But, it may be asked by some, “Is the soul in every case of conversion, as immediately fitted for heaven as in the case of the penitent thief on the cross?” Surely it is. The state of the believer in Christ, and his title to heaven are the same from the first. His experience may be much lower than his condition in Christ, and he may not be able at times “to read his title clear;” but they are ever the same notwithstanding. “He that hath the Son hath life.” Every believer has Christ, nothing can be added to Him.
In the preaching of the gospel, the sinner is invited to come to Christ just as he is. No matter what may be his state of mind at the time, or his past history, he is entreated where he is, and as he is, to believe God’s testimony concerning His beloved Son —to look in faith to Christ —to come in heart to Him; and with this assurance front Christ Himself; “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” All that come are received, none are rejected. But they are received when they come, and never cast out. They may afterward wander for a time in heart and ways, but the Lord hath said, “I will in no wise cast out.”
There is no thought in the gospel, of the sinner needing to do anything—feel anything — or be anything, to fit him for the Savior. The sinner is addressed as lost. There can be nothing lower than this. There may be many degrees in sin, but there can be none in that awful word “lost.” In this condition he is invited, entreated, besought, to look to Jesus and be saved. “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” Salvation meets the sinner, not for looking, or after looking, but in looking. Was it the first, second, or third look at the brazen serpent, that was new life to the dying Israelite? We all know it was the first. When he looked he lived. And so must it ever be with the perishing sinner. When he looks to Jesus he is saved. And let us not forget, that what meets him is “the salvation of God;” which includes every blessing. Here the believer begins his eternity with God’s blessed Son, although he may not go to paradise that same day. He may forget his high calling, and act contrary to his new life, and to Him who is its source, but the life remains unchangeably the same. Christ is the believer’s life, and nothing can ever touch the life of Christ. All this is most surely true, from the moment the sinner believes God’s testimony about Jesus. The believer himself may doubt it; “but the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” 1 Pet. 1:2525But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1:25).
In the case before us, that of the penitent thief, these precious truths are strikingly exemplified. What was he? A moral man? No. A religious man? No. What then? So far as we are informed, he was just a thief, and suffering the last penalty of the law for his crimes. Nevertheless, through grace working in his heart, he looked to Jesus, and cried, “Lord, remember me;” and he was saved on the gibbet. His closing eyes were met by a look of perfect love, and his heart assured of a present salvation. He had done nothing good before his conversion, and certainly he had no opportunity after. He could not be baptized or partake of the Lord’s Supper before he died. He was nailed to the cross. So far as we know, he went from earth to heaven, without ever having done one good action. Yet, notwithstanding, he was prepared from the moment he had faith in Jesus, to rejoin Him in Paradise. And such is the marvelous grace of God, blessed be His name, to every poor, perishing sinner that believes in Jesus. We need nothing but Jesus, we have all in Him, and we have Him from the time we first believe. Had the thief lived a hundred years after his conversion, and abounded in every good work, he would have had a richer crown, as the reward of service done to Christ; but he could never have been more fit for the unsullied light of God’s paradise in heaven.
In conclusion, may I ask — Is my reader thus prepared— thus ready to leave the present scene at any moment, and ascend to the perfect light of God’s presence in heaven? Were the Lord Himself to come now; or, as in the case before us, were the eyelids closing in death, and the puke nearly stopped, would there be joy in departing? Solemn and important question! But one which must come before us all sooner or later. At such a moment, mere profession is worse than nothing. It is only a mockery, and the witness of our hypocrisy. Christ Himself, and Christ alone, is the sinner’s fitness for the paradise of God. The poor thief had nothing more, and he needed nothing more; though no thanks to him for such a bright display of grace.
Know then, my dear reader, that there is no good thing in us; and that the outside place must be ours forever, unless we appear before God in the credit of another —unless we stand in the completeness of Christ all is lost —heaven is lost — Christ is lost — the soul is lost — all is lost, and lost forever. Oh, then! is Jesus thine — thine by faith? If there be any uncertainty on thy mind as to this question — Oh! delay not — rest not — sleep not — until it is perfectly settled, through faith in the blood of the Lamb, which cleanseth from all sin. Hast thou seen and condemned thyself as an utterly lost sinner? Dost thou believe God’s testimony concerning the Person and work of Christ? If so, then thou art surely saved! Christ Himself is thine. He gave Himself for us. He is the perfect rest of thy soul now. “Only believe,” and He will most surely be thy crown, and joy, and glory, forever and ever. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16, 1716For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:16‑17).) “And there came a voice out of the cloud saying, This is my beloved Son; hear him.” Luke 9:3535And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. (Luke 9:35).