Two Kinds of People

And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:43, CSB 

This text of Scripture is one of the best known out of all four gospels. There are several points that really jump out of the text and grab your attention when you read it. Jesus is declared innocent by one of the thieves: “We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong (Luke 23:41).” Also, Jesus makes a promise to the one thief that God’s saving grace is immediate upon repentance and belief: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). 

However, I want to focus on one other truth from this section of Scripture. There were two thieves—one who continued to mock Jesus in unbelief and the other who realized this man was not like them. One thief realized Jesus was 

Lord and acknowledged him as his Lord. This thief was promised Paradise, and the fear of death was released from him because of that promise. But the other thief who refused to recognize Him as Lord and continued to mock Him ultimately died and was separated eternally from this Paradise the other man had received! 

This truth is an exact picture of every man and woman in the world. There are 7.7 billion people in the world today, and yet there are only two kinds of people— those who recognize Jesus as Lord and those who refuse to acknowledge Him as Lord. There is no middle road! When it comes to Christ’s Lordship, there is no gray area! You’re either a follower of Jesus, or you’re not. 

PRAY: Spend a moment with a thankful heart that you’re in the family of God. Then, spend some moments praying with a broken heart for your one, who is not. 

However, be hopeful, because they can be. 

ACT: Today, text, call or DM your one. Specifically, ask them when there can be a time to meet in person or over FaceTime. This meeting will be for you to have a gospel conversation with them. Urgency is the key word for today.