With the season of Advent in full swing, it is time for some serious reflection. This is the season when we await the birth of our Lord Jesus. It is a new beginning. Not only did He come to suffer for all the sins of humanity, but more importantly, He opened the gates of heaven for all humanity.
Many of us think that we are too far gone to merit heaven. Nothing could be further from the truth. God’s mercy has no limit, regardless of the transgressions we have made.
I believe the following is all the proof you need to believe that God’s mercy is limitless.
In the time of Christ, crucifixion was mandated for serious crimes as well as crimes against the state. Let’s go to the Gospel of Luke 23:39-43 which is the story of the crucifixion of Jesus and two other criminals.
“Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.’ The other however, rebuking him said in reply, ‘Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Jesus replied to him, ‘Amen I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’”
Wow! Let that sink in.
Here is a criminal who was justly accused of a crime and admits to it. Yet deep down, he makes a profession of faith recognizing Jesus as the Savior promised in the Old Testament and asks Jesus to remember him. Jesus, with limitless mercy, obviously forgives his sins and promises him entrance to paradise. Again, let that sink in. The first ones into paradise are Jesus and a criminal. The power of love… mercy… and forgiveness.
No! You are not too far gone. Regardless of your sins, a profession of faith will let you in.