100:00:00,020 –> 00:00:06,520Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.200:00:06,520 –> 00:00:10,200I’m David Pick and a special edition of Open the Bible today.300:00:10,200 –> 00:00:13,920The second part of our series is Heaven How I Got Here.400:00:13,920 –> 00:00:16,559A dramatized reading of the novel.500:00:16,620 –> 00:00:19,080And Colin, as we mentioned yesterday this story600:00:19,080 –> 00:00:22,080is the clearest possible presentation of the gospel.700:00:22,080 –> 00:00:26,320Yeah it really does blow away the myth that so many people believe800:00:26,320 –> 00:00:29,280which is that if you were to get into Heaven900:00:29,780 –> 00:00:31,920you should be by living a good life.1000:00:31,920 –> 00:00:35,220This guy had not done that and he wasn’t in a position to do that.1100:00:35,220 –> 00:00:38,639And yet Jesus says to him, you will be with me in Paradise.1200:00:38,639 –> 00:00:40,040How did he get there?1300:00:40,040 –> 00:00:41,560He got there through Jesus Christ1400:00:41,560 –> 00:00:45,459and this story, more than any other in the New Testament1500:00:45,459 –> 00:00:48,060makes it clear how a person can get to Heaven.1600:00:48,060 –> 00:00:50,360I can’t think of anything more important than this.1700:00:50,360 –> 00:00:52,740And if you missed yesterdays broadcast1800:00:52,740 –> 00:00:55,299don’t forget you can always come online and catch up1900:00:55,320 –> 00:00:57,279or go back and listen again on our website2000:00:57,279 –> 00:01:00,599thats openthebible.org.uk2100:01:01,080 –> 00:01:02,840When we left the thief yesterday2200:01:02,840 –> 00:01:05,440he was filled with hatred towards god.2300:01:05,440 –> 00:01:08,879But today we begin to see this thief make a turn.2400:01:08,879 –> 00:01:11,839And we will continue with chapter three, faith.2500:01:13,360 –> 00:01:15,779Chapter Three, Faith2600:01:16,519 –> 00:01:18,51911.14am2700:01:20,400 –> 00:01:23,959I don’t really know how to explain what happened next.2800:01:24,000 –> 00:01:28,739All I can tell you is that a strange stillness came over my soul.2900:01:29,040 –> 00:01:34,000And for the first time I began considering what lay ahead.3000:01:34,879 –> 00:01:37,480My life was slipping away.3100:01:37,739 –> 00:01:43,099Earth was receding and eternity was looming large on the horizon.3200:01:43,879 –> 00:01:46,160I had not planned on this,3300:01:46,440 –> 00:01:49,639And I had not prepared for it either.3400:01:49,860 –> 00:01:52,440My mind went back to my childhood3500:01:52,459 –> 00:01:56,360And I heard my mother’s voice, quoting the scriptures3600:01:56,660 –> 00:01:59,620The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.3700:02:00,040 –> 00:02:02,680I had always believed in God, of course.3800:02:02,940 –> 00:02:05,019That came with my Jewish blood,3900:02:05,459 –> 00:02:10,360But there is a big difference between believing in God and fearing him.4000:02:11,259 –> 00:02:16,000People who say they believe in God often give little or no place to him in their lives.4100:02:16,080 –> 00:02:22,160But fearing God means you give weight to him in your decisions and your priorities.4200:02:22,779 –> 00:02:28,119Pleasing him becomes your first consideration and your greatest joy4300:02:30,059 –> 00:02:32,520I thought back to my first theft at the temple4400:02:32,520 –> 00:02:38,899And realized that the fear of God had been largely absent from my life since that time.4500:02:39,300 –> 00:02:42,860I had chosen my own path, and pursued my own way.4600:02:42,960 –> 00:02:46,320I’d lived at a distance from God, and now4700:02:46,460 –> 00:02:48,880I was dying far from him, too.4800:02:49,139 –> 00:02:50,820What would lie beyond?4900:02:50,919 –> 00:02:52,399I didn’t know.5000:02:52,440 –> 00:02:54,960And, over the years, I really hadn’t cared.5100:02:55,000 –> 00:02:57,800But, as life was slipping away from me,5200:02:58,139 –> 00:03:00,139nothing mattered more.5300:03:05,039 –> 00:03:10,380The second victim launched into a tirade of cursing and blasphemy.5400:03:10,619 –> 00:03:13,740A short time before, I had joined in with him,5500:03:13,880 –> 00:03:16,240hurling abuse at Jesus.5600:03:16,440 –> 00:03:22,339But, now, his antagonism toward God seemed to me like the height of folly.5700:03:23,440 –> 00:03:26,720I pushed myself up and called out to rebuke him.5800:03:28,440 –> 00:03:30,440Don’t you fear God?5900:03:33,679 –> 00:03:37,660The second victim became quiet, and so I continued.6000:03:40,660 –> 00:03:42,660We are punished justly.6100:03:42,860 –> 00:03:46,320For, we are getting what our deeds deserve, I said.6200:03:49,380 –> 00:03:51,380But, this man has done nothing wrong.6300:03:53,440 –> 00:03:55,440My words came as a surprise to me.6400:03:56,539 –> 00:03:58,539As, they must have to him, too.6500:03:59,520 –> 00:04:03,639Throughout my life, I always had a defense for everything I did.6600:04:04,559 –> 00:04:07,539When I rejected the temple, it was because the temple had failed me.6700:04:08,539 –> 00:04:12,539When I stole from Rome, it was because Rome had stolen from me.6800:04:13,460 –> 00:04:16,480As I saw it, right was on my side.6900:04:18,559 –> 00:04:20,559Someone else was always in the wrong.7000:04:22,459 –> 00:04:26,459But in the strange calm that came over my soul in those moments,7100:04:27,440 –> 00:04:29,440things looked very different.7200:04:30,519 –> 00:04:34,519I began to see that my greatest theft lay not in stealing from Rome,7300:04:35,480 –> 00:04:36,480but in robbing God.7400:04:37,420 –> 00:04:40,519I had thought about this life as mine, rather than his,7500:04:41,519 –> 00:04:43,459and had given him no place in it.7600:04:44,459 –> 00:04:46,440I had measured my life by what satisfied me7700:04:47,440 –> 00:04:52,420and, on the basis, had considered that my good outweighed my bad.7800:04:52,459 –> 00:04:56,480But as my life was slowly bleeding out to a miserable end,7900:04:57,440 –> 00:05:01,380I knew that I was far from good and far from God.8000:05:02,459 –> 00:05:04,480I looked again toward Jesus,8100:05:05,480 –> 00:05:09,420who despite the relentless taunting had remained silent.8200:05:10,480 –> 00:05:13,500The crowd was outraged because he claimed to be the Christ.8300:05:14,440 –> 00:05:15,420What if he was?8400:05:15,459 –> 00:05:18,500They hated him because he said he was the son of God.8500:05:19,500 –> 00:05:23,519If that were true, there would be some evidence and apparently, there was.8600:05:25,500 –> 00:05:27,519The crowd had said, he saved others.8700:05:27,519 –> 00:05:28,540I thought about that.8800:05:29,540 –> 00:05:34,500If he saved others, was there any chance he could save me?8900:05:35,500 –> 00:05:38,519The sign above his head just a few feet away from me read,9000:05:38,540 –> 00:05:47,519This is Jesus, the king of the Jews, if he was a king, he must have a kingdom.9100:05:48,440 –> 00:05:51,440But as I watched him moving toward his death,9200:05:51,459 –> 00:05:54,519I realized that his kingdom did not belong to this world.9300:05:54,519 –> 00:05:55,540It was odd.9400:05:57,440 –> 00:06:03,519They say that as you get closer to death on the cross, your brain struggled for oxygen.9500:06:04,519 –> 00:06:06,519You would think that my brain would have been slowing down,9600:06:06,519 –> 00:06:10,480and yet it was the exact opposite.9700:06:10,519 –> 00:06:14,440My growing fear of God kept driving my thoughts,9800:06:15,519 –> 00:06:18,440and the thoughts were becoming clearer and clearer.9900:06:18,500 –> 00:06:23,480If Jesus was God in the flesh, he would indeed be the Christ.10000:06:24,480 –> 00:06:29,420If he was the Christ, he would be in the business of saving people.10100:06:29,519 –> 00:06:33,540And if he saved people, he could bring them into his kingdom.10200:06:33,540 –> 00:06:38,480Within a few hours Jesus would be leaving this world and so would I.10300:06:38,540 –> 00:06:41,399His kingdom would be on the other side of death.10400:06:41,500 –> 00:06:44,519Perhaps he could do something to help me.10500:06:46,500 –> 00:06:48,480Jesus I said,10600:06:51,500 –> 00:06:54,480Remember me when you come into your kingdom.10700:06:58,480 –> 00:07:00,440It was an audacious request.10800:07:00,440 –> 00:07:03,380A few moments before I had been in a league with the crowd10900:07:03,440 –> 00:07:07,420and the second victim pouring out curses on Jesus.11000:07:09,440 –> 00:07:14,420If he remembered this when he came into his kingdom I would be done for.11100:07:16,440 –> 00:07:19,420In truth I suspected that I may be done for already.11200:07:20,440 –> 00:07:25,380My mind kept going back to my mother teaching us the ten commandments.11300:07:26,440 –> 00:07:28,380You shall not steal.11400:07:28,440 –> 00:07:30,380You shall not covet.11500:07:30,440 –> 00:07:33,380You shall have no other god before me.11600:07:34,440 –> 00:07:39,380I could hear her voice and picture her slightly bent finger pointing at me.11700:07:39,440 –> 00:07:41,380God is watching you.11800:07:42,440 –> 00:07:45,380He sees everything and he never forgets.11900:07:46,440 –> 00:07:50,380You always reap what you sow.12000:07:51,440 –> 00:07:54,380If she was right there was no hope for me.12100:07:54,440 –> 00:07:57,440I had made my choices.12200:07:57,440 –> 00:07:59,440And was facing the consequence.12300:08:00,440 –> 00:08:05,380I had sown my seed and was moving inexorably toward the harvest.12400:08:06,440 –> 00:08:09,380There was no going back.12500:08:09,440 –> 00:08:15,380With all my heart i hoped that my mother was wrong.12600:08:16,440 –> 00:08:23,380Hope began for me in the strange words of Jesus that at first had filled me with hate.12700:08:23,440 –> 00:08:26,380Father forgive them.12800:08:26,440 –> 00:08:30,380They do not know what they are doing.12900:08:31,440 –> 00:08:33,380Forgiveness.13000:08:33,440 –> 00:08:37,380If Jesus could offer forgiveness to his torturers13100:08:38,440 –> 00:08:41,380perhaps he would offer forgiveness to me.13200:08:42,440 –> 00:08:46,380At first, this had sounded like the very weakness I despised13300:08:46,440 –> 00:08:54,380but at that moment it seemed to open a glorious and unexpected window of hope.13400:08:54,440 –> 00:09:00,380Forgiveness was scarce in the legalistic moral world my mother suffered through.13500:09:00,440 –> 00:09:02,380It spoke of so often.13600:09:02,440 –> 00:09:07,380To her, the universe was an unbreakable system of cause and effect13700:09:07,440 –> 00:09:11,380regulated by a rules-oriented God.13800:09:11,440 –> 00:09:13,020Do good13900:09:13,440 –> 00:09:14,380and all will be well.14000:09:14,440 –> 00:09:16,380Do bad14100:09:16,440 –> 00:09:18,380and you had better watch out.14200:09:18,440 –> 00:09:23,380There was no hope for a person like me in that.14300:09:23,440 –> 