Paradise with Me

Paradise is heaven.

Don’t look for Paradise on earth. Do not spend money on earth bound travel if you seek Paradise. It’s a waste of your hard earned money. When you arrive at the destination, you’ll discover it’s not Paradise. Do not settle for earthly Paradise. There is no such place on the entire earth. There is only one true Paradise. And…human efforts and resources cannot get us there.

This is the account of one man’s trip to Paradise.

It’s not a story.

It happened.

 “A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:38-43

The men on either side of Jesus deserved death. One of them actually admitted this fact. Not so with Jesus. This same criminal recognized that Jesus was an innocent man and he said it.

How did this man come to believe Jesus was the Savior of the world?

Did he read the notice above the bloody head of Jesus? Did the criminal believe Jesus when He said, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing?” Or was it the words of the religious rulers:  “…The leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

Was it all of this evidence?

Honestly, it doesn’t matter…what matters is this fact: the criminal believed.

He was admitted to Paradise…that very day. Jesus gave him passage.

Jesus is our way to true forever Paradise.

If you need clarification…the Bible is filled with evidence. Jesus is found from Genesis to Revelation. Think of it, the criminal never read the Bible. He likely hadn’t even met or heard of Jesus before that day he hung beside Jesus on the cross.

The way to Paradise in heaven is Jesus

The criminal listened. He watched. He believed.

The same day Jesus promised him admission into indescribable Paradise.

We can do the same.

Believe.

It’s why Jesus hung on that cross to His death.