Heaven, How I Got Here, Part 4

Luke 23

Today’s discussion opens with the profound transformation of the thief, as he moves from hatred towards God to placing his faith in Jesus, and experiencing His love amidst his suffering. Pastor Colin reminds us: Trusting Jesus doesn’t mean a pain-free life. But through faith, we find the strength to endure life’s hardships, for Jesus is indeed the Saviour for those who suffer.

100:00:00,900 –> 00:00:07,320Welcome to a special edition of Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and today200:00:07,320 –> 00:00:12,480we continue our dramatized reading of heaven how I got here the story of the300:00:12,480 –> 00:00:16,480thief on the cross and if you’ve missed any of the series or you’d like to go400:00:16,480 –> 00:00:20,900back and listen again you can do that by coming online to our website500:00:20,900 –> 00:00:26,760OpenTheBible.org.uk Don’t forget you can also find our broadcasts as a podcast600:00:27,379 –> 00:00:31,860on your favorite podcast site, just search for OpenTheBible.uk and subscribe to700:00:31,860 –> 00:00:37,080receive regular updates. And Colin we start today by looking at the hatred the800:00:37,080 –> 00:00:42,380thief had towards God and then he turns around and puts his faith in Jesus and900:00:42,380 –> 00:00:48,180he experiences that love of Jesus but his suffering wasn’t over. No and in fact1000:00:48,180 –> 00:00:53,980for anyone who was crucified pain actually got worse as time went on and1100:00:53,980 –> 00:01:00,220so here this man would have been an excruciating pain, a great agony of body1200:01:00,220 –> 00:01:04,980and of soul as someone who trusted in Jesus and I think that speaks to us very1300:01:04,980 –> 00:01:08,139powerfully, you know, you may be listening today and saying well I1400:01:08,139 –> 00:01:12,239couldn’t possibly have faith because I have pain I have disappointment I have1500:01:12,239 –> 00:01:17,959hurt in my life. Well Jesus Christ is a savior for people who suffer and that’s1600:01:17,959 –> 00:01:22,379what we’re going to look at today. We see that in chapter 7 of Heaven, How I Got1700:01:22,440 –> 00:01:31,720It’s entitled agony. Chapter 7, agony 2 59 p.m.1800:01:33,080 –> 00:01:39,639Trusting Jesus is never a passport to a pain-free life, that’s not his promise1900:01:39,639 –> 00:01:48,440heaven is, forgiveness is, the strength to bear up under all that you2000:01:48,440 –> 00:01:55,220suffer is what he promises and what he gives. Some folks have the idea that if2100:01:55,220 –> 00:02:01,220you trust in Jesus he will take the pain out of your life he certainly didn’t do2200:02:01,220 –> 00:02:08,160that for me pain shot through the nerves of my body as much after I trusted in2300:02:08,160 –> 00:02:11,500Jesus as it did before.2400:02:11,500 –> 00:02:17,039With every hour that passed my pain increased as the wounds from the nails2500:02:17,259 –> 00:02:24,160and my hands and my feet widened under the weight of my body fever raged2600:02:24,160 –> 00:02:29,720dehydration followed. My whole body was burning up2700:02:29,720 –> 00:02:37,039it was the same for Jesus and that is why he cried out I thirst.2800:02:37,039 –> 00:02:40,740Jesus was crying out my name.2900:02:53,279 –> 00:02:58,960Despite their barbarity the Roman soldiers sometimes offered a mild3000:02:58,960 –> 00:03:01,860sedative to their victims before crucifixion.3100:03:01,979 –> 00:03:07,639Earlier in the morning they had done this for Jesus offering him wine mixed3200:03:07,639 –> 00:03:14,300with gall. Jesus refused the sedative and any compassionate person would say to3300:03:14,300 –> 00:03:19,559him drink take the sedative roll your senses to the horrors you’re about to3400:03:19,559 –> 00:03:27,339endure but he did not take it why? At the time3500:03:27,520 –> 00:03:33,759I despised him for this and counted him a fool but when I asked him to remember3600:03:33,759 –> 00:03:42,160me I was so glad that his senses were not dull, drugged or drowsy. Christ was3700:03:42,160 –> 00:03:48,679fully conscious and that meant he was ready and able to save me, to pray for3800:03:48,679 –> 00:03:55,559his enemies and reach out in love to his mother. Becoming a man meant that Jesus3900:03:55,619 –> 00:04:01,220body had a central nervous system just like yours and mine. so the physical4000:04:01,220 –> 00:04:07,600agony of crucifixion was the same