Paradise

Are you heading for paradise? Do you know where paradise is? What do you think paradise is like?

In the Bible it mentions that Jesus told someone that they would be in paradise with him. You can find the story in Luke:

Luke 23:39-43  One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, "Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!
But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
"And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."
And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!"
And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."

These few lines tell us so much. Jesus hung between these two men who had not lived very well, in fact so bad they were sentenced to death, crucified for their misdeeds. One mocked Jesus and the other did several things. He defended Jesus as being the only innocent one there, he recognized Jesus's identity as a King going into his kingdom and by asking Jesus to remember him, Jesus assured him that he would be with him in paradise (heaven) that very day.

This is what many people miss. It is by grace that we are saved.

Titus 3:5 ^...he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit...

This man's whole life led up to this point and although he was a criminal, a person who did bad things, he recognized who Jesus was and admitted that he was there for his misdeeds This is all we know about this man. In the final minutes of his life, his words all 47 of them together led to his being granted eternal life.  At that point his words are clear where his heart was. That is mainly what God is interested in. The following scripture sums up what this man did.

Matthew 10:32 "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.

In many ways, this man failed at life. He was so hated and did so many misdeeds, he was put to death. He had no defense for his wrongdoing. His whole life led up to this moment and if every anyone feels they cannot deserve forgiveness/eternal life, this certainly shows that even the "scourge of day" can attain a place in Heaven, with 47 words that expressed his heart. His part of Jesus's story is a witness to centuries of people of the mercy of our Lord.

The Lord took many people to do great things dispite the wrong things they may have done. He knew their hearts. Like Moses who killed an egyptian that was beating a jewish slave, or David who sent Bathsheba's husband to the front lines to his death to cover up David sleeping with the Bathsheba that resulted in pregnancy. Even Paul, when he was Saul held the coats of the men who stoned Stephen to death.  God views us much different than the world does.

In my life by the time I was 23, I felt like I was a failure, so much so, I tried to take my life. In a world sense and by my own expectations I was a failure. Things did not go well in my childhood, my first marriage fell apart as my ex broke our vows, then finally although I was the custodial parent, he kidnapped my 4 year old daughter and my 3 year old son and went interstate with them. I had failed my parents and couldn't fix them, I failed my ex as I couldn't fix him and then I let my children slip through my fingers. I was my own judge, jury and executioner. My punishment in my eyes was death and I even failed at that. I survived, God sent me back several times. The last time it was accidental but I woke up knowing how wonderful I felt when I was talking to God. He told me he would not send me back if I ever allowed this to happen again...that people were counting on me, and that I had more to do in my life.  He never said I was a failure. He never said I was condemned to Hell for doing what I did. I will never know why he showed me such love. I do know I never tried again. I now realize why he said what he did now that so many years have passed by. I have no fear of death as I have already felt the pure love and wonder of being in the presence of God. It is utterly indescribable. I can tell you, I can't wait to feel that feeling again, but the timing is God's, not mine.

You see I can look back in my life and see where ever I was, he brought good out of it. It may not have been where I wanted to be or where I thought I was supposed to be, but I can see why  I was where I was. Much of my life prepared me to this very day. Just like the criminal hanging next to Jesus's life led up to that last 47 words that brought him mercy and eternal life.

We all set out from our childhood to try to achieve goals. We all have an idea of how we want our lives to go. Some of us do achieve our dreams but all along the way, life comes at us at 90 miles an hour and our plans often go by the wayside.  This is life.

I have no regrets and I would change nothing. Yes, I suffered in my life, but I would not be the person I am today.  I am the sum of my experiences and often God uses me to help others. If I had not gone through what I went through, when I talk about forgiveness, what impact would my words and witness have on someone, if I had not experienced utter cruelty?

I realize now I was not responsible for the fixing of the others in my life.  Since I went through that bad time in my life, I have been walking towards my current path with Jesus knowing I needed his guidance.

In the world's eyes, I have not accomplished much. I am a survivor and I lived to tell the story. In God's eyes, I am not a failure. Like the criminal on the cross, I am forgiven of my sins. Like the criminal on the cross, I have recognized Jesus as God's son and the King. Like the criminal, one day I will be in paradise with Jesus.

The Song From My Soul

by Heather L. Campbell

January 21, 1999

From the outside looking in,

Your vision is opaque...

For if you looked beyond the pane, (pain)

You would see your mistake.

No matter what the outside says,

there's a caring heart inside,

No matter what you think you saw,

look further and you'll see why.

I am not exactly as I appear,

well, not in every way.

I am a different person from

the one you described today.

For in my beating heart

is a treasure you can't see...

For in my beating heart,

Jesus dwells in me.

So you may think you see

nothing more than a fool.

What you just don't see

is that I am, but a tool.

When the master lays His hand

up upon my heartstrings,

Music comes from my soul,

and makes my spirit sing.

Do you hear the harmony?

Do you enjoy the way you feel?

God uses me like a fisherman,

uses his trusted reel.

I may not be a scholar,

Nobel prizes won't be mine,

My life is not a waste,

with His touch, it's divine.

It's His words upon the paper

it's His notes in the air,

It's His talent in all of us,

that shows how much He cares.

Don't think that I have talent,

Don't think that it's my own...

The Glory be to the Lord,

That His love through me has shown.