criminals

Saturday November 30^th, Luke 23:  39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"  40 But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." 42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."  The other criminal may take a bit longer to convince he is forgiven and usher him into the kingdom of God.  We often take the other stance that one made it into the kingdom of Heaven and one did not, period.  The conclusion therefore is that some will make it in and many will not.  Those who believe like me, which we define as the way God thinks, will make it in and others will not.  Jesus said however that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  That is why Jesus came to save us.  We weren't doing such a great job.  Jesus’ gift extends to all of creation.  Perhaps one of the things we need most to be forgiven for is thinking and treating others as if they might be outside Jesus’ reach.  Today you will be with me in paradise, someday, all will be with me in paradise.  Knowing this, how would that change the way you live today?