for Jesus as it was for me but there was4100:04:07,600 –> 00:04:15,380more to his pain than the physical agony what Jesus endured went far beyond what4200:04:15,380 –> 00:04:24,459I experienced that day. When Christ became our sin bearer He was alone in4300:04:24,500 –> 00:04:33,040the darkness the guilt and stench of our sin was on Him as He bore the judgment4400:04:33,040 –> 00:04:39,839that we deserved. Jesus had always enjoyed the love of His father but now4500:04:39,839 –> 00:04:45,959that blessing had been taken away he couldn’t feel the father’s approval he4600:04:45,959 –> 00:04:54,040couldn’t reach his comfort at his hour of greatest need Jesus was alone4700:04:54,040 –> 00:05:01,720separated from his father rejected by his own people abandoned by his4800:05:01,720 –> 00:05:10,679disciples he was stretched out on a pole suspended between Heaven and Earth and4900:05:10,720 –> 00:05:20,480rejected by both from the deepest darkness Jesus cried out in a loud5000:05:20,480 –> 00:05:30,000voice my God my God oh I have you forsaken me5100:05:30,000 –> 00:05:34,880nothing that I had endured came close to what it meant for him to be forsaken by5200:05:34,920 –> 00:05:45,140his Father and there’s more Jesus experienced hell on the cross some5300:05:45,140 –> 00:05:50,040people think that hell is a myth but I tell you that hell is as real as the5400:05:50,040 –> 00:05:55,519cross and it’s more than just a way of describing something really bad5500:05:55,519 –> 00:06:03,480much more hell has six dimensions and Jesus experienced all of them on the5600:06:03,519 –> 00:06:15,220cross he was in conscious suffering he was in blackest darkness he was5700:06:15,220 –> 00:06:24,640surrounded by demonic powers he was bearing sin he was under judgment he was5800:06:24,640 –> 00:06:35,600separated from the knowledge of the love of God that is hell I endured the pains5900:06:35,600 –> 00:06:46,299of crucifixion but I did not experience the agonies of hell Jesus endured them6000:06:46,299 –> 00:06:54,739for me so that I would never have to know what they are like the more I6100:06:54,739 –> 00:07:01,359think about this the more staggering it gets6200:07:16,299 –> 00:07:26,660what Jesus suffered in hearing him cry out in agony had a profound effect on6300:07:26,660 –> 00:07:33,760me from childhood I’d been told that God’s law was given to show us our sins6400:07:33,760 –> 00:07:39,940that’s true but I have to tell you that the clearest view I ever got of the6500:07:39,940 –> 00:07:46,640ugliness of my sin was not in reading the Ten Commandments but in being near6600:07:46,640 –> 00:07:54,660to Jesus in that awful darkness on the cross I began to see that if my sins6700:07:54,660 –> 00:08:01,399caused him so much suffering they must be very great indeed I learned to hate6800:08:01,700 –> 00:08:10,339sins at the cross. The rebellion that once tasted sweet. The covetous heart6900:08:10,339 –> 00:08:18,859that once drove me forward my hatred and unbelief toward God and my self-willed7000:08:18,859 –> 00:08:26,540desire all seemed ugly and repulsive to me as I saw what they had done to Jesus7100:08:26,640 –> 00:08:34,380his cry of anguish tore me apart if he was given up from my since what sin7200:08:34,380 –> 00:08:42,340would I not give up for him that took hold of me my greatest desire was to be7300:08:42,340 –> 00:08:48,020done with any and every sin that had ever gained a foothold in my life7400:08:48,020 –> 00:08:53,619I found myself longing to be holy to be filled with the love that I had seen in7500:08:53,979 –> 00:09:01,739Jesus eyes and to live a life that would please him I only had a few hours left7600:09:01,739 –> 00:09:10,900for that I hope you have much longer what a statement from the thief on the7700:09:10,900 –> 00:09:16,140cross the suffering and agony that he experienced on the cross yeah and I7800:09:16,140 –> 00:09:21,599want to say to the person today who experiences pain you’ve been through7900:09:21,599 –> 00:09:28,140loss you find yourself in great darkness you know Jesus Christ the Savior who8000:09:28,140 –> 00:09:33,260suffered on the cross really is the Savior for you he knows what it is to8100:09:33,260 –> 00:09:39,700suffer and a suffering world needs a suffering Savior and the Savior who has8200:09:39,700 –> 00:09:45,119come into the world is the person who is able to come alongside you in the