Paradise

Today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43)

"Today"
Jesus makes a huge promise to the sinner next to him on the cross. Today you will be with me in paradise. Immediately. Instantly. Now. Not tomorrow. Not in a hundred years. Not in a in a thousand years. Not in a in a million years. Not at the second coming of Christ. But today. Immediately. I don't understand what awaits us after we pass through the doors of death, but I know eternal life awaits beyond.

"Today, You"
You. That means you and me. We will be in paradise with God when we die. I don't believe Christ’s promise is only towards the thief on the cross but Christ’s promise is directed towards you and me as well.

"Today, You will be with me"
With me. The emphasis in the Bible is not on being reunited with our loved ones from earth though I also believe that will happen. The Bible focuses on something even better... We will be with Christ, we will be in God’s Presence.

"Today, You will be with me in paradise"
We will seen the face and glory of God. We will be with loved ones. There will no war nor starvation nor evil for these things will have been all destroyed. It will be paradise! I can't explain and any explanation will fall far short of the reality. Its beyond anything we can comprehend.

God loves us and he wants us to know that we will be with him. His presence is what really matters. Its his presence that makes it paradise. But God also promises his presence with us today. Are you able to see the presence of God in your life today! Its only a foretaste of what it will be like when in paradise, when the overwhelming presence of God is truly revealed in all his glory! Don't wait... it can begin today!

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