The Thief on the Cross
By Kurt Bomar
Avery County
With Easter, right around the corner, it’s a good time to remember God’s master plan.
When Jesus was nailed to the cross, Luke tells us a beautiful story of how we are saved. Hung among two criminals, one joined the crowd and scoffed at him. The other, however, uttered those famous words “remember me when you come into your kingdom”.
That thief had nothing to offer. He hung there naked and hopeless. He had no money, prestige, or power. He couldn’t even promise to do better “next time”. His time was over. Jesus looked at him with compassion and said “today you will be with me in Paradise” and the church’s first member was admitted. An admitted loser.
We too are losers with nothing to offer. The sooner we realize that our pitiful attempts to please God with our efforts will be no less successful than the thieves, the better off we will be. He told his followers, “Unless you are more righteous than the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of God” and to the thief, “you’re in”. What was the difference? The degree that each depended on their own self-worth.
We can never clean our life up enough to earn His favor. We just need to ask the Lord to take us as we are. That’s what He is waiting for. That is when we will hear him whisper to us, “you are secure in me, welcome home.”
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Kurt Bomar is the pastor of Walnut Grove Church located in Avery County. You are welcome to join them on Sundays at 11:00 AM for worship! (When we are allowed to meet in the building again). You can read more from Kurt Bomar HERE.
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