pain8300:09:45,119 –> 00:09:50,340that you experience and he’s able to help you stand up under it this is what8400:09:50,359 –> 00:09:54,919the thief experienced it was not a passport to a pain-free life he was in8500:09:54,919 –> 00:10:00,200agony but he was trusting Jesus Christ in that agony and I think that’s the8600:10:00,200 –> 00:10:04,280path for every person who suffers we want to walk it with the suffering8700:10:04,280 –> 00:10:06,880Savior thank you Colin that is a good word8800:10:06,880 –> 00:10:12,119the thief was in agony but then he passed through into triumph that’s the8900:10:12,119 –> 00:10:16,239title of chapter 8 and we’ll listen to that after this the story of the thief9000:10:16,700 –> 00:10:24,580Cross to me is the best story for opening up and understanding of God’s9100:10:24,580 –> 00:10:29,280marvelous grace nothing a lot of people have the idea at the back of their9200:10:29,280 –> 00:10:33,039minds that if a person was to get into heaven it would be by living a good9300:10:33,039 –> 00:10:37,859enough life and the story of the thief on the cross just blows that out of the9400:10:37,859 –> 00:10:42,539water it really does I mean here’s a person who obviously had not lived a9500:10:42,780 –> 00:10:46,859life and obviously was not at a point where they could turn over a new leaf9600:10:46,859 –> 00:10:51,119make a new beginning and and do better and so forth he’s right at the end of9700:10:51,119 –> 00:10:56,219his life and yet Jesus says quite clearly to him today you will be with me9800:10:56,219 –> 00:11:00,700in Paradise so if the thief on the cross is entering into the joy of God’s9900:11:00,700 –> 00:11:04,619immediate presence then it’s not on the basis that he lived a good enough life10000:11:04,619 –> 00:11:09,059and that opens up the question well then how does he get in and the answer to10100:11:09,460 –> 00:11:13,679course is the grace of God that comes to us through the Lord Jesus Christ that’s10200:11:13,679 –> 00:11:20,320why Jesus was on the cross, that’s what he offers to us, the grace of his10300:11:20,320 –> 00:11:24,719forgiveness and his marvelous salvation but it’s the story of the thief on the10400:11:24,719 –> 00:11:31,440cross that I found opens people’s minds to begin to think about grace, the story10500:11:31,440 –> 00:11:36,080of heaven how I got here the thief on the cross is also available as a film10600:11:36,179 –> 00:11:40,080Here’s Open the Bible’s John Martin to talk about resource10700:11:40,080 –> 00:11:43,859packs that are available for churches that want to show the film10800:11:43,859 –> 00:11:48,960Hello David we’ve got a free event pack to help churches put on the one hour film of10900:11:48,960 –> 00:11:53,599heaven how I got here the story of the thief on the cross this professionally11000:11:53,599 –> 00:11:58,700produced one actor play was used by many churches across the UK last Easter and11100:11:58,700 –> 00:12:05,119it is now available in 14 languages. The free resources include a guide to help11200:12:05,119 –> 00:12:10,619you plan your event and publicity you can download just go to OpenTheBible.org.uk11300:12:10,619 –> 00:12:16,460forward slash heaven. Back to our dramatized reading of heaven how11400:12:16,460 –> 00:12:19,039I got here11500:12:19,080 –> 00:12:28,000chapter 8 triumph 3 p.m.11600:12:31,840 –> 00:12:41,039his voice pierced the silence like the blast of a trumpet it is finished father11700:12:41,039 –> 00:12:49,679into your hands I commit my spirit no one ever died like this11800:12:49,820 –> 00:12:57,400have you ever heard of someone whose last words were spoken with a loud voice11900:12:57,400 –> 00:13:06,200when a man dies his voice becomes weaker and weaker until it is no more than a12000:13:06,200 –> 00:13:14,200whisper and then he is gone nobody shouts at the moment of his own death12100:13:14,200 –> 00:13:23,700but Jesus did Christ entered into death not in defeat but in triumph he was in12200:13:23,700 –> 00:13:29,119complete control he accomplished everything he had come to do and gave12300:13:29,119 –> 00:13:33,260himself into death12400:13:33,419 –> 00:13:40,919then all hell broke loose the earth beneath me shook causing the beam on12500:13:40,919 –> 00:13:49,200which I was suspended to lurch violently the shock was agonizing the12600:13:49,200 –> 00:13:54,619crowd whose jeering had been quieted by the darkness now erupted