00:09:27,380If you honestly measure your life by the commandments of God14400:09:27,380 –> 00:09:30,320I suspect you will come to the same conclusion.14500:09:30,380 –> 00:09:35,320Reaping what you sow is not good news for any of us.14600:09:35,380 –> 00:09:38,320Forgiveness is.14700:09:38,380 –> 00:09:43,320If Jesus remembered me when he came into his kingdom14800:09:43,380 –> 00:09:46,320there might be some hope for me.14900:09:46,380 –> 00:09:49,320But what would be in it for him?15000:09:49,380 –> 00:09:51,320I couldn’t think of anything.15100:09:51,380 –> 00:09:54,320If he took interest in me15200:09:54,320 –> 00:09:59,260it would not be because of anything I had done or anything I could offer.15300:09:59,320 –> 00:10:02,260If he remembered me at all15400:10:02,320 –> 00:10:09,260it would be an act of undeserved mercy and kindness.15500:10:09,320 –> 00:10:14,260But that was exactly what he offered to the soldiers who crucified him.15600:10:14,320 –> 00:10:18,260He showed them mercy and kindness.15700:10:18,320 –> 00:10:22,260Would he do the same for me?15800:10:22,260 –> 00:10:27,200Asking him to remember me was deceptively simple.15900:10:27,260 –> 00:10:30,200I began to fear God.16000:10:30,260 –> 00:10:34,200I recognized my sinful condition.16100:10:34,260 –> 00:10:38,200I believed that Jesus was who he said He was…16200:10:38,260 –> 00:10:40,200the Christ…16300:10:40,260 –> 00:10:42,200the Messiah…16400:10:42,260 –> 00:10:45,200and I asked Him to save me.16500:10:45,260 –> 00:10:49,200That is something you can do too.16600:10:52,260 –> 00:10:55,200In doing this, I gave up all the hostility in my heart16700:10:55,260 –> 00:10:57,200and I abandoned my illusion of having a life16800:10:57,260 –> 00:11:02,200that would somehow be impressive to God.16900:11:02,260 –> 00:11:04,200I placed my life as it was17000:11:04,260 –> 00:11:08,200with all I had done into the hands of Jesus…17100:11:08,260 –> 00:11:11,200my hands outstretched to His hands outstretched.17200:11:11,260 –> 00:11:13,200I believed in Him…17300:11:13,260 –> 00:11:14,200as the Christ…17400:11:14,260 –> 00:11:15,200the Son of God…17500:11:15,260 –> 00:11:16,200the Savior…17600:11:16,260 –> 00:11:19,200and the King…17700:11:19,260 –> 00:11:21,200and left the rest up to Him…17800:11:21,200 –> 00:11:24,140clinging to life by a slender thread.17900:11:24,200 –> 00:11:28,140I gasped for breath…18000:11:28,200 –> 00:11:36,140and waited for Him to respond.18100:11:36,200 –> 00:11:37,140We’ll pause here just briefly.18200:11:37,200 –> 00:11:39,140You are listening to a special edition18300:11:39,200 –> 00:11:42,140of Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.18400:11:42,200 –> 00:11:45,140Heaven, How I Got Here is the story of the thief on the cross18500:11:45,200 –> 00:11:48,140and today’s broadcast is the second episode18600:11:48,200 –> 00:11:50,140of the dramatized reading of the book.18700:11:50,140 –> 00:11:52,080We believe the story of the thief on the cross18800:11:52,140 –> 00:11:55,080is the clearest possible telling of the gospel,18900:11:55,140 –> 00:11:58,080reminding us that it was not the thief’s personality19000:11:58,140 –> 00:12:01,140or behavior during his life which earned him heaven.19100:12:01,200 –> 00:12:04,080Rather he is in heaven because of what Jesus accomplished19200:12:04,140 –> 00:12:07,080on the cross right next to him.19300:12:07,159 –> 00:12:10,080You may want to use this story of the thief on the cross19400:12:10,159 –> 00:12:12,080to share the gospel message with those19500:12:12,159 –> 00:12:14,080in your life who may want