I am sure that the song and/or phrase, “This is the day” is one that most of us have heard before. Well this morning I read the passage in Luke 23 titled, “The Crucifixion”. This is Luke’s account of the crucifixion of Jesus. Reading this passage is not really much new. I have read before and know the story, but verses 39-43 were of specific attention this morning.
The verses describe the salvation acceptance of the one criminal crucified next to Jesus. This man was being put to death and found this opportunity to accept Christ as his personal savior through his faith.
“42And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ 43And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’” – Luke 23:42-43 (ESV)
See the ask from the criminal. He took the opportunity to ask and Jesus gave freely to him.
I teach sales and customer service on a very regular occasion and one of the concepts is that of asking. I teach that if you do not ask, you have no opportunity to get. There is a quote by an athlete, (some attribute to Wayne Gretzky and others to Michael Jordan) that you miss 100% of the shots you do not take. This criminal took his shot and asked Christ for salvation.
Jesus GAVE that salvation to the man as he had demonstrated true faith. The man knew that he was a criminal and did not ask to be saved from the death that he was about to experience. He only asked for Jesus to save his soul.
This criminal asked for salvation as he was dying and Jesus freely gave it to him. “This is the day” that was meant for the man to be saved. It was not too late for him and what a testament for me and you. It is not too late for each of us. We still have time, but just as with the criminal that day, our time is running out.
Are you running out of time? Are you willing to ask for the salvation that is freely given by God? Will today be the day?
Trevor's Thoughts 