in panic and12700:13:54,619 –> 00:14:00,859confusion people screamed as the tremors ripped through the city cracks began to12800:14:01,059 –> 00:14:06,239open in the ground was this the end12900:14:06,239 –> 00:14:13,719I knew my time and almost run out but had humanity’s time run out too13000:14:14,200 –> 00:14:24,440we had just crucified God’s Son God’s justice had to fall I closed my eyes and13100:14:24,619 –> 00:14:27,380for a moment between I held my breath bracing myself against whatever came13200:14:27,380 –> 00:14:29,520next13300:14:29,780 –> 00:14:35,440the commander who was responsible for overseeing our executions looked up at13400:14:35,440 –> 00:14:42,200Jesus’s lifeless body and said surely this was the Son of God the soldiers who13500:14:42,200 –> 00:14:47,179a few hours before had cast lots for Jesus’s robe now looked at each other13600:14:47,320 –> 00:14:56,460in fear and terror what have we done for me there was a strange comfort the man13700:14:56,460 –> 00:15:03,039who had carried out my execution now shared my faith in those surreal moments13800:15:03,039 –> 00:15:09,179after the quake the crowd dispersed into the shadows they were frightened they13900:15:09,179 –> 00:15:15,140were confused what had just happened then as suddenly as the darkness had14000:15:15,159 –> 00:15:21,719descended on us hours before it lifted14100:15:31,219 –> 00:15:37,640the lifeless body of Jesus hung in silence a few feet away from me and14200:15:38,000 –> 00:15:40,460Having staked everything on him. I14300:15:43,419 –> 00:15:45,419Now felt completely alone I14400:15:49,840 –> 00:15:54,380Thought I would be the first to die in that he would send me ahead of him14500:15:55,400 –> 00:15:58,080It never occurred to me that he would die first14600:16:00,159 –> 00:16:04,679Right before Jesus died. He said it is finished14700:16:04,679 –> 00:16:06,679When14800:16:09,179 –> 00:16:11,179Was I ever able to say that14900:16:12,780 –> 00:16:16,539My life was a tangle of loose ends nothing was complete15000:16:19,179 –> 00:16:23,380My mother poured all her energy into the pursuit of a godly life15100:16:24,239 –> 00:16:26,340but for all of her relentless effort15200:16:27,260 –> 00:16:29,099the feeling of15300:16:29,099 –> 00:16:30,460incompleteness15400:16:30,460 –> 00:16:31,900haunted her15500:16:31,900 –> 00:16:37,359She found it hard to rest because she always felt there was more to do more that was required15600:16:38,159 –> 00:16:40,159Nothing was ever enough15700:16:40,400 –> 00:16:44,719She was right in saying that there is no rest for the wicked I15800:16:45,739 –> 00:16:47,640Knew that to be true15900:16:47,640 –> 00:16:53,659But as far as I could see there isn’t much rest for people who try to be righteous either16000:16:54,340 –> 00:16:56,340It is finished16100:16:57,460 –> 00:17:01,599Now there’s something that neither I nor my mother could ever have said16200:17:03,179 –> 00:17:06,819But Jesus said it with a shout of triumph16300:17:09,099 –> 00:17:13,099The reason his voice was so strong at the moment of his death16400:17:13,660 –> 00:17:20,260Was that Jesus did not slide into death as a victim. He marched into death as a conquering warrior16500:17:20,780 –> 00:17:24,800What he had come to do was done, but what was finished16600:17:26,760 –> 00:17:28,760what had he accomplished16700:17:30,040 –> 00:17:34,439Clearly Jesus’s life on earth was finished as soon as he had said these words16800:17:34,560 –> 00:17:39,319Jesus gave his spirit into the hands of the Father16900:17:40,180 –> 00:17:42,180and he died17000:17:44,540 –> 00:17:47,939That his life would be one and return to God17100:17:48,739 –> 00:17:53,900That his life had been a good one was obvious to me17200:17:54,979 –> 00:18:00,699Even back then on the cross. I knew that he was a righteous man, and that he was suffering unjustly17300:18:02,020 –> 00:18:05,479That was why I said this man has done nothing wrong17400:18:08,660 –> 00:18:10,660being with him in heaven, I17500:18:11,160 –> 00:18:16,319Now see that Jesus did everything that God calls you and me to do on earth17600:18:16,520 –> 00:18:18,000and17700:18:18,000 –> 00:18:20,000Kept all of the commandments17800:18:20,979 –> 00:18:22,979He loved God17900:18:22,979 –> 00:18:25,900With all his heart and loved his neighbor as himself18000:18:27,040 –> 00:18:29,040He did this completely18100:18:29,599 –> 