to learn more19600:12:14,159 –> 00:12:17,099about what it takes to get to heaven.19700:12:17,159 –> 00:12:19,099Here’s Open the Bible’s Executive Director19800:12:19,119 –> 00:12:22,099John Martin with news about the film version19900:12:22,159 –> 00:12:25,099of heaven how I got here and a Resource Pack20000:12:25,159 –> 00:12:28,059that’s available for churches that want to show the film.20100:12:28,140 –> 00:12:32,099Hello David, we’ve got a free event pack to help churches20200:12:32,159 –> 00:12:35,080put on the one-hour film of Heaven how I got here,20300:12:35,140 –> 00:12:37,099the story of the thief on the cross.20400:12:37,140 –> 00:12:40,080This professionally produced one-actor play20500:12:40,140 –> 00:12:43,080was used by many churches across the UK last Easter20600:12:43,140 –> 00:12:46,080and it is now available in 14 languages.20700:12:47,080 –> 00:12:50,080The free resources include a guide to help you20800:12:50,119 –> 00:12:54,080plan your event and publicity you can download20900:12:54,119 –> 00:12:58,080Just go to openthebible.org.uk forward slash HEAVEN21000:12:59,119 –> 00:13:02,080Let’s get back to our dramatised reading of the book21100:13:02,119 –> 00:13:05,080here’s Chapter 421200:13:06,080 –> 00:13:09,080Chapter 4. Hope.21300:13:09,119 –> 00:13:12,08011 15am21400:13:12,119 –> 00:13:15,119My request had been simple21500:13:15,119 –> 00:13:18,119Jesus, remember me21600:13:18,119 –> 00:13:21,119when you come into your kingdom21700:13:21,119 –> 00:13:24,119His answer was simpler still21800:13:24,119 –> 00:13:27,119Amen21900:13:29,159 –> 00:13:32,119There was no mistaking his enthusiasm22000:13:32,159 –> 00:13:34,119Joy filled his eyes22100:13:34,159 –> 00:13:37,119as he looked at me22200:13:37,159 –> 00:13:40,119It was as if he had been waiting for me to ask22300:13:40,159 –> 00:13:43,159As if his answer to my request22400:13:43,159 –> 00:13:46,159was bound up with why he was there22500:13:48,200 –> 00:13:50,799It felt to me as if his arms22600:13:50,799 –> 00:13:53,760which were pinned to the cross22700:13:53,799 –> 00:13:56,760Were reaching out to me22800:13:56,799 –> 00:13:59,760with the same love and forgiveness22900:13:59,799 –> 00:14:02,760he had offered to the guards23000:14:02,799 –> 00:14:05,760Amen, yes, I am with you23100:14:05,799 –> 00:14:08,760Your prayer is mine23200:14:09,400 –> 00:14:11,400It will be done23300:14:28,400 –> 00:14:30,400After all my wasted years23400:14:30,400 –> 00:14:32,400it would not have been surprising23500:14:32,400 –> 00:14:35,400if he had responded with caution23600:14:35,840 –> 00:14:36,400Do you think it is a little late23700:14:36,760 –> 00:14:38,760for you to be thinking about my kingdom?23800:14:40,179 –> 00:14:42,179After the hatred I had shown23900:14:42,179 –> 00:14:44,179toward him just a few hours earlier24000:14:44,919 –> 00:14:46,919I could hardly have complained24100:14:46,919 –> 00:14:48,919if he had said24200:14:48,919 –> 00:14:50,919the kingdom of heaven is not for people like you24300:14:53,159 –> 00:14:55,159But that is not his way24400:14:56,880 –> 00:14:58,880He did not place me on probation24500:14:59,520 –> 00:15:01,520He did not send me on a long spiritual journey24600:15:02,940 –> 00:15:04,940or tell me to wait and see24700:15:05,380 –> 00:15:07,380Instead he joyfully accepted my prayer24800:15:09,340 –> 00:15:11,340and took his stand with me24900:15:11,979 –> 00:15:13,979as I took my stand with him25000:15:15,059 –> 00:15:17,059I believed on the Lord Jesus Christ25100:15:20,059 –> 00:15:22,059and asked him to save me25200:15:24,419 –> 