Three Men on a Tree

We may be tempted to tell ourselves that the thief made a decision for Christ, as if he chose Him. Like he had the opportunity to take part in his salvation. He most certainly did not. He was helpless, hopeless. He had absolutely no where to turn. He was stuck, on a tree, destined to die. He knew his physical life was over, and his one shot of eternal comfort was hanging by his side. He cried out to Christ in desperation.

He had come to the point where he realized that there was no other way. He was hopeless, he was helpless. You and I, we are free. We can go where we want to, say what we want to, and do what we want to with small limitations if we really tried. At a glance, we look as if everything is going our way, but it is not. You and I were just as hopeless as this criminal. Dead in our trespasses. We were helpless in our flesh. Unable to save ourselves. But Jesus sat us free.

The criminal had come to the end of his rope and he realized there was one way out. Have you come to the end of your rope? Have you realized that you have fallen short of the glory of God, and that you are helpless in your flesh? Have you come to the place where you realized that Jesus Christ is your one and only answer?