00:18:31,599consistently and18200:18:31,800 –> 00:18:34,640without even a shadow of compromise18300:18:36,459 –> 00:18:43,599His life was an unbroken stream of love and faithfulness joyfully offered to God18400:18:46,319 –> 00:18:49,339I was nowhere near that target18500:18:50,739 –> 00:18:53,459Thieves love themselves more than their neighbors18600:18:54,579 –> 00:18:59,239That is why they break in and steal and as for loving God, I18700:18:59,979 –> 00:19:01,979Didn’t know the first thing about love18800:19:04,160 –> 00:19:08,859That’s why on the last day of my life I began to fear God I18900:19:09,579 –> 00:19:12,020Knew that I had not kept his commandments. I19000:19:12,599 –> 00:19:15,079Knew that I was not righteous not even close19100:19:15,079 –> 00:19:17,079where19200:19:17,140 –> 00:19:19,140Do you go from there?19300:19:21,560 –> 00:19:26,719You haven’t done what God calls you to do your best efforts have come up short19400:19:27,319 –> 00:19:30,280you have failed to keep his ten commandments and19500:19:30,800 –> 00:19:32,900You can’t relive the past19600:19:34,560 –> 00:19:38,479This was painfully obvious to me as I hung on the cross19700:19:38,920 –> 00:19:44,680With every hour that passed I was being pressed ever closer to my exit from this world19800:19:45,560 –> 00:19:48,680And I had no way of pulling back19900:19:52,839 –> 00:19:54,839But here’s what I discovered20000:19:56,520 –> 00:20:01,000To my great joy the Son of God became a man20100:20:02,079 –> 00:20:05,359To live the life that I had failed to live20200:20:06,479 –> 00:20:08,619He finished what I had barely started20300:20:09,560 –> 00:20:11,859Jesus was and is20400:20:12,680 –> 00:20:14,280everything God20500:20:14,280 –> 00:20:16,239had called me20600:20:16,239 –> 00:20:18,239to be20700:20:20,199 –> 00:20:22,199When I trusted Jesus20800:20:22,520 –> 00:20:24,680God made me one with Him20900:20:25,719 –> 00:20:27,520All that was mine21000:20:27,520 –> 00:20:32,400God counted as his and all that was his God counted as mine21100:20:35,619 –> 00:20:43,199It was as if my sins spattered soul was draped in the purity of the perfect life of Jesus21200:20:44,459 –> 00:20:50,199So that I could stand before God with the confidence to which Jesus himself would be entitled21300:20:53,599 –> 00:20:59,040If it had not been for Jesus, I would still be locked in an endless conflict with God21400:20:59,040 –> 00:21:01,439I would still be angry with him21500:21:01,439 –> 00:21:08,719I would still feel the owed me a better life and a better eternity my anger and rebellion against God21600:21:09,160 –> 00:21:12,359Would have grown stronger and more futile in eternity21700:21:12,479 –> 00:21:16,099I would still be standing with my little sword21800:21:16,760 –> 00:21:18,760Trying to take on the Almighty21900:21:20,040 –> 00:21:22,040It’s a ridiculous picture22000:21:22,719 –> 00:21:29,920Isn’t it and it’s clearer to me than ever before that my fight with God is a fight that I could never win22100:21:31,640 –> 00:21:38,339You don’t have to live one more minute of your life locked in conflict with God either22200:21:38,380 –> 00:21:40,380you22300:21:41,599 –> 00:21:43,599Can put down your sword today22400:21:44,560 –> 00:21:46,560You can rest from this battle22500:21:47,900 –> 00:21:51,000This is a war you could never win22600:21:52,420 –> 00:21:54,420Now you don’t have to22700:21:55,180 –> 00:22:01,719Jesus laid down his life so you could know real peace with God for all of eternity22800:22:01,939 –> 00:22:03,939You22900:22:06,800 –> 00:22:10,079You’ve been listening to a special edition of open the Bible with pastor23000:22:10,079 –> 00:22:16,979Colin Smith a dramatic reading of the book heaven how I got here the story of the thief on the cross and Colin23100:22:16,979 –> 00:22:24,160That’s such a vivid and really humorous picture of us trying to hold up our little swords and fighting against the Almighty23200:22:24,459 –> 00:22:27,260That is a fight that no one can ever win23300:22:27,859 –> 00:22:32,500Thing when God is your friend when you’re at peace with Him when you’ve been23400:22:32,920 –> 00:22:34,839reconciled to him23500:22:34,839 –> 00:22:41,079That’s what Jesus Christ came into the world to bring to us and because he’s already conquered sin and death23600:22:41,239 –> 00:22:43,380There’s really nothing more that we can do23700:22:43,420 –> 