00:15:26,419he accepted me freely and gladly25300:15:28,219 –> 00:15:30,219without hesitation or condition25400:15:30,219 –> 00:15:41,599amen he said and then after a short pause, I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise25500:15:44,820 –> 00:15:47,280paradise, the world of peace25600:15:48,940 –> 00:15:50,940where God’s people enjoy his presence25700:15:53,340 –> 00:15:58,419I had no doubt that this would be Jesus destination after he died25800:15:59,119 –> 00:16:04,539But I was shocked by his unconditional promise that I would be there with him25900:16:06,140 –> 00:16:11,020Hanging on that cross I could taste hell already26000:16:13,219 –> 00:16:19,020I had nothing left but fear and Jesus promised paradise26100:16:21,380 –> 00:16:26,039When I reached out to him, I thought his kingdom would be in the distant future26200:16:27,000 –> 00:16:29,479That’s why I asked him to remember me26300:16:30,400 –> 00:16:34,960But Jesus made it clear that I didn’t need to worry about him remembering26400:16:36,380 –> 00:16:39,140I would be in paradise before the day was done26500:16:43,380 –> 00:16:49,020Amen, I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise26600:16:49,020 –> 00:16:56,260These were the greatest words anyone had ever spoken in my life26700:16:58,059 –> 00:17:00,260They changed everything for me26800:17:01,000 –> 00:17:06,599Looking back I see even more, and the promise of jesus than I was able to grasp at the time26900:17:10,599 –> 00:17:16,800He had said you will be with me. And so it was27000:17:17,359 –> 00:17:19,359I27100:17:19,560 –> 00:17:24,560Was Jesus last companion on earth and his first companion in heaven27200:17:26,520 –> 00:17:33,020I’m still amazed that he would choose me as the first person. He would usher into heaven I27300:17:33,839 –> 00:17:36,339Expect the angels were astonished too27400:17:37,280 –> 00:17:41,979They should know by now that Jesus chooses some surprising friends27500:17:42,479 –> 00:17:44,479Like27600:17:45,239 –> 00:17:47,359Many others. I thought heaven belonged to27700:17:48,219 –> 00:17:55,380Holy and faithful people who honored God would lives of love and sacrifice for the good of others27800:17:56,459 –> 00:17:58,619Paradise was the home of the righteous27900:17:59,500 –> 00:18:03,500It was for heroes of the faith such as Abraham28000:18:04,060 –> 00:18:05,219Moses28100:18:05,219 –> 00:18:07,219David and Elijah28200:18:08,680 –> 00:18:10,680My life would not measure up28300:18:11,660 –> 00:18:13,979I lived at a distance from God I28400:18:15,060 –> 00:18:17,060Knew more about hate than love28500:18:17,680 –> 00:18:19,839more about doubt than faith28600:18:20,739 –> 00:18:23,300More about sin than repentance28700:18:24,420 –> 00:18:27,920But Jesus reached out and made a friend of me28800:18:28,819 –> 00:18:30,819That is his way28900:18:31,839 –> 00:18:35,920It’s no accident I was the first one he brought into heaven29000:18:36,319 –> 00:18:42,420I am an example of what he is able to do with the least likely candidates29100:18:43,800 –> 00:18:47,199he snatched me from the brink of hell and29200:18:47,920 –> 00:18:50,760Brought me into the joys of heaven29300:18:53,859 –> 00:18:58,760Jesus said to me today you will be with me in paradise and29400:19:00,079 –> 00:19:02,079He was as good as his word29500:19:06,900 –> 00:19:08,900you29600:19:24,400 –> 00:19:28,040Death does not lead to a long period of unconsciousness29700:19:28,839 –> 00:19:34,219Nor does it lead to a long process of being prepared for the friends of jesus29800:19:34,979 –> 00:19:40,079Death is an