A thief dying
on the cross next to Jesus said, "Jesus, remember me in your kingdom"
(Luke 23:42). Here’s what’s amazing—He trusted a dying man to save
him! Jesus
was covered with blood with nails in His hands and feet, and looked totally
helpless. The religious leaders and soldiers asked Him to come down from the
cross, but it looked like Jesus didn't have the power to do that. But the
repentant thief saw something in Him that most people couldn’t see.
IT TAKES THE WHOLE CROSS
The thief
could have said, "Jesus, you're dying on a cross and I'm dying on a
cross." Why don't you pay for 80% of my sins on your cross and I'll pay
for the other 20% on my cross." That's what some people say. "Lord,
you do your part and I'll do my part. I'll pay for my part by going to church
and by trying my best." But it doesn't work that way. There can't be two Saviors--both
you and Jesus. You must trust Jesus to pay for 100% of your sins. God can't
save us until we stop trying to save ourselves.
YOU CANNOT SAVE YOURSELF
A boy was
drowning in a lake. His mother couldn't swim, so she called out for help. A man stood nearby but made no effort to save him. As the boy was going
down for the last time, the man dove into the water and rescued him. The mother
asked, "Why did you wait to save him?" The man replied, "As long
as he was trying to save himself, he would have dragged me down with him. But
when he stopped trying to save himself—then I could save him."
THE THIEF IS A ROLE MODEL ON HOW TO BE
SAVED
He knew he
didn't deserve salvation
He knew he
couldn't save himself
He placed his
faith in a dying Savior
He called out
to Jesus to be saved.
If
you'll follow the example of the thief on the cross, Jesus will remember
you in His kingdom as well. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net
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BIBLE STUDY: “What does ‘die in your sins’ mean?”
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