Helen McCormack

In my previous devotional, I mentioned the thief being crucified on the right side of Jesus. He was there because he had broken laws serious enough to warrant death. While they hung there together, he threw insults at Jesus. However, perhaps by watching the events around him, hearing Jesus speaking and pondering his own eternity, he turned and looked at Jesus, asking Him to remember him. At that point, Jesus promised that they would be together in paradise. I wonder how he felt during the remainder of his agonizing ordeal with that promise in his mind and heart?

What about the other thief? He, too, was there because he also broke enough laws to deserve death. He also insulted Jesus by challenging his claim to be the Son of God. After all, if that was true, why didn’t Jesus rescue himself and them? Based on what we read then, instead of turning toward Jesus, this second thief turned away from Jesus. Thus, he had no promise of a better future in the midst of his agony. Instead of paradise, what was his future?

The Bible says that “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven,” (Matthew 7:21 NIV). Did the first thief do the will of the Father by deciding that Jesus was worthy of trust and, thus, accepted the promise of paradise? “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life…”(John 6:40 NIV).

On the other hand, did the second thief not do the will of the Father because he did not want to seek what Jesus offered, but instead, continue to blame Jesus for not getting them out of this mess. Is that why he was not given the promise of paradise? “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son,” (John 3:18 NIV).

Each man apparently had access to the same information about who Jesus was. Each had the opportunity to choose to accept the gift of paradise or get stuck in the blame game. This is not a matter of something we do to earn God’s favor but accepting the offered gift as the first thief did. Most importantly, though, is the fact that we need to ask ourselves what our personal attitude about God and Jesus Christ is. Will we turn toward Him as the first thief did and also receive the promise of being together with God in paradise? Or, will we blame God for our struggles and turn away from Him?

With that in mind, I suggest that we picture a toddler, bound to go outside and play in the snow. They sit on the floor trying to put on their snow boots while holding them with the toe facing down. Obviously, that’s not going to work. That child tries over and over, crying and fussing even more loudly with each failed attempt. Help is offered and flatly refused with an even greater howl. I’ve been there and I assume that almost everyone who ever had a toddler has been there too. Let’s not be like that toddler; refusing the help that God offers us to get through the challenges of life and even more, promises us that we can be together with Him in paradise.

Let’s stop blaming Him for not fixing everything the way we want it. Let’s learn now how to build a loving, trusting relationship with our God, getting to know Him better while on earth as we look forward to enjoying paradise with Him.

Helen McCormack is author of a second book, “Journeys in Faith, Pursuing Obedience,” containing more than 50 additional devotionals written for The Minot Daily News.