SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1190

“This Day”

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” – Luke 23:39-43

Have you ever planned a birthday or other type of anniversary celebration and researched the date for interesting events or facts that occurred on that date in history?  I was searching for the events of April 7 and discovered that some historians believe that this day in 30 A.D. is the day that Jesus Christ was crucified.

While the actual date of Christ’s crucifixion is debated, the Truth of God’s Word tells us that the day that Christ died is the same day that one of the criminals crucified alongside of Jesus received salvation and went to be with Him in paradise.

The sobering truth is that this day, today, may be our last on earth.  The reality of this truth is starkly evident to the people of Ukraine as well as people throughout the world being subjected to war, riots, violence, and acts of terrorism. Those of us living in seemingly relative safety need to wake up to this reality.

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. – Matthew 25:13

Far too many of us Christian and Non-Christian alike, live as if there will always be a tomorrow.  We behave as if there will be no accountability for our reckless lifestyle.  Jesus taught a parable about the man who was planning to build more barns to store the wealth of his crops and how he planned to live in luxury as if his tomorrows would never end.  Jesus called that man a fool because that very night that man was destined to die.

And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” – Luke 12:16-21

This day in history – today – this hour – this moment can be a profound moment affecting you for eternity.  Jesus taught that He could return at any time and cautioned us to always be ready.  Are you ready today, this day?

If you are unsure about your eternal future, I encourage you to seriously consider the true meaning of this Easter season. God loves you, me, and all of humankind so much that He came in the person of Jesus Christ to bear the just punishment for our sins.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. – John 3:16; Luke 19:10

The rebuke of the thief to the one who railed against Jesus is a valid rebuke to us today: “Do you not fear God?”

Likewise, his simple prayer and statement of faith: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” changed his eternal destiny and it can change yours also.

May the Holy Spirit draw you to Jesus to receive eternal life through Him.

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Therefore … let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. – 1 John 5:11; Hebrews 12:1-2

May this day be the day in your history where your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

May you have a blessed Easter holiday!