Paradise

Paradise (written by David Peterson)

On a small hill shaped like a skull, and in an abandoned quarry, our Lord was crucified along with two thieves. Luke 23:39-43records their conversation in the last moments of their lives; “One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” According to Catholic tradition, these thieves had the names of Dismas and Gesmas, the repentant and unrepentant thieves, respectively. Jesus, speaking only to Dismas in the last moments of his life, gave him words of comfort. He gave us all a picture of what will happen to us when we die. “Paradise” is the heaven where we will dwell with Christ Himself eternally.

Pastor Alistair Begg preached a story about Dismas in his message entitled "The Power and Message of the Cross". Begg described the situation where Dismas reported to heaven and was asked by an angel how he made it there. “The angel must have said, you know, like what are you doing here? The thief said “I don't know what you mean”. In frustration, the angel says on what basis are you here and the thief said “the man on the middle cross said I can come”. An invitation, by Jesus, given to all believers.

The hymn “Paradise” was written by Daniel Webster Whittle in 1878. The first verse and the refrain follow;

1 How sweet the Word of Christ the Lord,

While on the cross He dies,

A Word to all who on Him call

For life in paradise.

Refrain

From the cross the Savior cries,

Come with Me to paradise;

Look to Me, believe and live,

Accept the life I freely give.

Whittle reminds us that simple faith in Christ will lead to eternal life in paradise.

Let us pray: Christ Jesus, Savior of the world, we pray with the repentant thief to whom you promised Paradise: "Lord, remember me in Your Kingdom."