Are you Ready for Eternity?

Are you Ready for Eternity? 2022 06 19

Luke 23:32 – 43

You’re at Vancouver International Airport. You’re in the line for a flight to Honolulu. You booked your ticket a while ago, but you haven’t got a valid boarding pass – but you’re sure you can convince the gate attendant by telling him how ready you are. You tell him how you booked your flight weeks ago, how you have nice new luggage, how you have your suntan lotion and all your beach clothes, etc., etc. We he let you on the plane? No! Because the one thing you need to get on the plane, a valid boarding pass, is what you don’t have in your possession.

There is only one way to be ready for eternity. Are you ready for eternity?

Luke 23:32 – 43

  • 32 And there were also two other,
    1. In the previous verses, Jesus was condemned by Pilate to die by crucifixion, even though Pilate knew he was innocent.Here we find that there were also two others
    2. We can also be fairly certain these two men knew who Jesus was and that he was innocent.Not only were they likely brought before Pilate, too, but Jesus was quite famous in Jerusalem by this time
  1. malefactors,
    1. these two were malefactors, likely violent criminals
    2. led with him to be put to death.
      1. These malefactors were also condemned to die by crucifixion in the same manner as Jesus.These were two who were rightly condemned under Roman law
  • 39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him,
    1. one of the criminals crucified next to Jesus railed on him
      1. this man’s heart was HARD
      2. to rail is to bring angry and passionate denunciation.This malefactor was suffering the same fate as Jesus Christ, bleeding and naked in the hot sun, nailed to a cross through his hands and feet, knew he was going to die, yet his heart was SO HARD that he angrily and passionately denounced this man he knew was innocent
    2. saying, If thou be Christ,
      1. this is what SO MANY say, most of whom have not been condemned by any human court
      2. “IF thou be Christ,” “God, IF you’re listening,” “IF you’re REALLY there…”Despite ALL the evidence that Jesus gave as he healed the sick, answered people’s thoughts before they spoke, raised the dead, and fulfilled prophecy after prophecy.  In spite of all the evidence of a great and omnipotent creator, most still say, “IF…”
    3. save thyself and us.
      1. If you are Christ, prove it to me – save yourself and us.But Jesus said that if the proof that God has already given is not enough, then even coming back from the dead would not be enough proof to those who refuse to believe: “And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”  Luke 16:31
      2. this malefactor was HARD.His heart was hardened.  Even in death, he was shaking his fist and spitting in the face of God
  • 40 But the other answering rebuked him,
    1. There was something different about the other criminal – he rebuked the one who railed against Jesus
      1. some will try to get in someone else’ good graces by seeming to take their side, but what gain could this man have, seeing he was nailed to a cross and soon to be dead?
      2. This man had a heart that was still soft, by the grace of God – even on the cross as his last hours of life were passing by, God extended his grace to him
        1. this man’s heart had not been hardened – this man still had time
      3. saying, Dost not thou fear God,
        1. by his statement, we understand that this man DID fear God, and he certainly knew, then, that he was soon to meet him
        2. the heart that is still open to the grace of God knows that it is wise to fear God. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10
      4. seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
        1. This second man fully realized the seriousness of their situation.He pointed out that they were all condemned to die and needed to be ready for eternity!
        2. A gentle rebuke, not a railing accusation
          1. 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds:
          2. this man recognized that he was a sinner who deserved to be punished
        3. but this man hath done nothing amiss.
          1. This man knew that Jesus was innocent – this is knowledge that can only come from God.It is by grace that we are saved.  (not by making ourselves ready – remember the boarding pass?)  It is by grace that we can be saved.  It was by grace that this man knew that Jesus Christ was innocent, not only of the false accusations, but as we see in the following verses, of all sin.
        4. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
          1. This man believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
          2. He trusted in Jesus Christ as his Saviour as they both hung dying on the cross
  • This man knew that Jesus Christ was going to rise from the dead
  1. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
    1. Jesus accepted the man’s faith in him, forgave him, and gave him eternal life! Romans 5:1 & 2 says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
  • Two malefactors were nailed to crosses on either side of Jesus.Their lives were over; they were condemned to death.  One was so hard that even on the cross, he railed against the ONE who gives life, who washed away all our sins in his own blood and rose again to be our Saviour forever.  The other came to Jesus by faith even as he hung there dying, and was pardoned and given eternal life right at the end of his life.  He was saved by the grace of God through faith; most definitely not by his works!!
  • Sadly, the other man had become hardened.At some point in his life, he had turned down God’s grace and hardened his heart against his creator.  We can do this at any time in our lives and are warned not to wait to be saved.  The Bible says, in Hebrews 3:15, “While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.”
  • People tend to harden their hearts as they get older.The more we experience in life and the more we put off accepting the great gift of God, which is eternal life through his Son, Jesus Christ, the more our hearts are hardened.  What a shame to be “almost persuaded,” as King Agrippa was! (Acts 26:28) There is no indication that Agrippa was ever saved.  He had his opportunity, and he hardened his heart.  God did not again prepare his heart to receive his gift.
  • Those who come to faith at the end of their lives are very few.   God showed in the wonderful grace that he showed to that man on the cross that we have no business ever giving up hope for anyone unless God specifically makes it clear to us that we should.  God DOES draw people to himself even at the very end of their lives.

However, by the end of life, most people are like the malefactor who railed against Jesus.  Their hearts have become HARD. When you sense the Holy Spirit calling you in your heart to repent and put your faith in Jesus Christ, that is the time to do it.  Tomorrow might be too late! We are not told WHEN the first malefactor became HARD, but we do know he did, and we know WHERE he went when he died.  When you are called, NOW is the time to put your faith in Jesus Christ!  In 2 Corinthians 6:2 we read, “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted; behold, and in the day of salvation I have succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)”

 

Conclusion:  Which side of the cross of Jesus are you on?   Are you truly ready for eternity?  Now is the accepted time.  Now IS the day of salvation!  Make sure you are not railing against Jesus in your heart, but that you are ready on any day to be with Him in paradise!