This morning I have on my mind: paradise, brokenness, and the Gospel.
The thief on the cross, even when Jesus was hanging on the cross beside him, pleaded: “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” And He (Jesus) said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
Who would not want to be in paradise? The sad reality is that we are not in paradise, we are in brokenness. Sometime we are diluted to think that we are in paradise but at some point brokenness will enter into our lives. The first man and first woman were expelled from the paradise of God because they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil despite the commandment of God.
The reason that we are in brokenness is sin. We could blame Adam and Eve for our brokenness, we could blame our parents, or someone else. Brokenness may be the result of someone else's sin. However, none are righteous and no one is good; all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
People attempt to escape brokenness in many ways but will always be snapped back into brokenness. It is as if we have an elastic cord tied to our backs. When we think that we have escaped from brokenness, something else happens to bring us back into brokenness. No one by their own effort can escape brokenness.
Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (Jn. 14:6) Jesus live a righteous life pleasing to God. Jesus willing died on a Roman cross for our sins and he was buried. On the third day he rose from the dead. Jesus was delivered over because of our sin, and Jesus was raised because of our justification. (Rom. 4:25)
There is a way out of brokenness into paradise and that way is to repent and trust in Jesus Christ. Jesus promised eternal life to all who repent and trust in him. So like the thief who hung beside Jesus on the cross. Pray, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” The thief entered the paradise of God that day, but you do not know the day and hour of your departure. Learn to observe all that Jesus commanded his disciples until the day of your departure. Your departure from brokenness into the paradise of God.
In Christ alone,
Michael Peek
The Nurse Theologian
