Pardoned to Paradise

Two men asked Jesus for help on that barren hillside called Golgotha. One received pardon but the other received not a word. The verbal attack of the one showed the condition of the heart was more important than the actual words, because truth spoken in derision can be the worst kind of insult. 

"Aren't you the Christ?" The dying thief asked in mockery. And his attitude of scorn destroyed a request for salvation: “Save yourself....and us!" he spat. 

The insulting thief found nothing but silence from the King of Kings, while the other found words of assurance and victory. It was the attitude of the repentant thief that earned a pardon. 

The first expression of that attitude was deep conviction of sin: "Don't you fear God since you are under the same sentence?"

The repentant thief was about to stand before God, his Creator and give an account of his life. He realized in despair all he had to show was his sinfulness. The very thought of seeing his sinful life revealed in God's holy presence brought an awesome conviction of sin.

If we are to enjoy pardon, we too, must see our sin as God sees it: a reproach to His holy character, an insult to His beloved Son, and destructive to the people he loves. 

The second expression of that saving attitude was honest confession of guilt: "We are punished justly," he said, “We are getting what our deeds deserve." Like the prodigal son of whom Jesus earlier spoke, the thief came to himself. He stopped trying to blame his guilt on someone else. And that was the only way he could be rid of it.

The purpose of Jesus' death was to bring pardon but His purpose can only find fulfillment in our honest confession. Until we admit our guilt his death is wasted on us.

The repentant thief realized his Sin brought him to this place. We need to realize our sin brought Jesus, the God-Man, to this day—Crucifixion and to this place—Calvary.

He got what we deserve.

We get what he earned—if we confess our sin, ask his forgiveness and accept him as Savior!

The third expression of that attitude was a full awareness of the Holiness of Christ: "This man has done nothing wrong!"

One reason Jesus came to earth was to show us the character of God in the body of a man. He is the perfect likeness of the invisible God. But, until we recognize the holiness of Jesus, the man, we cannot imagine the holiness of God, the Creator, and we cannot experience his holiness in our own lives.

The fourth expression of the attitude that brought pardon was an expression of faith in the midst of hopelessness: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

Picture the scene: The repentant thief hung on a cross in the hour of his death. He looked beside him to Jesus and saw there a man who was beaten, wounded, and bleeding. The blood from the crown of thorns was dried on his forehead, and fresh blood from the nails dripped from his hands and ran down his arms and torso to the sword-cut in his side continuing down to mingle with blood from his nail-pierced feet and fall to the ground. Sweaty from the strain of carrying the cross; with dust from countless feet settled on his body. Chilled from the wind that blew upon Golgotha, he probably shivered violently from the cold. He did not look like a king. There was no indication he could even help himself much less anyone else. But in spite of all the evidence to the contrary this condemned man believed!

In the face of hopeless despair, he believed. He believed so much that even in his agony he groaned those never-to-be-forgotten words, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

That man was the first Christian! He was first to believe and first to receive the pardon Jesus came to bring. 

Pardon is a beautiful word to a condemned man. "Today, you will be with me in paradise!” was the word from Jesus that transported him from the agony of crucifixion to the bliss of eternal paradise! From the dirt and stench of execution to the inexpressible delight of the resurrection! From the destruction of sin to the redemption of righteousness through Jesus Christ, God's Son!

Pardon is also a beautiful concept for you and me. Almost 2,000 years ago Jesus paid the price for every one of us! Because of what God did through Christ we hear him say also to us "Today, you will be with me in paradise." We need not wait to die. Life is a paradise for all who live by faith!

I’m Rick Blumenberg…and that’s “My view from Tanner Creek”.

Preached @ 1984 Good Friday Service at Hillcrest United Methodist Church in a service planned by the Elkhart Area Ministerial Association. I was pastor of Midtown (now Adamsville Road) Church of God.

This Gospel is just as true today as it was then!
   

Christ Living and Computers

It was at Midtown / Adamsville Road Church of God, in Elkhart, Indiana, that I wrote my first two books. First was “The Prayer Support System”, a description of the prayer ministry I began in our church when we were located on Baldwin Street in the city of Elkhart. “Let’s Get Down to Basics”, my second book, began as a class for new believers at Midtown (Now Adamsville Road Church of God), and for those not familiar with the Church of God. Both are still in print, but the Prayer Support System supply is running low. If you’re interested in either one, contact me on Facebook or through the Church of God Yearbook.

Carol and I visited Adamsville Road Church of God on Sunday, and it brought back a lot of good memories. They worship now in a new sanctuary and the original sanctuary we helped to build is now a fellowship hall and Sunday school classroom. Many familiar faces are gone, replaced by new faces with warm friendly smiles. Pastor Rob Meckley preached a great sermon and we enjoyed the day tremendously.

 

One of the dear ladies who was not there when we planted the church nor for the twelve and a half years we led the congregation, came to thank me for starting this congregation, almost thirty-five years ago. She (Dianna Berg) said something like this: “You have no idea how many lives you have blessed! Thank you!”

But as I told Dianne, “That’s the joy of serving God and it’s true for all of us who serve him. We never know what great things he accomplishes through our efforts.”

As I think about that I’m reminded of so many times when a kind word, a warm smile, a loving response or a ten-dollar-bill given during a difficult time in life, had life-changing blessings that continued generation after generation throughout time and into eternity.  We do small things and by God’s grace he turns them into awesome accomplishments that we will only fully know in that reunion in eternity.

That visit reminded me of an interesting experience while planting this Elkhart congregation. In the early days of the church plant I was earning some extra money as a substitute teacher and was asked to teach a computer class. It seems impossible now when I spend so much time on a laptop, but at that time I had never touched a computer and I tried to say no to something I wasn’t sure I could do.

 I was told not to worry. All I need do was babysit these high school students. They didn’t expect me to teach them anything.

That was difficult for me to comprehend because I love to teach and I didn’t think I could do the baby-sitting thing, but I needed the money, so I showed up. As I stood in front of a class of about twenty-five students I had a sudden moment of divine inspiration and miracle of miracles, I acted on the impression that I’m sure was a message from God.

I told the students I knew absolutely nothing about computers. I said there was no way I could teach them anything because “Every one of you knows more about computers than I do.” So, I went on to say, “I would like to ask you to teach me. You go ahead with whatever you’re doing and as I walk around the classroom, would you try to teach me something that will help me to better understand computers? This is something I need to learn.”

As you can imagine, the students loved God’s idea and we spent a delightful morning that was for me an unforgettable experience. I hope it was for those students as well. I have no doubt God directed me in that classroom just as much as when I preached to that fledgling congregation. I have no idea how God may have used it in some of those student’s lives. I know what a blessing it was in mine.

One of the students gave me my first introduction to and explanation of computer games. I had never heard of such a strange thing. That young man is probably a millionaire today. I certainly hope so.

I'm Rick Blumenberg . . . and that's My View from Tanner Creek.