“Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” These words were spoken by one of the thieves crucified on either side of Jesus. This was after his buddy, the other thief, reviled Jesus just like the rest of the crowd that day.
“Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?” Thief Two demanded of Thief One. They were dying. “And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.”
This is when Thief Two asked Jesus for forgiveness—and Jesus gave it. It was a “deathbed” conversion on the cross. In just hours Thief Two would be in heaven for eternity because He put all he had—himself—into Jesus’ hands.
Hands that were fully capable even while hanging on a cross.
Thief Two was then able to rest. Still dying in great agony, yet his heart and soul were at rest. His eternal future was assured.
I want that rest. I want my heart and soul to be in the keeping of Jesus’ hands. But, there are tasks I must do. Unless I can give into Jesus’ hands the forgiveness of my thieves and let go of anger and bitterness, I can’t move on into the rest Jesus has for me. What is inside my heart must be clean.
So I choose to forgive. Maybe my emotions are slower, but Jesus will see to it that the emotions follow the will. Make no mistake—if my thieves are found, I will prosecute. They need to face their unjust deed and answer for it.
But they may never be found. Forgiving means that I release them to God’s judgment and not my own. This leaves me free so bitterness and anger will not keep my heart and soul captive. I can then move on from here in the joy that Jesus will provide for me.
“Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” Luke 23:43.
Leave a Reply