1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:03,120 Now, the series that we begin today 2 00:00:03,120 –> 00:00:06,140 is entitled, simply, Heaven. 3 00:00:06,140 –> 00:00:08,640 We’re going to look at four themes, 4 00:00:08,640 –> 00:00:11,760 and all of them arise directly from the words 5 00:00:11,760 –> 00:00:16,139 that Jesus spoke to the thief on the cross. 6 00:00:16,139 –> 00:00:17,719 Jesus said to the thief, 7 00:00:17,719 –> 00:00:22,719 “‘Today, you will be with me in paradise, today.’” 8 00:00:22,719 –> 00:00:24,559 Now next week we’re going to therefore 9 00:00:24,559 –> 00:00:26,879 look at the theme of immediacy. 10 00:00:26,980 –> 00:00:30,480 What happens when a believer dies? 11 00:00:30,480 –> 00:00:33,000 What is the experience of believers 12 00:00:33,000 –> 00:00:34,580 who are with the Lord now? 13 00:00:34,580 –> 00:00:37,480 Loved ones who are, died in Christ, 14 00:00:37,480 –> 00:00:40,480 what are they actually experiencing now? 15 00:00:40,480 –> 00:00:42,400 We will look at that theme next week. 16 00:00:42,400 –> 00:00:44,820 Then the following week, we’ll think of this. 17 00:00:44,820 –> 00:00:49,360 Jesus said, Today you will be with me in paradise. 18 00:00:49,360 –> 00:00:51,660 With me, there’s relationship there, 19 00:00:51,660 –> 00:00:54,439 relationship with Jesus Christ 20 00:00:54,439 –> 00:00:58,439 and because of that relationship with his people. 21 00:00:58,439 –> 00:01:01,759 Folks sometimes ask will we know one another in Heaven? 22 00:01:01,759 –> 00:01:03,320 We’ll look at that question 23 00:01:03,320 –> 00:01:07,160 and the wonderful answer to it in a couple of weeks time. 24 00:01:07,160 –> 00:01:11,779 And then Jesus said, Today you will be with me in paradise. 25 00:01:11,779 –> 00:01:13,800 And we know that Jesus was referring 26 00:01:13,800 –> 00:01:16,480 to the joyful presence of the Father 27 00:01:16,480 –> 00:01:21,040 because Jesus said, Father into your hand I commit my spirit. 28 00:01:21,040 –> 00:01:23,019 So when he died, he went immediately 29 00:01:23,019 –> 00:01:25,699 into the presence of the Father 30 00:01:25,699 –> 00:01:26,779 and the thief was with him. 31 00:01:26,779 –> 00:01:29,739 You will be with me and paradise is the place 32 00:01:29,739 –> 00:01:32,300 where God’s people enjoy his presence. 33 00:01:32,300 –> 00:01:33,680 And so we will ask the question, 34 00:01:33,680 –> 00:01:35,620 what will I enjoy in heaven? 35 00:01:35,620 –> 00:01:38,800 What will be the great blessings of life 36 00:01:38,800 –> 00:01:42,360 and future for all the people of God in heaven? 37 00:01:42,360 –> 00:01:44,820 Now all of that lies ahead in the series 38 00:01:44,820 –> 00:01:47,500 over these next weeks but I want to begin today 39 00:01:47,500 –> 00:01:49,879 with the most important question of all, 40 00:01:50,739 –> 00:01:54,440 which clearly is how can I be sure of heaven? 41 00:01:55,839 –> 00:01:59,839 Whatever the joys of heaven, they are of little help 42 00:01:59,839 –> 00:02:02,919 to a person who does not end up being there. 43 00:02:02,919 –> 00:02:07,639 And Jesus said today you will be with me in paradise. 44 00:02:07,639 –> 00:02:09,139 You will be. 45 00:02:09,139 –> 00:02:13,460 There’s clarity there, there’s certainty there. 46 00:02:13,460 –> 00:02:15,059 There’s confidence there. 47 00:02:15,080 –> 00:02:15,960 The word of Jesus. 48 00:02:15,960 –> 00:02:20,779 You will be with me in paradise. 49 00:02:20,779 –> 00:02:22,339 He does not say to the thief, 50 00:02:22,339 –> 00:02:24,100 well, we’ll need to wait and see. 51 00:02:25,000 –> 00:02:26,820 He doesn’t say, well, I’ll put your name on a list 52 00:02:26,820 –> 00:02:28,979 and we’ll see if a spot opens up soon. 53 00:02:30,059 –> 00:02:32,779 He doesn’t say, well, you’ve only just begun to believe. 54 00:02:32,779 –> 00:02:36,580 We’ll need to see how your faith grows and how it develops. 55 00:02:36,580 –> 00:02:41,580 No, he says, today you will be with me in paradise. 56 00:02:41,759 –> 00:02:43,220 Paradise. 57 00:02:43,220 –> 00:02:44,619 Now, the obvious question, then, 58 00:02:44,619 –> 00:02:47,500 is to whom is that promise given? 59 00:02:48,419 –> 00:02:49,660 How can you know, 60 00:02:49,660 –> 00:02:53,259 how can I know that this promise is for us? 61 00:02:54,300 –> 00:02:56,979 So today, our title is Confidence, 62 00:02:56,979 –> 00:03:01,380 How Can I be Sure of Heaven? 63 00:03:01,380 –> 00:03:03,380 And it is really hard to imagine 64 00:03:03,380 –> 00:03:05,919 a more important question than this. 65 00:03:07,600 –> 00:03:08,960 Sooner or later, 66 00:03:09,300 –> 00:03:13,660 your last day on earth will come. 67 00:03:14,600 –> 00:03:17,440 You may not know it when that day dawns. 68 00:03:17,440 –> 00:03:19,399 You may not know it to be your last day 69 00:03:19,399 –> 00:03:20,520 as the thief did. 70 00:03:20,520 –> 00:03:22,559 Of course, he woke up in the cell that morning. 71 00:03:22,559 –> 00:03:25,399 He knew he would be dead by sundown. 72 00:03:25,399 –> 00:03:27,800 Knew he had a dreadful day of pain ahead of him. 73 00:03:27,800 –> 00:03:29,059 He could say, you know, 74 00:03:29,059 –> 00:03:31,539 this is it, this is the day that I die. 75 00:03:33,000 –> 00:03:35,080 And for someone here that may be this week, 76 00:03:35,119 –> 00:03:38,619 maybe someone in the congregation passes 77 00:03:38,619 –> 00:03:40,759 to be with the Lord pretty much every week, 78 00:03:42,080 –> 00:03:44,679 maybe this month, maybe this year. 79 00:03:45,600 –> 00:03:48,339 For others it may be a long way off, 80 00:03:49,759 –> 00:03:52,000 but the one thing that is absolutely certain 81 00:03:52,000 –> 00:03:55,860 is that for every one of us that day will come. 82 00:03:57,440 –> 00:03:59,300 And on that day, when you wake up, 83 00:03:59,300 –> 00:04:01,199 whether you realize it or not, 84 00:04:01,199 –> 00:04:02,720 it will be your last day, 85 00:04:02,839 –> 00:04:05,039 and the question is, 86 00:04:05,039 –> 00:04:06,639 what will happen then 87 00:04:07,720 –> 00:04:10,520 after your last day of life on this earth? 88 00:04:12,399 –> 00:04:16,160 Now Jesus speaks to us about heaven, 89 00:04:16,160 –> 00:04:20,399 and he came into the world so that people could go there. 90 00:04:21,320 –> 00:04:23,040 Always keep this in mind, 91 00:04:23,040 –> 00:04:25,920 Jesus Christ did not come into the world 92 00:04:25,920 –> 00:04:28,579 to keep people out of heaven. 93 00:04:28,579 –> 00:04:31,899 He came into the world to get people in. 94 00:04:31,920 –> 00:04:35,880 That is why his coming is such good news. 95 00:04:35,880 –> 00:04:38,720 And nothing matters more 96 00:04:38,720 –> 00:04:43,320 than that you should get in to heaven. 