Text: Luke 23:32-43.
Title: “Reservation in Paradise”
King James Version
Luke 23
32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Introduction
“Paradise”! There is less interest in spending eternity in paradise than had been present in previous generations. There is much greater interest in the “here and now”. Since “paradise” is somewhere else and sometime later, concern with reservations there fall somewhere after concentrating on the here and now.
Despite diminished interest on “Reservations in Paradise”, everyone in this gathering will have their earthly life come to an end. When your earthly life does end, what happens to you? Where do you have reservations in eternity?
Last week-end Trinity, Mrs. Vee, and I had reason to have made reservations for spending the night away from Mint Hill. We knew that reservations were needed. Information had been sent to us that assisted us in deciding where to make reservations. Though there was no question in the mind of anyone that reservations would be needed, it was our responsibility to take the actions necessary to have the reservations. And when I called to make the reservations, before the “good-byes” were said, I was given a confirmation number for our reservation.
Though there is no question that eternal reservations are needed for you, and though the information has been sent to assist you in making those reservations, it is up to you to take the necessary actions to reserve your place in paradise. Failure to do that, by you, is the equivalent of making a reservation in torment.
1. Reservation Requested. Vv. 42.
Explanation
“Remember me when you come into power!”, pleaded one of the two who had been crucified with Jesus. This was the request of a man who was being executed by crucifixion. That does not seem so unusual. The request is made of one who is also being executed by crucifixion. “Remember me when you come into power!” Those are the words of verse 42, in the New International Version.
This reservation was requested in faith! As HE died on a Roman cross, there was a request that Jesus remember this confessing sinner when Jesus came in power. There was a request made in faith! He asked merely to be remembered. Jesus took the request to a level the thief needed.
This criminal confessed that he was receiving what he had coming. He knew that he was wrong. “HE didn’t do anything wrong”, he declared of Jesus to the mocking malefactor.
The King James has the dying thief call Jesus Lord. That dying thief rejoiced to see the fountain that would cleanse him of sin and give him a reservation in heaven.
Illustration
In the 1970’s and 1980’s, a disco rock star, named Donna Summer, came to realize the importance of making a request for a reservation in heaven. In 1980, Donna Summer received three American Music Awards. “I want to thank God,” Donna Summer said to a national television audience. “I realized one day that I had everything I wanted and I wasn’t happy. Something was missing. No matter how much I got in material goodies, nothing was going to fill the gap. I became ill; I had pain everywhere. For one year I was in the hospital once a month. I thought I had a brain tumor or cancer. I had everything, I just did not have God.”
Donna Summer came to realize that, without Christ, things mean nothing. She requested Jesus’ forgiveness, accepting HIM personally. That changed her life on earth, and it changed her eternal destiny.
(Lee Roy Davis. “Conversion”. Proclaim: the Pastor’s Journal for Biblical Preaching. Nashville, TN. The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. J-F-M, 1982. p. 33.)
Application
Eternity is your destiny. No person who has lived on the earth until now has failed to enter into eternity. In order to spend eternity in paradise, a request must be made to Jesus for that.
You are not automatically given eternity in paradise because you are a good person. All of us in this room, though we try very hard to be good, fail to do those what God wants us to do on some occasions. You must request forgiveness of sin through Jesus blood, shed on Calvary’s cross. If you have never personally spoken to Jesus in prayer, admitting that you know you have sinned, then your reservation in eternity is not in paradise!
Face your sin. Admit that you have done wrong. Understand that the wrong you have done disqualifies you, apart from Christ’s forgiveness, for admission into paradise. Those times when you did not do the good thing that you know to do, that was sin. When you spoke unkindly about someone to a third party, that was sin. When you failed to seek forgiveness from someone you knew was upset with you, that was sin. When you clung to an offense you suffered at the hands of someone else, thinking it gave you superiority in some way, that was sin. You may not have known it then, but the Holy Spirit confronts you with that now. Though you have not requested a reservation in paradise until now, do not delay any longer.
This criminal did not silently and secretly request a reservation. Neither should you seek to silently and secretly make your request. Jesus said in Mark 8:38, “if you are ashamed of ME, I will be ashamed of you.” Do not be ashamed to tell others that you have requested a reservation in heaven!
2. Reservation Confirmed. Vv. 43.
Explanation
“Today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus stated that paradise would be HIS eternal dwelling. Jesus confirmed that the criminal who requested HIS mercy would receive it. The New International Version has Jesus saying, “I promise you that today you will be with me in paradise.”
The word that is translated “paradise” here, when used in everyday language of that time, generally referred to a park or a fenced garden. When used in religious language, it was a place where fellowship with the Creator was close and warm. It was considered to be a place of abundance of water and fruit. It was a place of peace between people and peace between humans and animals. It was a place that was free from sadness. There was no death there. Paradise was the antithesis of all that was unpleasant and difficult in life on earth.
The request the thief made received a confirmation: “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus was not delusional. The dying thief’s sins were all forgiven. This former insurrectionist acknowledged Jesus as KING. The King responded, confirming the reservation in paradise. In verse 42, the thief said, “... when you come into your kingdom...” The reply of Jesus was, “Today.”
Illustration
In 1978, television broadcast a dramatic event. Two men scaled the sheer rock face of a mountain in Utah. Watchers were filled with terror as one of the two men lost his footing at the eleven hundred foot level and fell into space. He did not die, however. After a drop of thirty feet, his well secured rope driven into the rock, held.
(J. Lowell Ponder. “Security” Proclaim: the Pastor’s Journal for Biblical Preaching. Nashville, TN. The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. A-M-J, 1980. p. 36.)
Application
Your recognition of Jesus as Savior and King in your life will bring a confirmation of the reservation prepared in heaven for you. Many verses in the Bible will confirm that reservation. Jesus said, “If you confess me before men, I will confess you before the Father and HIS holy angels.”
In 1 John 5:11-12 there is confirmation. “And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life; and this life is in HIS Son. He that has the Son, has life; and he that does not have the Son, does not have life.” Your reservation in heaven is confirmed when you ask Jesus to come into your life. When you pray in faith simply, “Lord Jesus, come into my life and save my soul”, your reservation is confirmed. Indeed, the Bible teaches that you are already seated with Jesus in heaven when you request forgiveness. Your earthly life does not end, but your seat is already reserved. No one else take that place. It is held for you.
Illustration
While we were in Raleigh, we decided that, if possible, we needed to request a late check out. I went to the desk. The young woman said, “Just a moment. We have several reservations for rooms for this evening. I’ll need to check to see if the room you are in is reserved for tonight.” It wasn’t. But had it been, I assume she would have said to me, “I’m sorry, someone else has requested that room, and it is reserved for them.”
Application
When you request a reservation in heaven, trusting Jesus to make it possible for you to be forgiven and gain entry, your reservation is confirmed. It will not be canceled.
Conclusion
Your reservation can be confirmed today. Make the request.