immediate translation into the joys of life at the right hand of god29900:19:42,119 –> 00:19:45,020My story is unusual to say the least30000:19:46,599 –> 00:19:50,199But it teaches something that everyone needs to know30100:19:51,719 –> 00:19:55,660Entrance into heaven does not depend on your performance in the Christian life30200:19:57,060 –> 00:19:59,060Think, about what happened to me i?30300:19:59,939 –> 00:20:03,599trusted christ and went to heaven on the same day i30400:20:04,219 –> 00:20:06,859missed out on the entire Christian life i30500:20:07,520 –> 00:20:11,739Had no battles with temptation and no struggles with prayer i30600:20:13,219 –> 00:20:19,000Never had the opportunity to be baptized to receive communion to join a church30700:20:19,739 –> 00:20:23,280to make a donation or to serve in a ministry30800:20:25,959 –> 00:20:27,959Since i’ve been here in heaven30900:20:28,280 –> 00:20:34,400I’ve learned that many people on earth believe that their entrance into heaven depends on living a good and31000:20:35,099 –> 00:20:37,099godly life31100:20:37,339 –> 00:20:39,439They may believe that jesus forgives31200:20:40,260 –> 00:20:46,800But deep down they feel that their progress in the christian life is the key that will open the door of heaven31300:20:48,839 –> 00:20:50,979How could that possibly be true i31400:20:51,859 –> 00:20:53,520I31500:20:53,520 –> 00:20:56,979Went to heaven without ever living the christian life.31600:20:57,719 –> 00:21:01,920I didn’t have the opportunity with my hands fixed on the cross.31700:21:02,619 –> 00:21:08,800I was in no position to do good works with my feet nailed to a wooden beam31800:21:08,800 –> 00:21:12,020I could hardly walk in paths of righteousness and31900:21:12,760 –> 00:21:15,000With death only hours away32000:21:15,680 –> 00:21:20,479There was no time for me to turn over a new leaf and live a better life32100:21:21,640 –> 00:21:23,640You to need to know this32200:21:24,400 –> 00:21:28,339Your entrance into heaven does not depend on how well you live the christian life32300:21:31,060 –> 00:21:35,579If that were true there would be no hope for me or for you32400:21:39,180 –> 00:21:45,160We can’t live the christian life well enough to deserve heaven nobody can32500:21:45,680 –> 00:21:47,680but32600:21:47,959 –> 00:21:54,880When you reach out to christ in faith and repentance he accepts you unconditionally32700:21:58,640 –> 00:22:06,000He does not say I forgive you, but I will be watching very carefully to see how you do from now on32800:22:07,920 –> 00:22:12,719He doesn’t put you on probation and say make sure you don’t mess up again32900:22:13,099 –> 00:22:19,160if my performance was involved even to a small degree33000:22:20,560 –> 00:22:22,560I Can never be sure of getting into Heaven?33100:22:23,400 –> 00:22:27,060How could you ever know that you’ve lived a good enough life?33200:22:28,640 –> 00:22:34,199The good news is that Salvation does not depend on your work for Christ33300:22:35,180 –> 00:22:37,339But on Christ’s work for you33400:22:37,339 –> 00:22:39,339Your work for him is never done33500:22:40,380 –> 00:22:42,140But you can take it from me33600:22:42,859 –> 00:22:45,979That his work for you is already complete33700:22:47,119 –> 00:22:49,280You can rest your life33800:22:49,680 –> 00:22:50,900death33900:22:50,900 –> 00:22:53,479and eternity on him34000:22:54,180 –> 00:22:56,180with complete confidence34100:22:57,520 –> 00:23:01,839That’s what I did and I can tell you I was not disappointed34200:23:02,119 –> 00:23:03,660I was not disappointed34300:23:06,900 –> 