97 00:04:43,320 –> 00:04:45,440 This matters more than all the things 98 00:04:45,440 –> 00:04:47,320 that may be pressing in on you right now 99 00:04:47,320 –> 00:04:48,799 in regards to your life, 100 00:04:48,799 –> 00:04:51,079 pressures with regards to life and work 101 00:04:51,079 –> 00:04:53,700 and business and money and all the rest of it. 102 00:04:54,720 –> 00:04:57,079 Jesus said on one occasion, 103 00:04:57,079 –> 00:04:59,679 a person’s life does not consist 104 00:04:59,700 –> 00:05:02,540 in the abundance of his possessions. 105 00:05:03,480 –> 00:05:05,480 And then he went on to tell this story 106 00:05:05,480 –> 00:05:09,260 about a man who had become all wrapped up in his work. 107 00:05:09,260 –> 00:05:11,660 Very, very easy for that to happen 108 00:05:11,660 –> 00:05:14,079 as work presents so many opportunities 109 00:05:14,079 –> 00:05:17,260 and also places so many demands. 110 00:05:17,260 –> 00:05:20,279 And for this particular man in Jesus’ story 111 00:05:20,279 –> 00:05:24,119 the pressures were great because his business was booming. 112 00:05:24,119 –> 00:05:28,540 He was working a plan for expansion and things were going. 113 00:05:29,679 –> 00:05:31,440 And his plan was a very simple one. 114 00:05:31,440 –> 00:05:34,440 He says, now, with the expansion that’s going on here 115 00:05:34,440 –> 00:05:38,119 I’m gonna tear down my barns, I’m gonna build larger ones. 116 00:05:38,119 –> 00:05:40,399 Nothing wrong with expanding your business. 117 00:05:40,399 –> 00:05:43,299 If God blesses your business, marvelous. 118 00:05:43,299 –> 00:05:45,440 But this man says something very interesting. 119 00:05:45,440 –> 00:05:46,920 He says, I’ll tear down my barns. 120 00:05:46,920 –> 00:05:48,500 I’ll build larger ones. 121 00:05:48,500 –> 00:05:53,500 And there I will store all my grain and all my goods. 122 00:05:54,899 –> 00:05:58,399 So he was a wise man in the sense he was a planner. 123 00:05:59,359 –> 00:06:02,359 He was focused on preparing for the future. 124 00:06:02,359 –> 00:06:04,019 I’m putting things in store. 125 00:06:04,019 –> 00:06:06,380 I’m getting ready for the future. 126 00:06:07,880 –> 00:06:12,519 But God said about this man that he was a fool 127 00:06:12,519 –> 00:06:14,880 because in preparing for the future 128 00:06:14,880 –> 00:06:17,279 he missed the bigger part. 129 00:06:19,359 –> 00:06:22,739 Every time you look at your 401K 130 00:06:23,839 –> 00:06:26,179 or your IRA or whatever it is, 131 00:06:26,200 –> 00:06:29,600 your investments, your positioning of yourself 132 00:06:29,600 –> 00:06:32,559 for the future, ask yourself this question, 133 00:06:32,559 –> 00:06:36,899 how well am I prepared for what lies beyond this? 134 00:06:37,760 –> 00:06:39,579 Because that’s the bigger part. 135 00:06:40,480 –> 00:06:42,339 That’s the thing that really matters. 136 00:06:43,320 –> 00:06:46,619 And if you think about it, we put in relentless effort 137 00:06:46,619 –> 00:06:49,619 in all that we’re doing and establishing our position 138 00:06:49,619 –> 00:06:52,339 over years for a future that may last 139 00:06:52,339 –> 00:06:54,880 10, 20, 30 years after you retire, 140 00:06:54,880 –> 00:06:58,559 maybe even a little bit more, but what then, 141 00:06:58,559 –> 00:07:00,899 to plan or to prepare for the few years 142 00:07:00,899 –> 00:07:03,779 that you have in this world is good and it is wise, 143 00:07:03,779 –> 00:07:07,980 but to neglect the eternity that lies beyond, 144 00:07:07,980 –> 00:07:11,220 well that would be the greatest folly. 145 00:07:12,459 –> 00:07:16,820 One day you will leave this world and when you do 146 00:07:16,820 –> 00:07:18,920 all that you have, you will leave behind. 147 00:07:18,920 –> 00:07:21,160 You brought nothing in and we all know 148 00:07:21,160 –> 00:07:23,899 that we will take nothing out. 149 00:07:23,959 –> 00:07:26,299 And it is extraordinary that so many people 150 00:07:26,299 –> 00:07:28,940 spend so much of their lives avoiding thinking 151 00:07:28,940 –> 00:07:31,519 about the greatest question that ultimately 152 00:07:31,519 –> 00:07:34,799 confronts every one of us. 153 00:07:36,140 –> 00:07:37,559 How can I be sure of heaven? 154 00:07:38,880 –> 00:07:40,279 How can I be sure of heaven? 155 00:07:42,640 –> 00:07:45,679 Now, the story of the thief on the cross 156 00:07:45,679 –> 00:07:48,559 really gives to us, I believe, the clearest answer 157 00:07:48,559 –> 00:07:50,880 to this question and so I’m inviting you 158 00:07:50,880 –> 00:07:53,920 to turn to Luke chapter 23 today, 159 00:07:53,920 –> 00:07:56,380 where we find this story. 160 00:07:56,380 –> 00:07:58,119 And it is a familiar one. 161 00:07:58,119 –> 00:08:02,119 We read in verse 32 that to others who were criminals 162 00:08:02,119 –> 00:08:06,299 were led away to be put to death with Jesus. 163 00:08:06,299 –> 00:08:08,739 Verse 33, when they came to the place 164 00:08:08,739 –> 00:08:13,739 that is called the Skull, there they crucified Jesus 165 00:08:13,839 –> 00:08:18,839 and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 166 00:08:21,679 –> 00:08:24,260 Then we are told when we get to the heart of the story 167 00:08:24,260 –> 00:08:28,059 in verse 42, that one of these thieves, 168 00:08:28,059 –> 00:08:29,420 one of the criminals said, 169 00:08:29,420 –> 00:08:34,419 Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. 170 00:08:35,940 –> 00:08:40,940 And Jesus said to him, truly, I say to you today, 171 00:08:41,479 –> 00:08:45,219 you will be with me in paradise. 172 00:08:46,419 –> 00:08:49,059 Now I want us to see from this story 173 00:08:49,059 –> 00:08:51,419 what it was that the thief did 174 00:08:53,020 –> 00:08:58,020 that caused Jesus to give this wonderful promise 175 00:08:58,580 –> 00:09:00,299 and this wonderful assurance to him 176 00:09:00,299 –> 00:09:02,140 so that we may walk in the same path 177 00:09:02,140 –> 00:09:05,520 and we may follow his very, very good example. 178 00:09:06,520 –> 00:09:07,539 But before we get to that, 179 00:09:07,539 –> 00:09:09,479 I want you just to notice this one thing, 180 00:09:09,479 –> 00:09:12,400 that the story of the thief blows away 181 00:09:12,400 –> 00:09:14,940 one of the most commonly held myths 182 00:09:14,940 –> 00:09:16,940 about how people get to heaven. 183 00:09:17,739 –> 00:09:21,099 And that is many people have the idea 184 00:09:21,099 –> 00:09:23,640 that a person will get to heaven 185 00:09:23,640 –> 00:09:25,880 by living a good enough life. 186 00:09:27,179 –> 00:09:28,159 Now if you think about it, 187 00:09:28,159 –> 00:09:29,820 the story of the thief clearly 188 00:09:29,820 –> 00:09:33,340 just blows that myth out of the water. 189 00:09:33,340 –> 00:09:37,659 I mean, this man clearly had not lived a good life, 190 00:09:37,659 –> 00:09:39,619 he was a criminal. 191 00:09:39,619 –> 00:09:44,580 Mark and Matthew both specify that he was a robber, 192 00:09:44,580 –> 00:09:47,599 hence the thief on the cross. 193 00:09:47,599 –> 00:09:50,520 And because he was experiencing capital punishment 194 00:09:50,520 –> 00:09:54,760 and crucifixion under the Roman justice system, 195 00:09:54,760 –> 00:09:57,679 it is likely that his thievery was aggravated, 196 00:09:57,679 –> 00:10:02,119 may have involved violence and perhaps even murder. 197 00:10:02,119 –> 00:10:03,919 The scale of his crimes was such 198 00:10:03,919 –> 00:10:06,799 that the thief did not dispute 199 00:10:06,799 –> 00:10:09,760 that what he was receiving in this awful agony 200 00:10:09,760 –> 00:10:11,599 was in fact a just sentence. 201 00:10:11,599 –> 00:10:13,200 He says in verse 41, 202 00:10:13,239 –> 00:10:16,260 we are getting what our deeds deserve. 203 00:10:17,299 –> 00:10:22,039 So quite clearly this man had not lived a good life, 204 00:10:23,000 –> 00:10:25,340 very very far from it, 205 00:10:26,280 –> 00:10:27,719 and even more striking, 206 00:10:27,719 –> 00:10:30,559 he was not in the position to start living a good life. 207 00:10:30,559 –> 00:10:32,280 I mean, this guy is out of time, 208 00:10:32,280 –> 00:10:34,179 he cannot turn over a new leaf, 209 00:10:34,179 –> 00:10:36,760 he can’t go and do some new works or good works 210 00:10:36,760 –> 00:10:39,479 when his hands are tied to the cross 211 00:10:39,559 –> 00:10:42,520 and yet Jesus says to this man, 212 00:10:42,520 –> 00:10:43,979 to this man, 213 00:10:43,979 –> 00:10:46,500 today you will be with me in paradise. 214 00:10:46,500 –> 00:10:49,219 Now if Jesus can say this to this man, 215 00:10:50,479 –> 00:10:55,059 then clearly heaven is open to any person 216 00:10:56,039 –> 00:10:59,479 who follows the path that this man did. 217 00:10:59,479 –> 00:11:01,599 And that is why it is so helpful 218 00:11:01,599 –> 00:11:02,919 for us to focus on 219 00:11:02,919 –> 00:11:05,799 what exactly happened in the transaction 220 00:11:05,799 –> 00:11:07,859 between this man and Jesus 221 00:11:07,880 –> 00:11:11,099 that would cause this most unlikely person 222 00:11:12,260 –> 00:11:15,500 to hear the words of Jesus. 223 00:11:15,500 –> 00:11:19,099 Today, you will be with me in paradise. 224 00:11:19,099 –> 00:11:22,099 And I want to put this in the simplest language 225 00:11:22,099 –> 00:11:25,020 that I possibly can today 226 00:11:25,020 –> 00:11:28,479 and to give you the answer to this question 227 00:11:28,479 –> 00:11:29,859 in just three words, 228 00:11:29,859 –> 00:11:32,919 that’s one answer, three words. 229 00:11:32,919 –> 00:11:34,460 What did the thief do? 230 00:11:35,359 –> 00:11:37,320 The answer is 231 00:11:37,320 –> 00:11:39,140 turn, 232 00:11:39,140 –> 00:11:42,000 ask and trust. 233 00:11:42,000 –> 00:11:45,599 Turn, ask and trust. 234 00:11:45,599 –> 00:11:47,280 That’s what he did. 235 00:11:47,280 –> 00:11:50,140 And to the person who turns to Jesus, 236 00:11:50,140 –> 00:11:53,159 asks of Jesus and trust in Jesus, 237 00:11:53,159 –> 00:11:57,119 Jesus says, you will be with me 238 00:11:57,119 –> 00:11:57,960 in paradise. 239 00:11:57,960 –> 00:11:59,280 You will be. 240 00:11:59,280 –> 00:12:02,719 You will be to such a person. 241 00:12:02,719 –> 00:12:04,580 Now let’s look at this from the story together. 242 00:12:04,580 –> 00:12:06,520 First word, turn. 243 00:12:07,719 –> 00:12:12,159 The thief was on the cross for more than six hours. 244 00:12:12,159 –> 00:12:15,979 We know this because Jesus was on the cross for six hours, 245 00:12:15,979 –> 00:12:17,659 crucified at nine in the morning, 246 00:12:17,659 –> 00:12:20,340 died at three in the afternoon. 247 00:12:20,340 –> 00:12:23,260 Six hours of agony. 248 00:12:23,260 –> 00:12:25,000 And we know that the thief on the cross 249 00:12:25,000 –> 00:12:26,260 died after Jesus, 250 00:12:26,260 –> 00:12:27,780 because when the soldiers came 251 00:12:27,780 –> 00:12:29,700 to break the legs of the criminals, 252 00:12:29,700 –> 00:12:32,080 our Lord had already trusted his spirit 253 00:12:32,080 –> 00:12:34,460 into the hand of the Father. 254 00:12:36,140 –> 00:12:39,320 So the thief on the cross was there 255 00:12:39,320 –> 00:12:43,000 for more than six hours. 256 00:12:43,000 –> 00:12:45,840 And during that period of time, 257 00:12:45,840 –> 00:12:48,880 there was a remarkable change 258 00:12:48,880 –> 00:12:52,020 in his attitude towards Jesus. 259 00:12:52,900 –> 00:12:55,219 Matthew and Mark make very clear 260 00:12:55,219 –> 00:12:58,760 that at first, both of the criminals 261 00:12:58,760 –> 00:13:01,700 hurled abuse at Jesus. 262 00:13:01,719 –> 00:13:03,780 Matthew 27, 44. 263 00:13:03,780 –> 00:13:07,140 And the robbers, plural, 264 00:13:07,140 –> 00:13:09,219 who were crucified with him 265 00:13:09,219 –> 00:13:12,179 also reviled him in the same way. 266 00:13:12,179 –> 00:13:14,820 Similarly, Mark 15 and verse 32. 267 00:13:14,820 –> 00:13:17,619 Those, plural, who were crucified 268 00:13:17,619 –> 00:13:20,179 with him also reviled him. 269 00:13:21,140 –> 00:13:23,020 It’s very clear from Matthew and Mark 270 00:13:23,020 –> 00:13:26,099 here is our Lord Jesus and on either side 271 00:13:26,099 –> 00:13:27,619 there are these two criminals. 272 00:13:27,619 –> 00:13:30,780 And at first, both of them 273 00:13:30,780 –> 00:13:34,140 are hurling abuse towards Jesus, 274 00:13:34,140 –> 00:13:37,979 the Son of God, there on that center cross. 275 00:13:39,140 –> 00:13:43,039 But then a great change comes over one of them. 276 00:13:44,539 –> 00:13:48,979 The Bible calls this turning repentance. 277 00:13:48,979 –> 00:13:52,140 That’s the Bible word for it. 278 00:13:52,140 –> 00:13:54,859 And one writer has described repentance 279 00:13:54,859 –> 00:13:56,739 in this very helpful way, 280 00:13:56,739 –> 00:13:58,760 that repentance is turning, 281 00:13:59,880 –> 00:14:04,059 with as much as you know of yourself, 282 00:14:04,059 –> 00:14:07,520 from as much as you know of sin, 283 00:14:07,520 –> 00:14:10,619 to as much as you know of God. 284 00:14:11,539 –> 00:14:14,320 And quite clearly, therefore, it gets deeper 285 00:14:14,320 –> 00:14:17,299 as a believer’s life advances. 286 00:14:17,299 –> 00:14:19,940 The more you learn about who God is 287 00:14:19,940 –> 00:14:22,460 and what he calls you to, 288 00:14:22,460 –> 00:14:25,219 and the more you learn about yourself 289 00:14:25,440 –> 00:14:28,719 and what actually goes on inside your own mind 290 00:14:28,719 –> 00:14:30,419 and your own heart, 291 00:14:30,419 –> 00:14:33,500 and the more you learn about what sin is 292 00:14:33,500 –> 00:14:37,020 in its various subtle dimensions. 293 00:14:37,020 –> 00:14:38,739 The more you learn each of these things, 294 00:14:38,739 –> 00:14:41,020 the deeper repentance goes, 295 00:14:41,020 –> 00:14:44,960 the further it advances throughout the life of a Christian. 