4-16-2023

Good Morning All,

    Luke 23:43; “And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” 

     Do you remember the song “All My Trials”?  It was recorded by Joan Baez; Peter, Paul, and Mary; The Kingston Trio, among others.  It is a very plaintive ballad about the struggles of life.  It starts with the haunting line,” Hush little baby don’t you cry; you know your mother was born to die.”  

    This is one of those songs that when you hear it and listen to the words; you either love it or hate it.  There are many people who despise this song because, to them, it is a negative song with a negative attitude toward life.  They see it as fatalistic and dreary and gloomy.  It is based on a Bahamian lullaby where a mother on her deathbed is comforting her children.  The key line in the song is “all my trials soon (will) be over.” 

    While some find this song problematic, it tells of a truth of life.  Our life is one long trial, and it will soon be over.  Some see this as a fatalistic cry, some see it as depressing.  It is an accurate view of life; we were born to die.

    The story of Christ’s crucifixion really is a microcosm of the life of man.  As Jesus hangs on the cross, there are two thieves, one on each side, being crucified with him.  One is defiant and mocks Jesus; the other repents of his wrong doings and believes that Jesus is Lord.  Both men are dying but one will live to be in paradise.

    We like to think that our life will last a long time; perhaps in our mind it will last forever.  Yet we are sinners, we are dying.  In essence, we are already hanging on the cross; we are dying.  Our life is slowly draining away.  We will all eventually die; the question is which cross do you hang on?

    Many in this world hang on the cross of the scoffer.  They deny Jesus as Lord; they do not believe that He can or will forgive their sins.  They do not believe that God would do this out of love for them.  They hang on that cross refusing to see their own death coming.  They deny that they are truly helpless and incapable of changing their lot, their future, in any way.  So, they join the sinful world in scoffing and denying Jesus and sealing their fate and certain eternal death.

    Then there are those who accept life.  Even though they are hanging on the cross, they look to Jesus for salvation.  Even though they are facing earthly death, they trust in God’s promise of forgiveness and of eternal life.  They have faith in the words, “you will be with me in paradise.”  They have eternal life so they are able to face death knowing that the trials of the cross will give way to life everlasting.

    So, the question is which cross do you hang on?  Is it the one which scoffs at Jesus and does not believe in his promise, or do you hang on the cross which is forgiven and has received the promise of salvation?

Dear Lord, we hear your promise of forgiveness and salvation.  Give us the faith to trust in your promise; give us faith.  Hold us close to you and when our time on the cross is done, bring us home to you in Paradise.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret