The miracle of divine grace is so evident in the heart work that took place in the experience of the life of the penitent thief. What grace and hope come to us in Jesus, that no matter how far we have fallen, if we will take one earnest look to Calvary and see the true character of God manifest there, we may surrender our sin-polluted lives and be cleansed by the efficacy of His blood, receive a new heart and mind by the power of the Holy Spirit, and be remembered for eternity by having eternal life by grace through faith! Even though the repentant thief only had a few more hours to live after surrendering fully to Christ, and even though he was suffering on his cross, he could have all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing because he became a converted man!
To Jesus in His agony on the cross there came one gleam of comfort. It was the prayer of the penitent thief. Both the men who were crucified with Jesus had at first railed upon Him; and one under his suffering only became more desperate and defiant. But not so with his companion. This man was not a hardened criminal; he had been led astray by evil associations, but he was less guilty than many of those who stood beside the cross reviling the Saviour. He had seen and heard Jesus, and had been convicted by His teaching, but he had been turned away from Him by the priests and rulers. Seeking to stifle conviction, he had plunged deeper and deeper into sin, until he was arrested, tried as a criminal, and condemned to die on the cross. In the judgment hall and on the way to Calvary he had been in company with Jesus. He had heard Pilate declare, "I find no fault in Him." John 19:4. He had marked His godlike bearing, and His pitying forgiveness of His tormentors. On the cross he sees the many great religionists shoot out the tongue with scorn, and ridicule the Lord Jesus. He sees the wagging heads. He hears the upbraiding speeches taken up by his companion in guilt: "If Thou be Christ, save Thyself and us." Among the passers-by he hears many defending Jesus. He hears them repeat His words, and tell of His works. The conviction comes back to him that this is the Christ. Turning to his fellow criminal he says, "Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?" The dying thieves have no longer anything to fear from man. But upon one of them presses the conviction that there is a God to fear, a future to cause him to tremble. And now, all sin-polluted as it is, his life history is about to close. "And we indeed justly," he moans; "for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this Man hath done nothing amiss."
As all the pieces come together for the thief on the cross, his earnest, sincere prayer is so fitting! "And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom" (Luke 23:42). Jesus responds and gives the assurance of eternal life that very day. As we surrender fully to Christ, we, too, may be remembered in God's kingdom and let our lives be a witness of the power of grace to transform sinners into saints!