296 00:14:44,960 –> 00:14:48,580 So, repentance, this turning, is an ongoing process 297 00:14:48,580 –> 00:14:51,260 in the Christian life as we learn more of God 298 00:14:51,260 –> 00:14:53,340 and of ourselves and of sin. 299 00:14:53,340 –> 00:14:56,200 But every process has a beginning. 300 00:14:57,380 –> 00:14:59,460 And the story of the thief shows 301 00:14:59,460 –> 00:15:03,820 where the its process of turning actually begins. 302 00:15:03,820 –> 00:15:07,179 And I want you to notice two things from this story. 303 00:15:07,179 –> 00:15:10,580 That this turning to Jesus begins 304 00:15:10,580 –> 00:15:14,380 when a person comes to fear God. 305 00:15:14,380 –> 00:15:17,340 And you have that in verse 40. 306 00:15:17,340 –> 00:15:21,059 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him saying, 307 00:15:21,059 –> 00:15:24,820 are you not the Christ save yourself and us? 308 00:15:24,820 –> 00:15:26,760 But the other rebuked him saying, 309 00:15:26,760 –> 00:15:30,000 do you not fear God 310 00:15:30,000 –> 00:15:33,559 since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 311 00:15:35,299 –> 00:15:37,099 There is a great God in heaven 312 00:15:38,479 –> 00:15:40,940 and he knows all things. 313 00:15:41,799 –> 00:15:45,640 And before him every heart is absolutely open, 314 00:15:45,640 –> 00:15:48,979 every thought, before a word is on my tongue, 315 00:15:48,979 –> 00:15:50,780 you know it completely, oh God, 316 00:15:51,400 –> 00:15:53,299 you know me from the inside out. 317 00:15:53,299 –> 00:15:56,219 And from this God there isn’t a single secret 318 00:15:56,219 –> 00:16:00,619 in the congregation today that could possibly be hidden. 319 00:16:01,900 –> 00:16:04,020 And the thief on the cross would have known this. 320 00:16:04,020 –> 00:16:06,739 He would have been Jewish in all probability 321 00:16:06,739 –> 00:16:09,479 and given that background in the scriptures 322 00:16:09,479 –> 00:16:12,880 but like so many he had pushed this knowledge 323 00:16:12,880 –> 00:16:15,659 that there is a God before whom we must one day stand. 324 00:16:15,659 –> 00:16:17,200 He pushed it to the back of his mind. 325 00:16:17,200 –> 00:16:18,500 He had not given it weight. 326 00:16:18,840 –> 00:16:21,659 Because if he had, he’d never have become a thief. 327 00:16:21,659 –> 00:16:23,679 But he’s been pressing on in his own way. 328 00:16:23,679 –> 00:16:26,380 He really hasn’t given that much thought to God 329 00:16:26,380 –> 00:16:28,539 but now here he is on the brink of eternity 330 00:16:28,539 –> 00:16:32,419 and his conscience begins to be activated in a new way 331 00:16:32,419 –> 00:16:35,979 and he has an awareness, I’m gonna stand before God, 332 00:16:35,979 –> 00:16:39,260 before this God who knows everything about me. 333 00:16:39,260 –> 00:16:40,960 And here I am in this situation 334 00:16:40,960 –> 00:16:43,239 facing these difficulties right now. 335 00:16:43,239 –> 00:16:47,140 What will it be when I’m standing before Almighty God? 336 00:16:49,440 –> 00:16:54,000 Fearing God means you quit pushing Him 337 00:16:54,000 –> 00:16:57,840 to the outside recesses of your life 338 00:16:57,840 –> 00:17:01,559 and you start giving weight to Him at the very center. 339 00:17:02,719 –> 00:17:05,560 Fearing God means that what He says 340 00:17:05,560 –> 00:17:09,000 in His word carries more weight for you 341 00:17:09,000 –> 00:17:11,780 than what anyone else says into your life. 342 00:17:13,099 –> 00:17:17,280 Fearing God means that what pleases Him 343 00:17:17,280 –> 00:17:20,599 matters more to you than what pleases you 344 00:17:21,520 –> 00:17:23,520 or what pleases other people. 345 00:17:24,680 –> 00:17:26,540 And this man hadn’t lived that way, 346 00:17:26,540 –> 00:17:29,780 but there’s a turn, and he says, don’t you fear God? 347 00:17:31,719 –> 00:17:34,839 Second part of this turn is seen in this, 348 00:17:34,839 –> 00:17:37,160 that not only you begin to fear God, 349 00:17:37,160 –> 00:17:41,140 but you recognize Jesus Christ as King. 350 00:17:41,140 –> 00:17:43,479 You recognize Christ as King. 351 00:17:43,479 –> 00:17:46,180 Isn’t it interesting how the theme of King 352 00:17:46,180 –> 00:17:49,239 is so strong in this story, in Luke’s Gospel. 353 00:17:49,239 –> 00:17:52,660 Verse 37, the soldiers mocked him saying, 354 00:17:52,660 –> 00:17:56,959 if you are the king of the Jews, save yourself. 355 00:17:56,959 –> 00:17:59,180 Verse 38, there was an inscription over him. 356 00:17:59,180 –> 00:18:02,520 This is the king of the Jews. 357 00:18:02,520 –> 00:18:04,780 And then verse 42, the thief says, 358 00:18:04,780 –> 00:18:07,260 Jesus, remember me when you come into 359 00:18:07,260 –> 00:18:10,780 your kingdom, your kingdom. 360 00:18:12,140 –> 00:18:16,020 So turning means not only that you begin to fear God, 361 00:18:16,020 –> 00:18:20,300 but that you submit yourself to Jesus Christ 362 00:18:20,300 –> 00:18:25,300 as the king, the lord, the master of your life. 363 00:18:27,020 –> 00:18:30,780 And you have that in what the thief is saying right here. 364 00:18:31,719 –> 00:18:36,219 Jesus, I’m recognizing that you are a king, 365 00:18:36,219 –> 00:18:37,099 you have a kingdom. 366 00:18:37,099 –> 00:18:38,760 It’s not gonna be in this world, 367 00:18:38,760 –> 00:18:40,920 but when you come into your kingdom, 368 00:18:40,920 –> 00:18:42,979 that clearly is beyond this life, 369 00:18:42,979 –> 00:18:47,000 I’m asking that you will remember me. 370 00:18:48,160 –> 00:18:50,319 How can I be sure of heaven? 371 00:18:50,319 –> 00:18:51,680 First part of the answer, 372 00:18:51,680 –> 00:18:53,280 and it’s one answer in three words. 373 00:18:53,280 –> 00:18:55,180 Part one, turn. 374 00:18:56,199 –> 00:19:00,859 Fear God, submit yourself to king Jesus. 375 00:19:00,859 –> 00:19:03,239 Let his way become the way for you. 376 00:19:03,239 –> 00:19:06,459 Let his truth become the truth for you. 377 00:19:06,459 –> 00:19:10,959 Let his life become the life for you, 378 00:19:10,979 –> 00:19:15,660 and to the person who turns to Jesus, 379 00:19:15,660 –> 00:19:20,660 he says, you will be with me in paradise. 380 00:19:26,319 –> 00:19:27,219 It’s what he says. 381 00:19:28,939 –> 00:19:30,420 Second part of the answer. 382 00:19:32,099 –> 00:19:32,939 Ask. 383 00:19:34,239 –> 00:19:35,839 This is so obviously at the heart 384 00:19:35,839 –> 00:19:37,959 of what the thief is doing here. 385 00:19:38,739 –> 00:19:42,439 Jesus, verse 42. 386 00:19:42,439 –> 00:19:47,439 Remember me when You come into your kingdom. 387 00:19:50,579 –> 00:19:53,359 Jesus, you’re the king. 388 00:19:54,920 –> 00:19:57,900 Clearly, your kingdom is not going to be in this world, 389 00:19:59,219 –> 00:20:02,140 but beyond death, I believe that you are coming 390 00:20:02,140 –> 00:20:07,140 into a kingdom and when you do, please remember me. 391 00:20:08,359 –> 00:20:11,979 The thief asked Jesus. 392 00:20:13,459 –> 00:20:18,420 And to the person who asks, Jesus says, 393 00:20:18,640 –> 00:20:21,239 you will be with me in paradise. 394 00:20:21,239 –> 00:20:23,859 Two observations about asking. 395 00:20:23,859 –> 00:20:27,380 The first is that asking means 396 00:20:27,380 –> 00:20:30,500 that you don’t pretend to be righteous. 397 00:20:31,420 –> 00:20:34,699 Now, you have this in verse 41 particularly, 398 00:20:34,699 –> 00:20:37,500 where the thief says to his colleague 399 00:20:37,500 –> 00:20:38,979 on the other side of Jesus, 400 00:20:38,979 –> 00:20:43,979 we are receiving the due reward for our deeds. 401 00:20:46,920 –> 00:20:48,079 This is very important. 402 00:20:48,079 –> 00:20:53,079 The thief does not pretend to be a good person. 403 00:20:54,239 –> 00:20:56,660 And it’s amazing how strong that instinct 404 00:20:56,660 –> 00:20:58,599 is in all of us by nature. 405 00:20:59,780 –> 00:21:01,900 He’s not hanging on the cross and saying to Jesus, 406 00:21:01,900 –> 00:21:03,140 well, I know this looks bad, 407 00:21:03,599 –> 00:21:06,180 but you know, I’m really rather good at heart. 408 00:21:06,180 –> 00:21:09,339 You’re not doing that kind of a thing. 409 00:21:09,339 –> 00:21:11,140 He’s not saying even, you know, 410 00:21:11,140 –> 00:21:13,560 I recognize I’ve done some bad stuff, 411 00:21:13,560 –> 00:21:15,300 really bad stuff in my life, 412 00:21:15,300 –> 00:21:18,380 but you know, Jesus, I do want You to know 413 00:21:18,380 –> 00:21:21,699 that I’ve done some good things to commend me as well. 414 00:21:22,640 –> 00:21:24,819 So please when you get into your Kingdom, 415 00:21:24,819 –> 00:21:26,719 would you remember the good that I’ve done 416 00:21:26,719 –> 00:21:30,319 and overlook the rest? 417 00:21:30,319 –> 00:21:32,560 No, there’s none of that. 418 00:21:32,560 –> 00:21:35,900 No pretending to be righteous. 419 00:21:35,900 –> 00:21:39,140 This man comes to Jesus with absolute honesty 420 00:21:39,140 –> 00:21:41,199 and with absolute humility. 421 00:21:42,219 –> 00:21:46,579 He faces the fact that he is a sinner, period. 422 00:21:47,400 –> 00:21:49,739 That he has sinned against God, 423 00:21:49,739 –> 00:21:52,979 that he has sinned against his fellow man 424 00:21:52,979 –> 00:21:54,239 and we are like him. 425 00:21:55,839 –> 00:21:58,939 We have failed to do what God has called us to do 426 00:21:58,959 –> 00:22:02,800 and we have done that which God has told us not to do. 427 00:22:03,640 –> 00:22:07,040 And this is precisely why Jesus was there 428 00:22:07,040 –> 00:22:08,540 on the cross. 429 00:22:09,439 –> 00:22:13,459 The thief had no ability to deliver himself from the cross 430 00:22:13,459 –> 00:22:15,239 but always remember that Jesus did, 431 00:22:15,239 –> 00:22:18,500 he could have called in an army of angels at any moment 432 00:22:18,500 –> 00:22:20,180 and he not do that, why? 433 00:22:20,180 –> 00:22:21,579 Why did he stay on the cross? 434 00:22:21,579 –> 00:22:23,380 Why did he go there in the first place? 435 00:22:23,380 –> 00:22:25,380 Why did he endure all of this? 436 00:22:25,420 –> 00:22:29,979 Answer, he did this in order to be the sacrifice 437 00:22:29,979 –> 00:22:33,479 and the substitute for sinners. 438 00:22:33,479 –> 00:22:36,439 That’s why he was there on the cross. 439 00:22:36,439 –> 00:22:40,219 That’s why he’s the one who is able to open the door 440 00:22:40,219 –> 00:22:45,000 of heaven for those who do not deserve it, 441 00:22:45,000 –> 00:22:49,780 which include me and you and everyone else, 442 00:22:49,780 –> 00:22:53,540 all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 443 00:22:53,619 –> 00:22:57,579 And the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all 444 00:22:57,579 –> 00:23:01,280 and He carried the sins of His people into His death 445 00:23:01,280 –> 00:23:05,880 so that when we go to our death in Jesus Christ, 446 00:23:05,880 –> 00:23:08,339 we will not carry these sins into ours. 447 00:23:09,280 –> 00:23:10,520 They’ve been dealt with by Him, 448 00:23:10,520 –> 00:23:12,859 that’s what the cross is all about. 449 00:23:14,300 –> 00:23:16,920 But you can’t receive what Jesus is accomplishing 450 00:23:16,920 –> 00:23:19,520 on the cross by pretending you don’t need it. 451 00:23:20,900 –> 00:23:22,380 So, the worst thing that you can ever do 452 00:23:22,560 –> 00:23:23,660 is come to Jesus and start talking 453 00:23:23,660 –> 00:23:25,920 about how you’ve been a fairly good person. 454 00:23:27,619 –> 00:23:31,800 No, there’s absolutely no pretending to be righteous here. 455 00:23:32,859 –> 00:23:34,599 And asking means a second thing, 456 00:23:34,599 –> 00:23:35,819 and this is important too, 457 00:23:35,819 –> 00:23:40,680 that asking means that you don’t try to make a deal. 458 00:23:40,680 –> 00:23:44,780 Asking means that you don’t try to make a deal. 459 00:23:46,479 –> 00:23:49,239 Now, I think most of us are fairly similar on this, 460 00:23:49,239 –> 00:23:51,520 we don’t really like to ask, 461 00:23:51,520 –> 00:23:53,959 we don’t like to be empty handed, 462 00:23:53,959 –> 00:23:55,560 we like to be able to contribute, 463 00:23:55,560 –> 00:23:56,959 we like to be able to offer, 464 00:23:56,959 –> 00:23:59,760 and so we prefer to do deals. 465 00:24:00,719 –> 00:24:04,040 And this is of course how the world works. 466 00:24:04,040 –> 00:24:06,319 Look, here’s something that I can do for you, 467 00:24:06,319 –> 00:24:08,699 and I would like to do this for you. 468 00:24:08,699 –> 00:24:12,660 Here’s something I would like you to do for me, 469 00:24:12,660 –> 00:24:14,520 and of course if you are in sales, 470 00:24:14,520 –> 00:24:16,560 if you are a negotiator, 471 00:24:16,560 –> 00:24:19,140 if you’re in the business of doing deals 472 00:24:19,180 –> 00:24:21,500 in any sphere of life, 473 00:24:21,500 –> 00:24:23,300 you know that after you’ve found out 474 00:24:23,300 –> 00:24:25,939 what the other party is really looking for, 475 00:24:25,939 –> 00:24:28,780 you will lead with what you can do for them. 476 00:24:28,780 –> 00:24:31,040 You don’t lead with what you’re asking for in return, 477 00:24:31,040 –> 00:24:33,819 you lead with what you can do for them. 478 00:24:33,819 –> 00:24:36,459 That’s how you do it, every day. 479 00:24:37,359 –> 00:24:41,199 And then you hope that by sufficiently stressing 480 00:24:41,199 –> 00:24:42,800 the value of what you can do for them, 481 00:24:42,800 –> 00:24:44,920 that you will be able to close the deal, 482 00:24:44,920 –> 00:24:48,619 and what you seek in return will come 483 00:24:48,619 –> 00:24:52,160 as a result of shaking hands on the deal. 484 00:24:52,160 –> 00:24:54,979 And one thing you never want to do, 485 00:24:54,979 –> 00:24:56,359 if you’re a negotiator, 486 00:24:57,319 –> 00:25:00,920 you never want to go into a negotiation empty handed, 487 00:25:00,920 –> 00:25:03,079 every negotiator knows that. 488 00:25:03,079 –> 00:25:04,199 Gotta have something in your pocket, 489 00:25:04,199 –> 00:25:05,459 gotta have something to put on the table, 490 00:25:05,459 –> 00:25:07,300 gotta have something to offer, 491 00:25:08,199 –> 00:25:10,520 that’s how the world works, 492 00:25:10,520 –> 00:25:13,180 we do deals. 