I know a boy who hated God.
He was raised right. But somewhere along life’s path, he chose to go his own way.
He started out fine. In fact, he went to synagogue school from ages 5- 12 just like all the other Hebrew boys his age in his village. The first book they all memorized was Leviticus. They also memorized all of the Psalms. This was standard for Hebrew boys back then.
But instead of going into apprenticeship afterward like everyone else, somehow he ended up on the wrong path. Eventually, he ended up sinning for a living. He became a wicked man until the authorities caught up with him.
We see a picture of him next to Jesus, on his own cross. Can you imagine being in tortuous pain and using your last ounces of strength to hurl abuse at Jesus?
Both men crucified next to Jesus joined in the hatred of Him (Matt 23:44) reviling, mocking, doubting and blaspheming. But then one of the men went quiet.
Somewhere in the recesses of his brain the things he learned about God as a child started to work on his mind. And before he died he said some very simple things. Lk 23:40-43 He realized he was a sinner, He realized Jesus was sinless. He acknowledged that Jesus was deserving of a Heavenly Kingdom and pleaded, “remember me!”
Nobody was close enough to hear that whispered conversation between Jesus and the wicked man just before he died. To everyone else, he died rejecting God.
But it only took a moment for a hater to become a believer.
Jesus confirms that moment is enough by saying, TODAY, you will be in paradise, WITH ME.
Nobody but God knows the last seconds of thought that went through your child’s mind. Someone near death and desperate only had to say two little words to Jesus, “remember me!”. Doesn’t that sound like something your child could say or even think in their despairing state right before they passed into death?
It only takes a moment for a hater to become a believer.
I believe God put this real-life account in scripture for people like us, for such a time as this.
Father God, I’m praying for all of the moms and dads here who don’t know if their child is with you. They longed for them to know You, they prayed for them to come to You, and now they just don’t know the answer to that prayer. Please give them the tiniest bit of faith to hope and help them to wait until heaven where You can scoop them up as Your own little child and tell them all about it. In Jesus most Holy and precious name, amen.
