"And Jesus replied, 'I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.'"

Luke 23:43

Jesus said "today," not "tomorrow" or "someday." This unnamed criminal had no guarantee he would live another hour. His body was broken and his time was up. Yet in his final moments, Jesus welcomed him into paradise immediately. The word "today" cuts through every excuse and delay we might have about following Jesus.

Don't mistake this thief's story for a strategy to wait. He didn't plan to meet Jesus on a cross. He didn't schedule his conversion for his dying day. His own crimes forced him into this moment with no other options left. His story shows God's amazing grace, not a blueprint for procrastination.

Every day you delay could be the day you run out of chances. Heart attacks don't send warnings. Car accidents don't wait for convenient times. Strokes don't check your calendar first. The thief had no idea that morning would be his last opportunity to choose Jesus. Neither do you.

Why wait until you're nailed to a cross to find God? The thief found Jesus in his darkest hour, and that's beautiful. But imagine how much richer his life could have been if he had known Jesus years earlier. How many crimes could he have avoided? How many people could he have helped instead of hurt? Don't wait for rock bottom to look up to heaven.

Every time we say 'I'll get serious about Jesus later,' we're betting our eternity on tomorrow. We assume we'll have another chance, another invitation, another moment of conviction. But God's Spirit doesn't chase us forever. Hearts that keep saying 'not now' eventually stop hearing His voice altogether.

Ask yourself honestly: what are you waiting for? More knowledge? A better time? Life to get easier? The thief had none of these luxuries. He came to Jesus broken, desperate, and running out of time. Yet Jesus received him instantly. What makes you think you need to wait for better circumstances?

Godseekers, don't treat this unnamed thief's story as permission to wait. His story shows that it's never too late if you're still breathing, but it's not a reason to postpone decision. Today is the day of salvation, not tomorrow. If Jesus can save a dying criminal, He can certainly save you right now. Why risk missing the opportunity that might never come again?

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, I confess that I've been gambling with eternity by putting off my full surrender to You. Help me stop betting on tomorrow and respond to Your call today. Break through any hardness in my heart that comes from years of saying "not now." Give me the same urgent faith as this unnamed thief who didn't wait for better circumstances. I don't want to waste any more time living apart from You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Personal Reflection

• What excuses have you been using to postpone fully surrendering to Jesus, and why do those excuses seem less important now?
• If Jesus received the thief instantly despite his desperate circumstances, what makes you think you need to wait for "better" circumstances?

Step of Faith

Today, I will stop gambling with eternity and surrender my life completely to Jesus, knowing that His timeline for salvation is always now, never later.