493 00:25:15,459 –> 00:25:17,920 But what I want you to notice in this story, 494 00:25:19,060 –> 00:25:22,859 is that the thief is completely empty handed, 495 00:25:24,040 –> 00:25:26,020 what can he offer? 496 00:25:27,540 –> 00:25:32,119 All that he can do is come to Jesus like a beggar, 497 00:25:33,979 –> 00:25:35,260 and ask. 498 00:25:36,739 –> 00:25:38,380 And you see that is so important 499 00:25:38,380 –> 00:25:40,000 because our first instinct, 500 00:25:40,000 –> 00:25:41,800 just because of the world in which we live 501 00:25:41,800 –> 00:25:43,180 and the way in which we are, 502 00:25:43,180 –> 00:25:45,839 our first instinct when it comes to God 503 00:25:45,839 –> 00:25:48,119 is to think of doing a deal, 504 00:25:48,719 –> 00:25:50,560 and here’s what it often sounds like. 505 00:25:51,660 –> 00:25:53,859 Lord, if I give you my life, 506 00:25:55,140 –> 00:25:57,219 I mean if I pray, 507 00:25:57,219 –> 00:25:59,739 if I live well in a good way, 508 00:25:59,739 –> 00:26:02,880 if I pay a price even for doing what is right, 509 00:26:04,579 –> 00:26:05,579 then you’ll save me, 510 00:26:05,579 –> 00:26:06,680 you’ll get me into heaven. 511 00:26:06,680 –> 00:26:07,520 Right? 512 00:26:07,520 –> 00:26:08,339 Right. 513 00:26:08,339 –> 00:26:09,180 Right. 514 00:26:10,540 –> 00:26:13,479 Here’s what happens if you come to God that way, 515 00:26:13,479 –> 00:26:14,319 two things. 516 00:26:15,219 –> 00:26:19,219 The first is that you will go through your entire life 517 00:26:19,219 –> 00:26:21,760 feeling that God owes you 518 00:26:21,760 –> 00:26:23,500 and you will constantly encounter 519 00:26:23,500 –> 00:26:25,660 a feeling of disappointment with him. 520 00:26:25,660 –> 00:26:28,339 You will always be feeling that he’s not quite keeping up 521 00:26:28,339 –> 00:26:30,900 with his side of the quote, deal. 522 00:26:32,099 –> 00:26:34,400 And second, and this is much worse, 523 00:26:35,819 –> 00:26:37,660 you go through life in an illusion 524 00:26:37,660 –> 00:26:40,280 because you don’t have a deal 525 00:26:40,959 –> 00:26:45,959 because God never signs deals that are written by others. 526 00:26:47,439 –> 00:26:49,760 The only covenant God ever signs 527 00:26:49,760 –> 00:26:52,880 is the covenant that he has written himself. 528 00:26:53,939 –> 00:26:57,680 And friends, I’ve heard too often guys, 529 00:26:57,680 –> 00:26:59,280 and I gotta say it’s often guys, 530 00:27:00,560 –> 00:27:02,800 who will somewhatumptuously say, 531 00:27:02,800 –> 00:27:05,319 oh pastor, I’ve done a deal with God. 532 00:27:06,280 –> 00:27:08,400 And I wince every time I hear that phrase. 533 00:27:09,380 –> 00:27:13,339 Not only because it sounds so painfully arrogant, 534 00:27:14,520 –> 00:27:16,319 but because the person who imagines 535 00:27:16,319 –> 00:27:18,560 that he has done a deal with God 536 00:27:18,560 –> 00:27:20,839 is living in an illusion 537 00:27:20,839 –> 00:27:24,760 thinking he has a deal that God has never signed. 538 00:27:24,760 –> 00:27:25,599 Never signed. 539 00:27:28,040 –> 00:27:29,819 Asking that’s the way. 540 00:27:31,239 –> 00:27:34,619 And asking means that you come to Jesus Christ 541 00:27:34,619 –> 00:27:37,060 empty handed knowing that there is nothing 542 00:27:37,079 –> 00:27:40,619 that you can offer to him as an inducement 543 00:27:40,619 –> 00:27:42,380 or as a claim. 544 00:27:42,380 –> 00:27:45,839 All you can do is cast yourself upon his mercy. 545 00:27:47,479 –> 00:27:48,319 Thus. 546 00:27:50,599 –> 00:27:52,560 But when you come in that way, 547 00:27:52,560 –> 00:27:55,160 if you will come in that way today 548 00:27:56,640 –> 00:27:59,699 with empty hands, Jesus, 549 00:27:59,699 –> 00:28:02,680 remember me when you come into your kingdom 550 00:28:02,680 –> 00:28:05,119 to such a person 551 00:28:05,119 –> 00:28:06,439 who turns 552 00:28:06,439 –> 00:28:08,280 and asks, no deals, 553 00:28:08,280 –> 00:28:11,040 just casting yourself upon the mercy of God 554 00:28:11,040 –> 00:28:13,339 and asking Jesus 555 00:28:14,319 –> 00:28:15,50 to such a person, 556 00:28:15,560 –> 00:28:16,839 Jesus says, 557 00:28:18,079 –> 00:28:20,160 you will be 558 00:28:20,160 –> 00:28:21,000 with me 559 00:28:21,979 –> 00:28:22,819 in 560 00:28:23,760 –> 00:28:24,900 paradise. 561 00:28:26,520 –> 00:28:27,959 One answer. 562 00:28:27,959 –> 00:28:29,180 Three words. 563 00:28:30,119 –> 00:28:31,839 Turn, 564 00:28:31,839 –> 00:28:32,920 ask, 565 00:28:33,760 –> 00:28:35,719 and the third word is trust, 566 00:28:35,719 –> 00:28:36,540 trust. 567 00:28:38,520 –> 00:28:42,180 The thief puts himself and his whole future 568 00:28:42,180 –> 00:28:43,819 into the hands 569 00:28:44,839 –> 00:28:46,579 of Jesus Christ. 570 00:28:48,160 –> 00:28:49,880 I was trying to think about you know 571 00:28:49,880 –> 00:28:52,239 an analogy as to what this is 572 00:28:52,239 –> 00:28:55,560 and think about this just for a moment with me. 573 00:28:55,560 –> 00:28:59,560 Suppose you have a a serious heart condition 574 00:28:59,560 –> 00:29:02,239 and you have to have open heart surgery. 575 00:29:02,239 –> 00:29:04,219 There may be someone in the congregation 576 00:29:04,260 –> 00:29:05,859 who’s in exactly that position 577 00:29:05,859 –> 00:29:09,619 but let’s all of us imagine ourselves in that position 578 00:29:09,619 –> 00:29:12,380 and you go to the cardiologist 579 00:29:12,380 –> 00:29:16,280 and you ask him what he will do. 580 00:29:17,579 –> 00:29:18,400 And 581 00:29:19,560 –> 00:29:21,339 he says, well the first thing 582 00:29:21,339 –> 00:29:23,020 is that I’m gonna knock you out completely. 583 00:29:23,020 –> 00:29:24,359 You won’t know anything about it. 584 00:29:24,359 –> 00:29:26,000 You’ll be completely unconscious. 585 00:29:26,959 –> 00:29:29,500 Then when you’re completely unconscious 586 00:29:29,500 –> 00:29:31,380 and then capable of doing anything about it 587 00:29:31,380 –> 00:29:32,540 I’m going to take a scalpel 588 00:29:32,540 –> 00:29:34,040 and I’m going to cut you open. 589 00:29:34,880 –> 00:29:37,459 And then he goes on in excruciating detail 590 00:29:37,459 –> 00:29:39,400 to tell you everything that he’s gonna do 591 00:29:39,400 –> 00:29:42,099 and then he says, here’s the papers, sign them. 592 00:29:43,420 –> 00:29:46,640 And folks actually sign these papers. 593 00:29:46,640 –> 00:29:50,739 They give permission for this extraordinary invasion. 594 00:29:51,800 –> 00:29:53,439 Why? 595 00:29:53,439 –> 00:29:54,280 Why? 596 00:29:55,280 –> 00:29:58,760 Because the cardiologist will do something for the person 597 00:29:58,760 –> 00:30:01,780 that they cannot possibly do for themselves. 