Our passage ‘deserves to be printed in letters of gold’ (J C RYLE). A violent revolutionary in his last hours on earth receives from Christ’s own lips the promise of eternal bliss from that very day. This is true conversion tested in the most extreme conditions. ‘The dying thief’ is a humbling yet encouraging example. Humbling, because all who would be saved must come as he came. Encouraging, because all who come in the way he did will certainly enjoy salvation.
His story emphasises that salvation is bestowed by God’s grace alone. He is the embodiment of that vital truth. He had not a scrap of merit to plead from his life of reckless crime, for his life-style had been violent robbery and politicallymotivated murder. Even after he came to Christ, he could point to nothing that marked a response to God in his life. He was never baptised. Nor did he partake of the Lord’s Supper. He had no opportunity to give time, talent or treasure to Christ. Yet he is certainly in heaven – by ‘amazing grace’. Only thus will we be there too.
His experience demonstrates that salvation is received through repentance and faith. He sees the justice of his own condemnation by the Romans. Not only so, but he grasps his desperate sinfulness before an awesomely holy God, and in the presence of an utterly sinless Christ. In faith he turns from sin to the Saviour. The faith of this terrorist is perhaps the most striking in Scripture. By it he sees kingly glory behind the outward shame of a suffering Christ. Yet it is a great Saviour who saves, not great faith. The feeblest faith placed in Him secures eternal blessedness.
His testimony underlines that the opportunity of trusting Christ must be grasped when it is available. The robber’s life was ebbing, and he realised the dreadful urgency of his situation. Scripture solemnly reminds us all that ‘today’ is vested with pressing opportunity and eternal significance. Let us be alert to hear and obey God’s voice today while it is His acceptable time and our day of salvation.
