40 Days Pondering Heaven - 04

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40Pondering Heaven
Day 04 | WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
 
Luke 23:43
“Jesus said, ‘Assuredly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’”


Nearly everyone has lost loved ones, and that’s a difficult part of life.

So, where does a person go when they die? Is that all there is?

As Jesus told the thief on the cross in today’s verse, “You will be with me in Paradise.”

It’s helpful to read this verse in context to understand the full story of WHO this person was and what he did that led Jesus to say – from the cross – what He said.

On the day Jesus was crucified, two others were also being crucified at the same time… two criminals.

Luke 23:39-43 – “Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, ‘If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.’ But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’  And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’”

Notice what he said and, therefore, what he believed: “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

That criminal BELIEVED in Jesus, the Messiah. He did nothing else. No good works. No attending church. No baptism. All he did was BELIEVE in the Lord Jesus Christ.

And so, when the criminal died, his spirit immediately went to PARADISE, a temporary heaven awaiting the coming of the NEW Heaven and NEW earth.

When we die, our spirits go there too.

Prayer: LORD, Thank You for the marvelous plan You have for us who believe in You. Amen.  
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