598 00:30:02,880 –> 00:30:03,719 And 599 00:30:04,819 –> 00:30:07,459 if this radical surgery is not done, 600 00:30:07,459 –> 00:30:10,060 there will be no other hope for the person. 601 00:30:10,060 –> 00:30:13,459 So they place themselves, give themselves, 602 00:30:13,459 –> 00:30:17,780 sign themselves away into the hands 603 00:30:17,780 –> 00:30:18,619 of 604 00:30:19,579 –> 00:30:20,640 the cardiologist. 605 00:30:22,140 –> 00:30:23,140 Now, just think about that. 606 00:30:23,140 –> 00:30:26,579 The thief trusts himself and his eternity 607 00:30:26,579 –> 00:30:30,140 into the hands of Jesus Christ. 608 00:30:30,140 –> 00:30:33,599 Put myself into your hands. 609 00:30:33,599 –> 00:30:36,739 And Jesus gives to him this marvelous promise. 610 00:30:36,739 –> 00:30:38,199 Truly, I say to you, 611 00:30:38,199 –> 00:30:42,079 today, you will be with me in paradise. 612 00:30:43,479 –> 00:30:46,979 This is the promise of the Savior, 613 00:30:46,979 –> 00:30:48,640 to whom this man has turned, 614 00:30:48,640 –> 00:30:50,260 of whom this man has asked, 615 00:30:50,260 –> 00:30:54,660 and in whom this man now trusts. 616 00:30:55,699 –> 00:30:56,959 Now, I don’t want you to miss this, 617 00:30:56,959 –> 00:31:00,119 that the thief was in exactly the same position 618 00:31:00,180 –> 00:31:03,640 as we are in today in this regard, 619 00:31:03,640 –> 00:31:05,599 because, you see, if you turn to Jesus, 620 00:31:05,599 –> 00:31:08,199 and if you ask of Jesus, 621 00:31:08,199 –> 00:31:10,979 what do you actually have? 622 00:31:11,839 –> 00:31:12,880 And the answer is, 623 00:31:12,880 –> 00:31:15,079 when you turn to Jesus, and you ask of Jesus, 624 00:31:15,079 –> 00:31:18,180 what you have is his word. 625 00:31:18,180 –> 00:31:20,719 You have his promise, 626 00:31:20,719 –> 00:31:24,079 the promise of this one in whom you have put your trust. 627 00:31:24,079 –> 00:31:26,420 That’s what the thief had, a promise. 628 00:31:26,420 –> 00:31:31,119 Today you will be with me in paradise. 629 00:31:31,119 –> 00:31:33,280 And the one who trusts in Jesus 630 00:31:33,280 –> 00:31:36,099 is the one who rests in his word 631 00:31:36,099 –> 00:31:38,780 and stands on his promise. 632 00:31:38,780 –> 00:31:41,180 He has said, if anyone come, 633 00:31:41,180 –> 00:31:44,420 whoever comes to me, I will never cast away. 634 00:31:44,420 –> 00:31:46,859 So here you are, you come to him, 635 00:31:46,859 –> 00:31:49,459 and you ask of him, you’re turning to him, 636 00:31:49,459 –> 00:31:51,939 and he says, I will never drive such a person away. 637 00:31:51,939 –> 00:31:55,339 You take that word, you trust it, you rest in it. 638 00:31:55,380 –> 00:31:58,339 To the person who turns and to the person who asks, 639 00:31:58,339 –> 00:32:01,739 Jesus says, you will be with me in paradise. 640 00:32:01,739 –> 00:32:03,540 What does a Christian believer do? 641 00:32:03,540 –> 00:32:06,260 You trust in this promise. 642 00:32:06,260 –> 00:32:09,859 You find rest in this word. 643 00:32:11,280 –> 00:32:15,880 And that is what the thief did over these next hours. 644 00:32:16,979 –> 00:32:18,099 Now for most of us, 645 00:32:18,099 –> 00:32:20,719 the period between trusting in Jesus 646 00:32:20,719 –> 00:32:22,020 and the period where we actually 647 00:32:22,020 –> 00:32:24,819 go into the presence of Jesus is gonna be much longer. 648 00:32:25,819 –> 00:32:30,060 But it’s fascinating to me that even within the few hours 649 00:32:30,060 –> 00:32:32,780 in which the thief was one who turned, 650 00:32:32,780 –> 00:32:34,800 asked and trusted in Jesus, 651 00:32:34,800 –> 00:32:38,400 he already experienced what it is 652 00:32:38,400 –> 00:32:42,219 to be a person who trusts Jesus, 653 00:32:43,579 –> 00:32:44,420 what it’s like. 654 00:32:45,900 –> 00:32:47,140 And remember what it was like, 655 00:32:47,140 –> 00:32:49,199 the very next verse, verse 44, 656 00:32:49,199 –> 00:32:51,859 tells us immediately after the thief 657 00:32:51,859 –> 00:32:54,060 had trusted himself to Jesus in this way, 658 00:32:54,060 –> 00:32:55,839 what happens, verse 44, 659 00:32:55,839 –> 00:32:57,500 it was around the sixth hour 660 00:32:57,500 –> 00:32:59,540 and there was darkness over the whole land 661 00:32:59,540 –> 00:33:00,780 until the ninth hour, 662 00:33:00,780 –> 00:33:01,699 the middle of the day, 663 00:33:01,699 –> 00:33:03,579 and suddenly God turns out the light 664 00:33:05,699 –> 00:33:09,680 and the thief had to trust the promise of Jesus 665 00:33:09,680 –> 00:33:12,500 when he was surrounded by great darkness. 666 00:33:14,579 –> 00:33:18,359 And Matthew and Mark record that in that darkness, 667 00:33:19,839 –> 00:33:21,020 Jesus cried out, 668 00:33:21,060 –> 00:33:22,319 my God, my God, 669 00:33:22,319 –> 00:33:24,319 why have you forsaken me? 670 00:33:27,020 –> 00:33:29,339 And here’s the thief and he’s faced with something 671 00:33:29,339 –> 00:33:33,060 he cannot possibly understand at that moment. 672 00:33:35,199 –> 00:33:37,479 And I’m saying to you 673 00:33:37,479 –> 00:33:39,400 that there will be times in your life 674 00:33:39,400 –> 00:33:41,439 as a person who trusts in Jesus 675 00:33:41,439 –> 00:33:42,880 and there are times in my life 676 00:33:42,880 –> 00:33:44,439 as a person who trusts in Jesus 677 00:33:44,439 –> 00:33:47,119 when we will find ourselves in great darkness 678 00:33:47,119 –> 00:33:48,900 with an unanswered why 679 00:33:48,900 –> 00:33:52,739 and circumstances we cannot possibly explain. 680 00:33:54,020 –> 00:33:56,020 And what do you do then? 681 00:33:57,400 –> 00:33:59,839 You trust Jesus in the darkness 682 00:33:59,839 –> 00:34:02,260 just as you trusted him in the light. 683 00:34:02,260 –> 00:34:04,800 You rest in his promise 684 00:34:04,800 –> 00:34:07,479 and cling to his promise in the darkness 685 00:34:07,479 –> 00:34:09,280 just as you rested in 686 00:34:09,280 –> 00:34:12,139 and clung to his promise in the light. 687 00:34:12,139 –> 00:34:14,800 That’s what the thief had to do. 688 00:34:15,760 –> 00:34:18,639 And then not only will there be experiences 689 00:34:18,639 –> 00:34:21,199 for the Christian of trusting in the darkness, 690 00:34:21,199 –> 00:34:25,360 there’ll be experiences of trusting in great pain. 691 00:34:26,840 –> 00:34:29,000 Think about this, the agony 692 00:34:29,879 –> 00:34:32,459 of crucifixion increased over time 693 00:34:32,459 –> 00:34:36,379 as the wounds in the hands and the feet widened 694 00:34:37,260 –> 00:34:39,840 and as fever raged in the body, 695 00:34:39,840 –> 00:34:41,580 the thing got progressively worse 696 00:34:41,580 –> 00:34:43,580 and worse and worse by the hour. 697 00:34:43,580 –> 00:34:44,959 What that means 698 00:34:45,959 –> 00:34:50,139 is that the thief experienced more pain in his body 699 00:34:53,959 –> 00:34:57,879 after he trusted Jesus even than he did before. 