In The Presence 1

Hello Everyone,

In Luke 23:32-43 we read of two thieves that are in the presence of Jehovah and have two completely different responses. Read with me this account in HIStory.
³² Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. ³³ When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. ³⁴ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

³⁵ The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”

³⁶ The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar ³⁷ and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

³⁸ There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

³⁹ One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

⁴⁰ But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

⁴³ Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Two Christians lived very healthy lives. When they died, they went to Heaven. As they walked along, marveling at the paradise around them, one of the men turned to the other and said, “Wow. I never imagined heaven would be as good as this!” “Yeah,” agreed the other. “And just think, if we hadn’t eaten all that oat bran we could have gotten here ten years sooner.”

The word "Paradise" is a Persian word meaning "a walled garden".

When a Persian king wanted to do one of his subjects a very special honor he made him a “companion of the garden” and he was chosen to walk in the royal garden with the king.

It was more than immortality that Jesus promised the thief. He promised the honored place of a companion of the garden in the courts of Heaven.

"You will be with me" said Jesus.

In John 14:1-3 Jesus said, ¹ “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. ² In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Greater Things Are Still To Come!

Pastor Phil