“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53: 5-6
Wise words and prophetic insight as we are blessed by Isaiah in his pronouncements dating back more than six hundred years before the birth of Christ as he points towards the Messiah. His words focus a necessary reminder that we, like sheep, have gone astray as we pursue our own path in this life. The prophets of the Old Testament pointed forward to Jesus, yet many to this day deny the Savior and follow the broad path that leads to destruction.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance” Ecclesiastes 3: 1-4
The wisest of all rulers, the King of Israel, son of David, whose reign spanned a time more than nine hundred years before Christ, delivers the ecclesiastical knowledge outlining the seasons of our lives. Solomon goes on to show that God has set eternity in the human heart, we are not the finite gathering of organisms that accidentally discovered life only to live and die, returning to nothing. We are eternal beings designed by our Creator, yet we cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. However, included in this summary of life is the reminder found later in chapter 3, verse 15, as the final seasons pass, “…God will call the past to account.“
From the beginning we know that God used many prophets of old to cast the eyes of creation towards the coming of Jesus. Isaiah, Moses, Jeremiah, Micah, Zechariah – and more throughout time – all shared these God-given insights of hope for mankind that Jesus was coming. In beautiful contrast, the New Testament announces the good news of our Messiah’s arrival.
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3: 17
Through this we know that God has not forsaken us in this fallen world. To the contrary, God sent Jesus into this world with one mission – to give his life as a sacrifice for all. He was crushed for our iniquities. Upon that cross, Jesus demonstrated perfect obedience to God’s plan as he gave his life to atone for our sins. On either side of Christ was a thief receiving their own punishment for crimes against the Roman Empire.
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked the first, “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23: 39-43
These verses from the Gospel of Luke represent the perfection of God’s love for all mankind. This moment in time reflects the entirety of the Gospel message – the Good News – as it demonstrates the availability of redemption to anyone and everyone without exception.
What we see transcends words as it puts all promises into action. The scene described is the apogee of the earthly ministry of Jesus culminating at the cross. Having been savagely beaten and stripped of all humanity, Jesus is suspended on a cross between two criminals, fulfilling his purpose by giving his life as a sacrifice for all. To one side a thief mocks him, but to the other side, we see a man acquiesce to his own guilt – “we are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve” – and in one lucid pronouncement, he professes his faith while acknowledging Jesus as the Son of God, the Messiah. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
It is candid and compelling – and it speaks to everyone inclusively – it doesn’t matter who you are, what your social status may be, or what you may have done. In the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul explains the path to salvation in direct yet simple terms.
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10: 9-10
All paths lead to the cross for all of mankind, from the prophets looking forward, to modern day as we look to what Christ has done for us. The question becomes, upon which cross do we align?
Pause on this scenario for a moment; three crosses, Jesus front and center, with one thief on each side. Understanding that every word in the Bible is purposeful – look at what this specifically aligned scene represents to us. Jesus has already proclaimed that he is the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through him. Therefore, Jesus is presented as the sacrifice, the lamb led to the slaughter, taking our sins upon his body. The two thieves demonstrate the internal debate we must reconcile within our own being – do we believe that Jesus is the Messiah and place our faith in him or do we turn away and reject Christ? We can do nothing of our own merits to secure redemption with God, it is only by the grace of God through faith in Christ that we are saved. So the question must be raised in the context of the two thieves, upon which side do you align – upon which cross?
We live in the age when there are many false doctrines being spread and leading many astray. This also lends itself to confusion which pushes even more people away from our Lord. This world would rather worship creation than to acknowledge and worship the Creator. We see a world that has given itself over to its own selfish indulgences and as Paul warned, people do not have a tolerance for the truth – they will gather among them those that will speak what they want to hear. Many hold to a form of godliness but deny the power and deity of Christ. Some don’t believe we need redemption at all, but make no mistake about it,
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3: 23
As we previously shared through the wise words of Solomon, God has placed eternity in our hearts. We are not finite beings and deep down we all know that to be true. There is more to life than the mundane distractions we seek from sunrise to sunset. For those that have come to that place of atonement, having called out to the Lord in faith, believing in the death and resurrection of our savior, Jesus Christ, the heart is filled to overflowing with the peace and joy that surpasses all human understanding. But for those that ignored or have rejected this offer of forgiveness, this reality of eternal existence is a millstone around the neck constantly tormenting the mind and spirit resulting in an endless search for something to fill that spiritual void.
In this manner of being, whether we like it or not, we will choose to which side of Christ we will hang our eternal destiny. Have you made that decision?
To the one side, the thief mocks Jesus as his own personal torment rages to the surface – “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and save us” – but to the other side, this thief speaks up – “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” – and then he proclaims his faith in the purest moment of humbleness as he states, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
We have the opportunity, because God does not want that any should perish, but that all would come to Christ. But we must choose the path to which our eternal destiny will reside and simply putting it off or ignoring this reality is, in and of itself, a denial of Christ. Read this most sobering text spoken by Jesus,
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the path that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the path that leads to life, and few will find it.” Matthew 7: 13-14
And he said to all of them, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” Luke 9: 23-24
Today we come to this place – the eternal crossroads by which all mankind must pass – and you have to choose the path upon which your destiny will proceed. Upon which cross will you forever nail your eternal soul? Do you mock Jesus or do you humbly bow and confess your sins while professing your faith in the Savior? At the center stands Jesus and there are two paths to go by – one leads to the narrow gate – “few will find it.” The other is the broad path that leads to destruction.
You can choose Jesus today – right here and now. Remember that one day God will call our past to account. We will stand before our Creator, and if you have accepted Christ into your heart, your account will show paid in full. Jesus has paid our debts of sin through his death and resurrection; you simply have to make that choice to follow him. If not, you will pay the wages of your sins – which is death – eternal separation from God.
If you have questions, please read this brief but concise explanation of salvation through Christ here – Pathway to Salvation
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John Stephen Frey – Director and Senior Editor, Life Beyond Horizons Ministry
Life Beyond Horizons 