700 00:34:59,340 –> 00:35:01,080 So please understand this, 701 00:35:01,080 –> 00:35:05,239 that trusting Jesus is never a passport to a pain-free life. 702 00:35:08,399 –> 00:35:11,899 And anyone who has the idea that if I just trust in Jesus, 703 00:35:11,899 –> 00:35:13,340 turn to him and ask him and trust him 704 00:35:13,379 –> 00:35:16,020 that somehow there won’t be anymore darkness in my life 705 00:35:16,020 –> 00:35:19,520 and somehow I won’t have terribly painful experiences 706 00:35:19,520 –> 00:35:21,300 of whatever sort, I mean, 707 00:35:21,300 –> 00:35:24,620 that person has simply not taken seriously 708 00:35:24,620 –> 00:35:26,620 what we’re learning from the Bible here, 709 00:35:28,040 –> 00:35:32,239 that the person who will enter the joy 710 00:35:32,239 –> 00:35:35,239 of the presence of the Lord is the one who trusts him 711 00:35:35,239 –> 00:35:37,739 and that the journey of a Christian 712 00:35:37,739 –> 00:35:40,020 in this world includes times 713 00:35:40,020 –> 00:35:42,500 when we trust him in the darkness of things 714 00:35:42,879 –> 00:35:47,459 and we cannot understand the unexplained why of our life 715 00:35:48,800 –> 00:35:52,060 and that we trust him sometimes in periods 716 00:35:52,060 –> 00:35:54,979 of great pain of whatever sort. 717 00:35:57,179 –> 00:35:59,179 And then there will come a moment 718 00:36:00,139 –> 00:36:02,939 where we trust him in death itself. 719 00:36:04,780 –> 00:36:06,179 Of course, we’re not told in the Bible 720 00:36:06,179 –> 00:36:08,340 about the moment when the thief died 721 00:36:08,340 –> 00:36:10,760 because of course all the attention 722 00:36:10,760 –> 00:36:14,459 is on the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. 723 00:36:15,899 –> 00:36:18,780 But the thief had to trust Jesus not only in darkness, 724 00:36:18,780 –> 00:36:21,979 not only in pain but he had to trust Jesus 725 00:36:21,979 –> 00:36:24,620 in death itself when the moment came. 726 00:36:27,260 –> 00:36:31,379 Some years ago, Karn and I had the privilege 727 00:36:31,379 –> 00:36:35,719 of hosting Joseph Tawne in our home in London. 728 00:36:36,679 –> 00:36:39,239 Joseph was a distinguished pastor, 729 00:36:39,239 –> 00:36:41,659 is a distinguished pastor and leader 730 00:36:41,659 –> 00:36:44,159 from the Romanian Church 731 00:36:44,159 –> 00:36:47,399 and I learned a very, very great deal from him 732 00:36:47,399 –> 00:36:50,060 in these few days that I had the privilege, 733 00:36:50,060 –> 00:36:51,840 we had the privilege of hosting him. 734 00:36:54,080 –> 00:36:56,879 Among the many stories that he told, 735 00:36:56,879 –> 00:37:00,139 many of which stick in my mind years later, 736 00:37:01,639 –> 00:37:03,879 he told me about a visit that he had made 737 00:37:03,919 –> 00:37:07,159 to a fellow pastor in Romania, 738 00:37:07,159 –> 00:37:09,020 man who had really served the Lord well 739 00:37:09,020 –> 00:37:13,159 and extended himself under very difficult circumstances 740 00:37:13,159 –> 00:37:15,939 during the communist time in that country. 741 00:37:17,139 –> 00:37:18,959 The pastor was seriously ill 742 00:37:19,979 –> 00:37:22,500 and did not have long left to live 743 00:37:22,500 –> 00:37:24,639 and Joseph, as a senior Christian leader, 744 00:37:24,639 –> 00:37:28,800 went to this brother and friend who was in another town 745 00:37:30,219 –> 00:37:33,639 and Joseph was a man who liked to get to the point. 746 00:37:34,840 –> 00:37:37,060 As he told the story to me, 747 00:37:37,060 –> 00:37:39,820 he came into the bedside of this brother pastor 748 00:37:39,820 –> 00:37:41,500 and said to him, 749 00:37:41,500 –> 00:37:43,199 brother, 750 00:37:43,199 –> 00:37:46,139 I have come here today to tell you how to die. 751 00:37:46,139 –> 00:37:49,000 That’s getting to the point, I suppose. 752 00:37:49,000 –> 00:37:50,179 And then he says this. 753 00:37:51,080 –> 00:37:53,760 Forget all about your Christian life. 754 00:37:55,219 –> 00:37:58,120 Forget all about your Christian life. 755 00:37:59,479 –> 00:38:00,639 Marvelous counsel. 756 00:38:01,639 –> 00:38:04,899 Because if you lie there on your bed in that moment, 757 00:38:04,899 –> 00:38:07,479 thinking about what you have done for Jesus, 758 00:38:08,639 –> 00:38:11,360 it will not be long before you begin to see 759 00:38:11,360 –> 00:38:14,040 what you have not done for Jesus, 760 00:38:14,040 –> 00:38:16,639 what you might have done for Jesus, 761 00:38:16,639 –> 00:38:19,239 what could have been done better for Jesus. 762 00:38:19,239 –> 00:38:21,139 And the more your mind goes down that way, 763 00:38:21,139 –> 00:38:23,179 the more you will be surrounded by doubt 764 00:38:23,179 –> 00:38:25,340 and you will be surrounded by fear. 765 00:38:26,540 –> 00:38:29,699 So Pastor Ton said to his friend, 766 00:38:30,379 –> 00:38:32,959 I have come to tell you how to die. 767 00:38:34,159 –> 00:38:36,300 Forget about your Christian life. 768 00:38:37,899 –> 00:38:41,719 Forget about what you have done for Jesus, 769 00:38:41,719 –> 00:38:46,719 and fix your eyes wholly on what Jesus has done for you. 770 00:38:48,600 –> 00:38:50,780 And I’ll never forget Joseph saying, 771 00:38:50,780 –> 00:38:54,219 and you know Colin, that’s the way to die, 772 00:38:55,020 –> 00:38:56,820 and that’s the way to live. 773 00:38:56,919 –> 00:38:58,879 Death, love that. 774 00:38:59,899 –> 00:39:04,739 That’s the way to die and that’s the way to live. 775 00:39:06,020 –> 00:39:08,040 See our work for Christ is never done. 776 00:39:08,040 –> 00:39:08,939 It’s never finished. 777 00:39:08,939 –> 00:39:10,040 Never what it might be. 778 00:39:10,040 –> 00:39:11,899 Never complete. 779 00:39:11,899 –> 00:39:13,659 Never pure gold. 780 00:39:15,020 –> 00:39:16,959 But Jesus is the one whose work 781 00:39:16,959 –> 00:39:18,719 for us is finished, accomplished. 782 00:39:18,719 –> 00:39:21,800 That’s why he says on the cross, it is finished. 783 00:39:21,800 –> 00:39:24,899 It’s complete, you can rest wholly in this. 784 00:39:27,300 –> 00:39:30,800 Turn, ask, trust. 785 00:39:31,860 –> 00:39:35,260 That is what the thief did and to the person 786 00:39:35,260 –> 00:39:39,159 who turns to Jesus, asks of Jesus, and trusts in Jesus, 787 00:39:39,159 –> 00:39:44,159 Jesus says, you will be with me in paradise. 788 00:39:47,580 –> 00:39:51,540 Father, hear our prayers and grant your seal 789 00:39:51,540 –> 00:39:53,979 upon your word in our hearts that we may truly 790 00:39:54,020 –> 00:39:59,020 be those who turn and ask and trust in Jesus, 791 00:40:00,739 –> 00:40:05,219 our marvelous savior who we seek to lift up 792 00:40:05,219 –> 00:40:08,379 and worship as we gather now around the table 793 00:40:08,379 –> 00:40:11,020 we ask it in Jesus name, amen.