From our text, we could bring out a vital point. There were two thieves crucified with Jesus Christ, but the thief on the right hand met the grace of God and recognize it. The Bible says that the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, but will all men recognize the grace enough to embrace it to work out their salvation? Selah. Let’s consider some more things about this paradise.
TEXT: Luke 23:42, Revelation 22:2, 1Corinthinas 15:19, Romans 8:18-23, 35-37.
In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22:2
In the garden of Eden, there were two trees -the tree of Life which is the word of God, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil -which is perverted knowledge. These two laws still exist but in the new world to come, God would have succeeded in totally wiping out perverted knowledge of the devil such that what will be left is the tree of life which bare twelve manners of fruits and the leaves are for the healing of the nations. Can you now see the value of the word of God, for those who surrender to it, have such an inheritance that cannot fade? That is why God is washing us now by His word, it is the power of God to cleanse and purge till we are thoroughly furnished for that new world to come. Nothing will take you there except the word of God. Grace has appeared to all men, but you have to recognize it and act upon it, don’t scorn it, it is your life, it is what guarantees your good end. The word of God must have washed all the inheritors of Paradise before they can be there.
We should ask ourselves how this thief believed that Jesus who was hung on the tree like he was had a kingdom, and was pleading to be with him. There was no difference between them, in fact, if by the order of the word, anyone hung on the cross is accursed. How then did this man see through the odds of the moment, recognize it and plead for it?
While on earth now, you have received an opportunity, not just to believe in Jesus but to serve, and you should not waste your opportunity. What will give you a position in the kingdom of God is your service on earth. God has got something better for us, but revelation is needed to key into it. If you do not know what has been freely given to you, you cannot have the blessing thereof.
Men have served, not because they were expecting anything in this ephemeral world. Their focus was beyond this world. Consider Jesus Christ, who lived to have nothing on earth. He was born in the manger, lived as a wanderer, doesn’t have a house, no business, he died by crucifixion after thirty-three years. That does not look like a life well spent, to a carnal man. But yes, there is a world after this, and that was what He labored for.
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 1Corinthians 15:19
Men of faith likewise fought for this same course, they sacrificed their lives because they had the revelation. Without revelation, you cannot labor for heaven, you cannot sacrifice for it.
My encouragement to you is in Romans 8:18. If you have the revelation of this paradise, don’t give up, continue to labor, continue to strife. Several people are striving for several things, but ours is different because we have a lively hope.
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
The earnest of our salvation is the Spirit of God in us, that is what redeems our soul, but we are waiting for the redemption of our bodies when we will receive the full adoption of our salvation. For if this earthly tabernacle is dissolved, we have another one waiting for us -eternal in glory. But while we are still in this, we are groaning, we are waiting; we should not make this world our paradise. We should not limit this our labor to getting the things on earth alone. Nothing should be able to separate us from the love that is in Christ, as Paul proclaimed in Romans 8:35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Yes, there is distress, there is famine, there is persecution, and all, but they should not separate us from the love of Christ, we need to acknowledge His sacrifice to the degree where we also can lay down everything for it.
Our God is not unrighteous to forget your labor of love, He has a reward for you if you can press on to the end. Press on brother, it won’t be very long.