It's NOT too late....

A lot of times we believe the saying "It's too late...."  Too late to make change, too late to accept Christ.  The thoughts spin in your head, I've done too much, I've been too bad, or that was just too much.  Jesus has already died for you sins, all of them, no matter how much you have done.  Our God is a God of 2nd, and 3rd, and 4th chances, it's never to late to say you're sorry and ask for forgiveness.

In Luke 23 there is a small passage that shows how it is not too late. It is so slight that it is almost unnoticeable.  39} One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Messiah? 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 kindom." 43} Jesus answered him, "Truely I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."

Okay so let's break that down, in verse 39 one of the thieves is hurling insults at Jesus.  A little condesentions and some ridicule in his tone I am sure.  The in verse 40 the other thief admits to knowing God but since he is in this position he obviously has not been following the teachings, or he might not be hanging here with Jesus.  Now this next verse is the AHA moment (Kyle Idleman from Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY wrote a book called AHA.  It is an acronym for Awakening, Honesty, Action) for the second thief.  He accepts that he is getting punished for the crimes that he has committed = Honesty, I believe that for him to rebuke the first thief is the Awakening, also being crucified would also be a great "awakening" moment.  Now the last 2 verses Luke 23:42 & 43 are the action this man takes.  Verse 42 he asks Jesus to remember him when he enters his kindom or we can view this as asking forgiveness.  Verse 42 is this thief who in the final day in his life who has, in previous verse, claims to know that Jesus is pure and honest and undeserving of this punishment, and simply asks for forgiveness in their final moments on the cross.  Followed by Jesus staying true to all that he has taught and that we know.  Simply put "You are forgiven...." broken down from the long version, "Truely I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."

WOW!!  What a moment in time!  So please remember that no matter what you do or have done all you need is to ask (Matthew 7:8).