“Listen, It’s Not too Late… There’s Always Hope!”
Addressing the second saying from the cross:
“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.”
Tonight’s message is, “Listen, It’s Not too Late…There’s Always Hope.”
One thing I’ve learned is that we all have life choices to make. Often the choices made are based on sensual desires, desires that appease our flesh. God has given each of us a free will to choose and make decisions but are those decisions beneficial; do they bring honor and glory to God.
Unfortunately, the enemy of God doesn’t stop us from hearing God’s Word but he does an all out attack when we decide to listen to God’s word. We hear one another in this place. We hear the birds chirping. We hear the television. We hear the sound of the car. But how many of you are actually listening to obtain that important message solely for you? Church, there is a difference in hearing and listening.
Many of you know that I teach seminarians. Some students choose to hear the professor’s instructions in lieu of listening to the instructions. This is very dangerous. There are consequences to hearing vs. listening just as it was for the two thieves on the cross.
My brothers and sisters, three men hung on the cross, Jesus and two criminals who hung to the right and left of Jesus. One sinner wanted to escape the cross but not forgiveness while the other sinner plead forgiveness and not escape punishment for his guilty sins. Both hung in close proximity to Christ where they could understand every spoken word from Jesus’ innocent mouth. As I thought about this, I realized that while these guilty men didn’t deserve to be even near a sinless God, Jesus permitted them to be in close proximity to Him. Verse 32 informs us that prior to being crucified, Christ and the two sinners walked the path to the cross. Using my sanctified imagination, I presumed there must had been some thought in the sanctity of the sinless one, being Christ. It’s almost impossible to believe that there was no conversation amongst these men on their journey to the cross. It’s almost impossible to believe that the sinners couldn’t see something different, something special about the sinless One. You know how it is. When a Child of God is an ungodly setting your spirit just doesn’t bear witness with those who actively practice sin; something is said or done which births an uncomfortable presence within you. Am I right about it?
Yet, one sinner refused to take heed to Christ blessing; he refused to listen. That’s how some of us are today. Even when God permits us to enter His gates, we enter with an attitude and often with an unforgiving heart. Church, Jesus had just uttered these words from the cross, “Lord, forgive them for they know not what they do.” And while they hung beside him, the defiant thief only heard Christ spoken words and he refused to listen to Christ blessing of forgiveness. This sinner chose to remain in his ungodly state. However, the repentant thief chose to listen as Christ spoke and upon listening he received the blessing. The repentant thief replied, “Jesus remember me. . .” Church don’t just hear but listen to the blessing?
These thieves were in a hopeless situation. Crucified and hanging on the cross, it appeared to be no way out. Have you ever been in a rock and a hard place because of our words spoken or actions performed? All of us have! All you could said was “Lord Jesus please remember me?” Oh give God some praise saints! Because we didn’t just hear the Word, we listened to the Word it wasn’t too late and all hope wasn’t gone as it wasn’t for this thief. So KEEP ON PRAYING…PRAY FOR THAT:
• Wayward child … say listen it’s not too late, there’s always hope!
• Cheating spouse … say listen it’s not too late, there’s always hope!
• Dishonest student … say listen it’s not too late, there’s always hope!
• Lying coworker … say listen it’s not too late, there’s always hope!
• Sexually immoral every Sunday churchgoer … say listen it’s not too late, there’s always hope!
• Drunk, alcoholic preacher … say listen it’s not too late, there’s always hope!
• Swindling deacon and Stealing trustee … say listen it’s not too late, there’s always hope!
• Unfaithful choir member and Club dancing praise dancer … say listen it’s not too late, there’s always hope!
Don’t allow the devil to trick you into believing that your sinful deeds are too bad to be forgiven. The devil is a liar for Jesus “came to set the captive free.” Listen, church, there’s always hope just as it was for that sinner on the cross. Cry out and say Lord, I’m guilty but “Lord remember me!” Jesus hanging from the cross replied to this penitent thief, “I tell you the truth,” (in other words what I’m saying is important so listen up) “Today you will be with me in paradise.”
Paradise! Listen, I believe wherever Christ is there’s paradise and not some holding place. Remember, Jesus was buried, 3 days later resurrected and days after ascended to heaven. Then tell me how could He have been in paradise with the thief? He said from the cross, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” Let me see if I can help you a little. The original meaning of the Greek word ‘paradise’ means a park, specifically the Garden of Eden. However, man’s sin prevented him access to the Garden; yet, man’s sin didn’t stop God’s purpose and plan. Matthew 6:10 states God’s plan is “His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Therefore, the saints of God don’t have to wait until we get to that sinless park, paradise to reap God’s blessings. Know that “It’s not too Late…There’s Always Hope.” At the confession with our mouth and heart belief that Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world, we now have access to paradise. My brothers and sisters, listen please don’t be like sinner who didn’t apply God’s Word. Go ahead and invoke your heavenly privileges NOW!
Invoke your privilege of living with:
• No more being weary and troubled
• No more sickness, disease and poverty
• No more loneliness and mental illness
• No more being the tail because God says we are the head
• No more being beneath because God says we will always be above
Oh what a sad day it was for that defiant sinner. He heard Jesus’ SPEAK but he didn’t listen. Why, because, he didn’t believe. He missed his opportunity to forever reign with Christ in that prepared place, in paradise. I come to tell you this wasn’t the case with that repentant sinner; he listen!
A glorious day it was for . . .
• He not only heard Jesus but he listened to Him.
• He recognized Jesus as the Messiah.
• He understood no matter what I’ve done, “it’s not too late.”
• He came to the realization that while he had breath in his body “there’s always hope.”
• He confessed his sins.
• He asked for forgiveness.
• He received Christ into his heart.
Jesus told the thief, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” This meant the thief would be with Jesus right then upon the thief’s repentance and confession. Oh what a glorious day it was for him and what a glorious day is for you and me. Is today, your day? “Listen, It’s Not too Late… There’s Always Hope!” to live in paradise with Christ. There’s nothing we’ve done that God can’t forgive us for. So, don’t allow the things and people of this world to keep you from being in paradise with Christ. The choice is yours, you decide.
“Today you will be with me in paradise.”
