Luke 23.43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Paradise is a word that is used to describe a beautiful place on earth, or some incredible experience. It is mans word to identify something that is in their estimation, “the ultimate.” For the child of God, paradise is a description of their future home. They do not believe the “sales pitch” that this condo or this location or this purchase will be like paradise. No way. Not even close. I cannot even begin to imagine what this penitent thief was feeling or thinking when The Lord Jesus said to him, today, you will be with me in paradise. But I suspect that the excruciating pain in his body and guilt of the crime he committed disapted a bit. What would you think or feel if Jesus said to you, right now, whoever you are and whatever you are going through, “Today, you will be with Me in paradise!.” I think you would probably see your present dilemma or situation in an entirely different light. So would I.
If paradise awaits you, you no longer need to “find it” here on earth for the simple reason that the paradise of God cannot be found or bought on earth. How incredible is paradise? The apostle Paul was caught up to paradise where heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. As glorious as the description of Heaven is in Scripture, Paul adds that there were things that he heard, and presumably saw, that he could not even begin to describe. The Oooohs and Aaaahs on planet earth are short lived. Earthly pleasures only last so long. They cannot and do not endure forever. They were not created for that purpose. At best, they are gifts from God that remind us that earth is not our home, and the best is yet to come.
Paradise is home sweet home, beloved. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. It is home to over omers. And who are over omers? For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? Dear ones, one day, each of us in Christ will hear hi say to us, Today, you will be with Me in paradise. May that encourage and comfort you this day.