00:22:48,359Well, these words it is finished must be the most marvelous words that have ever been spoken23800:22:48,359 –> 00:22:50,260I mean what comes close to this?23900:22:50,260 –> 00:22:55,780He really has done everything that is needed to bring not only the thief into heaven24000:22:56,339 –> 00:22:59,180Everyone who will put their trust in him, you know24100:22:59,180 –> 00:23:05,939Who else could ever say at the end of their life truly it is finished who else could ever say I’ve completed24200:23:06,319 –> 00:23:12,640everything that God the Father gave me to do we haven’t done that I haven’t done that I have to put my trust in a24300:23:12,640 –> 00:23:17,900Person who has done that and there’s only one that’s Jesus. He says it is finished24400:23:17,900 –> 00:23:20,040He’s done everything that is needed24500:23:20,719 –> 00:23:23,359He’s fulfilled all of the commandments of God24600:23:23,719 –> 00:23:26,300He has borne all of the penalty of sin24700:23:26,439 –> 00:23:31,939We put our trust in him and he’s the one who’s able to bring us into heaven because he’s done what we’ve not24800:23:32,140 –> 00:23:36,459It’s an incredible promise that the thief grasped right at the end of his life24900:23:36,459 –> 00:23:41,459But of course, we don’t have to wait until the end of our lives. Now is the time to act25000:23:41,459 –> 00:23:45,959Don’t wait for the last moment you’ve got to trust Jesus Christ at the first opportunity25100:23:46,319 –> 00:23:49,400Absolutely. Actually that’s what the thief did and why should you not do that as well?25200:23:49,400 –> 00:23:53,000Here’s good news that is offered to you. Here is life25300:23:53,640 –> 00:23:55,400forgiveness peace with God25400:23:55,400 –> 00:24:01,880That Jesus Christ offers to all who will turn to him in faith and repentance as the thief on the cross did25500:24:02,020 –> 00:24:07,260So not only is there a dramatized reading that we’ve been hearing of heaven how I got here25600:24:07,260 –> 00:24:10,880There is also a film and John Martin said earlier25700:24:11,020 –> 00:24:14,459The there’s a church resources pack available to go with that25800:24:14,520 –> 00:24:20,140you can find out about that at our website open the Bible org uk and25900:24:20,459 –> 00:24:27,260There’s also now a graphic novel of the book which we’re offering two copies of along with the niv26000:24:27,579 –> 00:24:32,140Outreach Bible to any of our listeners who are new to supporting open the Bible26100:24:32,599 –> 00:24:39,680Financially if you’re able to set up a new direct debit of five pounds per month or more or a one-off gift of fifty pounds26200:24:40,640 –> 00:24:44,719We’d love to send you those two copies of the graphic novel of heaven26300:24:44,719 –> 00:24:50,800How I got here plus the niv outreach Bible as our thank you gift this month26400:24:51,040 –> 00:24:57,119That’s our easter giveaway bundle. It’s absolutely ideal to give away those two copies and the Bible to26500:24:57,680 –> 00:24:59,680family or friends this easter26600:25:00,560 –> 00:25:05,300Full terms and conditions and you can give online at our website openthebible.org.uk26700:25:05,459 –> 00:25:10,579for open the Bible and pastor Colin smith26800:25:10,579 –> 00:25:14,420I’m David pick and I look forward to you joining us again next time26900:25:17,219 –> 00:25:20,699The thief on the cross definitely did not live a good life27000:25:21,339 –> 00:25:24,540Find out what happened to him in the next part of our series27100:25:25,099 –> 00:25:29,199Heaven how I got here that’s open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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Discover the power of grace through the story of the thief on the cross, who found redemption even in his last moments. This narrative not only highlights the depth of Jesus's sacrificial love and the promise of paradise but also serves as a compelling reminder that salvation through faith is accessible to everyone, regardless of their past.

Colin Smith

New! Graphic Novel

A man of crime. A ruthless empire. A fellow prisoner. A promise of Paradise. 

Discover the story of the thief on the cross, and his life-changing encounter with Jesus, in this brand new full colour graphic novel version of Colin S Smith’s Heaven, How I Got Here: The Story of the Thief on the Cross.

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