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One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, "If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!" But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Don't you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." He said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom." Jesus said to him, "Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise." Luke 23:39–43 WEB.

Two thieves were crucified along with Jesus, one on each side of Him. As they hung there, struggling to breathe and slowly dying, one of the thieves began to mock Jesus and said: "If You are the Christ, save yourself and us!"

While the other thief, after he had lived a life of crime and had only minutes left, humbly asked Jesus to remember him. Jesus did not have to "pray" about it but immediately told him: "Today you will be with Me in Paradise." The Greek word "paradises" used for "Paradise" also occurs in 2 Corinthians 12:4 and Revelation 2:7. Jesus is the One who gives access to Paradise. The thief merely had to believe and ask.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my God. Revelation 2:7 WEB.

Many times our life slips by so very quickly. We mean to make things right, but time marches on. Eventually, we become caught in a trap. We begin to feel that it is too late for us and think there has just been too much water under the bridge. We feel like there are just too many wrongs to be made right. But every Saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.

Could God forgive us for a lifetime of sin, mistakes, and unbelief? Would God really give us a fresh start? Even after all that we have done, even if we had only moments left in our life? Yes, absolutely! Isaiah told us:

"Come now, and let us reason together," says Yahweh: "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1:18 WEB).

Jesus will wash you as white as snow with His own blood that He shed for you. If you humbly ask, He will give you access to Paradise. Even if you have only minutes left and have lived a life full of wickedness, He will still forgive you. All of heaven rejoices when someone who is lost turns to God (Luke 15:7).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I turn to You today. Please guide me into all that You have for me. Forgive me of my sins, draw my heart to You, and lead me into an overcoming life on this earth. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: The Creation Photographer theme of the week is "It Made Me Smile Today” and is wide open for interpretation! Until we get our groups area going, we invite you to share your photos on the website home page. As always, if you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network.