An interesting topic that may come up in Christian circles is regarding the thief that was crucified with Christ on his right side, and how he believed in the moments right before his death and was saved.
Some may argue, what is the point in struggling to live a holy life when I can just repent on my deathbed and be saved? But I do not see him as an example of a “last minute repenter.” Quite the opposite—he wasted NO time. He saw Christ for the FIRST time and said “THAT’S GOD EVERYBODY!!! IT’S SO OBVIOUS!! CAN’T YOU SEE??? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!!” Ok, ok, I might be paraphrasing, but it’s still true.
How many of us have known Christ all our lives and still struggle to really believe? How many of us doubt the promises of God, even when we have had decades to study and experience them?
We see Christ in all His Glory, and yet still doubt Him. The right hand thief saw Him in His ultimate human weakness, and yet somehow immediately believed, more than the 12 Apostles, without even having to see Him rise from the dead.
His immediate faith upon his first—and last—-and only—encounter with Christ shakes me to my core. I wish he did not raise the bar so high.
No one preached to him. He didn’t witness any miracles. He didn’t study the Scriptures and reason out his faith. He simply immediately understood he was in the presence of God and submitted to Him.
Rather than being an example of a last minute repenter, he is the ultimate example of full and immediate faith and repentance on his FIRST encounter.
If he had met Christ sooner, what an incredible apostle he would have been. And how far from his strength of faith am I. May God take away my sluggish faith and give me the faith of Demas.
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