When Jesus was led away to be crucified, two criminals were led away with Him (Luke 23:32).  Unlike Jesus, Who was innocent of any crime, these two were guilty.  Once Jesus was on the cross, those who passed by derided Him and wagged their heads in disgust (Matthew 27:39), and even the robbers who were being crucified next to Him, reviled Him (ver. 44).

A short time later, after the rulers mocked Jesus some more, one of the thieves railed at Him again, saying, “Are you not the Christ?  Save yourself and us!”  Surprisingly, the other thief came to the defense of Jesus.

Luke 23:40-42 (ESV)
⁴⁰  But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹  And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴²  And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

This was an unexpected change in the heart of this thief, but one that teaches us a great lesson—as long as there is life, there is almost always a chance at redemption.  Now, to be clear, we cannot be saved the same way this thief was.  He lived under a different law, and at a time when Jesus could grant Him salvation just based on his penitence.  Things have changed.

Today one cannot be saved without believing that Jesus has been raised from the dead (Romans 10:9), and being baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  Because of this, a person who has never obeyed the gospel cannot be saved on his deathbed.  It is true, however, that a child of God—one who has access to a divine Mediator and His cleansing blood, can be restored whenever he or she repents and asks God for forgiven (Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:9).  Furthermore, even the person who has never obeyed the gospel can do so toward the end of his life, even after years of sinning, as long as he can obey the gospel.  That is the power of God’s mercy and the grace of the good news of Christ.

Although he was saved in the end, the thief on the cross waited far too long to do what was right.  He wasted years living a sinful life.  If you are living a life that is less than pleasing to God, learn from the thief that you still have time to change.  No matter how numerous your sins are or how long you have dwelt in them, repent and turn to God, and they will be blotted out (Acts 3:19).  But do not follow the thief’s example of procrastination.  Don’t waste years putting off the gospel when you can obey it now and be saved.

Tomorrow is not promised to any of us (James 4:14).  This thief was very fortunate that he happened to be led to the cross at the same time as Jesus.  A day earlier, or later, and his conversation with Jesus would never have taken place, and paradise would not have been secured.   Let’s do our best not to be caught unaware by the Lord when He comes back, or by the unpredictable time of death, for even if, like the thief, things work out well, procrastinating still causes us to waste precious time.

2 Corinthians 6:2 (ESV)
²  For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.