00:23:08,900Colin, Jesus’ words to the thief34400:23:09,520 –> 00:23:11,780Today you will be with me in paradise34500:23:11,780 –> 00:23:14,359How do we know that paradise is the same as heaven?34600:23:14,560 –> 00:23:17,939Because that’s where Jesus went when he died34700:23:18,140 –> 00:23:19,760and he said you will be with me34800:23:19,760 –> 00:23:21,540How do we know that’s where Jesus went34900:23:21,540 –> 00:23:24,420Because at the end of his life he says35000:23:24,420 –> 00:23:28,439Father into your hands I commit my spirit35100:23:28,619 –> 00:23:32,500Jesus went into the presence of the Father35200:23:32,500 –> 00:23:34,920He went into all the joy and the glory of Heaven35300:23:34,920 –> 00:23:38,380And he says to this thief you’re gonna be with me35400:23:38,599 –> 00:23:40,420So Jesus said that to the thief35500:23:40,420 –> 00:23:44,579but how can someone listening today have that same kind of assurance35600:23:44,640 –> 00:23:47,000Well in the same way as the thief did35700:23:47,000 –> 00:23:49,839he was given a promise by Jesus Christ35800:23:49,839 –> 00:23:52,839You will be with me in paradise35900:23:52,979 –> 00:23:55,979and when we put our trust in Jesus Christ36000:23:56,060 –> 00:23:57,780You stop trusting in yourself36100:23:57,780 –> 00:24:00,000in your own effort to be a better person36200:24:00,000 –> 00:24:02,900and start looking as the thief did to Jesus Christ36300:24:02,900 –> 00:24:04,579and you ask him to save you36400:24:04,579 –> 00:24:07,939well he gives this promise to all who believe36500:24:07,939 –> 00:24:09,359that we will be with him36600:24:09,359 –> 00:24:12,760he embraces us with his love and with his forgiveness36700:24:12,760 –> 00:24:15,699and we put our trust in that promise just as the thief did36800:24:16,219 –> 00:24:20,180Well that may be a message that a friend or family member needs to hear36900:24:20,180 –> 00:24:23,180and maybe listening to the gospel presented in this way37000:24:23,180 –> 00:24:24,719in Heaven How I Got Here37100:24:24,839 –> 00:24:26,219or reading the book37200:24:26,219 –> 00:24:28,219may very well appeal to them37300:24:28,599 –> 00:24:31,859Open The Bible is supported financially by our listeners37400:24:31,859 –> 00:24:33,800and if that’s something you’d like to do37500:24:33,800 –> 00:24:36,880this month, if you’re able to begin a new direct debit37600:24:36,880 –> 00:24:38,339to the work of Open The Bible37700:24:38,339 –> 00:24:41,040in the amount of £5 per month or more37800:24:41,040 –> 00:24:43,619or a one-off gift of £50 or more37900:24:43,619 –> 00:24:46,219we’d love to say thank you by sending you38000:24:46,219 –> 00:24:50,859two copies of the new graphic novel of Heaven How I Got Here38100:24:50,859 –> 00:24:54,060along with the NIV outreach bible38200:24:54,260 –> 00:24:55,739Full terms and conditions38300:24:55,739 –> 00:24:58,260and you can give online at our website38400:24:58,260 –> 00:25:01,260www.openthebible.org.uk38500:25:01,760 –> 00:25:04,099for Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith38600:25:04,099 –> 00:25:05,199I am David Pick38700:25:05,199 –> 00:25:07,199and I look forward to you joining us again38800:25:07,199 –> 00:25:09,479next time on Open The Bible38900:25:16,619 –> 00:25:20,640The thief on the cross definitely did not live a good life39000:25:20,640 –> 00:25:22,040find out what happened to him39100:25:22,119 –> 00:25:24,160in the next part of our series39200:25:24,160 –> 00:25:26,160Heaven, How I Got Here39300:25:26,160 –> 00:25:28,339That’s Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith