for mercy with the least opportunity available to him.
The other thief was one of those who
believe that “there are things God cannot do”. I even believe that if he had
changed immediately with repentance and said “Lord, I’m sorry for that insult
on you, forgive me”. The Lord would have responded by saying “It’s Alright,
today also shall thou be with me in Paradise”. Jesus is compassionate
enough to forgive even the worst sinner.
ONE BIG SECRET IN THE BIBLE:
The Bible is coded with words like
“cursed is he who is hung on the tree”. Here, Jesus was involved along with two
other men. Since he was involved, those men had the opportunity to escape that
curse, leaving it for him only to deal with. He knows how to discoed himself
from the tree. Again there is unwritten law which was not given us. God uses
these unwritten laws for himself only. There are written laws also given us.
For example, since the Bible advocates that those who hang on the tree are
cursed, God uses another powerful word to lose those who are involved. They
shall call on the name of the Lord.
It is written that “those who shall call
on the name of the Lord shall be saved” Rom. 10:9-10. This means whatever might
be their offence, if they should repent with genuine spirit and call on this
name, victory is sure. The people who shall call on this name of the Lord are
mainly sinners, who shall run to him for safety. Of course he does not fail.
THE WOMAN WAS FORGIVEN IMMEDIATELY:
On a beautiful Sabbath morning, he was in
the Temple teaching. The Pharisees had previously planned on how to trap him.
And they planned that one of them would be having sexual affair with the
notorious woman, for that was her business in town. When their man had mounted
on the woman as they planned, they broke into her room by force when their man
was exactly on her. They took her up and left their man who was caught with her
at the very point on the act. And as Jesus was teaching in the Temple, suddenly
they dragged the woman into the Temple court and disrupted his teaching. And
because of that noise, all eyes and attention went after the scene of the
Pharisees with the woman.
They said “Master, this woman was taken on
adultery, from the very act, and Moses commanded that such should be stone,
what sayest thou”? Jon. 8:1-6. The Bible also recorded that they were trying to
trap him. I also believe he knew about it. He stooped down and began to
write on the ground as though he did not hear them.
They shouted again, “Master what sayest
thou”? As if they loved him or wanted to respect him. Then Jesus lifted himself
up and said to them “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first
stone at her”. From here their consciences convicted all of them that they were
sinners like the woman and they left her alone. The lord confessed that
he did not come to condemn sinners, but that they might be saved. Yet one could
chose to reject his lord and pay finally at the end for his or her actions.
God bless.
Jazubuike904@gmail.com ;
josevangelseven@hotmail.com.
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