Day 31- Today, Paradise!

"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."  What a humble and contrite prayer.  It is the prayer of a repentant heart.  It's not a demanding prayer, but a prayer of trust.  "Jesus, remember me."  As I think about my life and the time when death will inevitably come, "Jesus, remember me" is my prayer as well.

And what joyful and hopeful response is given by Jesus!  "Today, you will be with me in paradise!"  This second criminal had obviously done some very bad things in his life.  We don't know what, but apparently he knew he had done wrong.  "We are getting what we deserve for our deeds," he says.  But, none of that mattered at this moment.  The thief recognized Jesus as God's son, who was bringing in a new kingdom.  Jesus response was one of love and forgiveness.  "Today you will be with me in paradise."

That promise must have meant everything to that thief.  He was about to die.  He was about to enter into that great and unknown abyss.  But, with those words of promise from Jesus, he can now be at peace.  There was promise and hope beyond his death on the cross.  He would be with Jesus in paradise.

We, too, have that promise and hope.  When we place our trust in what Jesus has done for us, we also find peace.  We, too, know that the promise of paradise with Jesus  awaits  us.  No matter when or how death comes to us, we know it is just the passage to eternal life with God.  We can live our lives with joy and fullness, knowing that when our time on earth is through, paradise with Jesus is yet to come.