With Me In Paradise - The One Year Book of Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament

With Me in Paradise

Before earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, and human desecration ever began, there was a beautiful place on planet Earth unlike anything our eyes have ever seen. It was indeed a paradise—a garden located in a place called Eden. Adam and Eve lived in this paradise where they lacked nothing and enjoyed everything—including the personal presence of God.

But in the midst of this paradise, Adam and Eve, representing the human race, grabbed hold of something other than God in an attempt to find joy and satisfaction. They opened the door to sin that day, and it came rushing into every aspect of existence, taking away their freedom and unfettered enjoyment of God himself. Into the purity of the paradise God had created, sin brought a poison that penetrated everything. Adam and Eve were sent away from the paradise, banished from the perfection they once enjoyed.

But God, in his mercy, determined that those who are his would not be shut out of paradise forever. He has made a way to enter in. Jesus made it clear to the thief hanging on the cross next to him that he opens paradise to those who turn to him in repentance and faith.

One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”

But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)

Jesus welcomed this thief—and one day he will welcome all those who come to him—into a paradise even more grand than Eden. He is, even now, preparing a paradise for his people to live in—the new heaven and new earth. The paradise of Eden was just a preview of the paradise to come. Jesus will be there, in the center, to welcome us in.

Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom. Remember my sorrowful repentance. Remember your great mercy. And welcome me into the paradise of God.