Category: Blog

You might want to ask Matthew Roberts of California, or his half-sister Rebecca Evans-Bonyadi. Both Matthew and Rebecca—now in their forties—went on a search to discover their real father, and both of them discovered…Charles Manson. That’s right: that Charles Manson. 

Matthew Roberts was an adult when he made the discovery that he had been conceived in a San Francisco cult orgy in the 1960s. Rebecca was much younger when she uncovered her lineage.

“When I was in high school, I began to get curious about my background and who my real parents were,” Rebecca told a British newspaper in 2011. “But the truth came as a complete shock and at 15, it was very difficult to deal with. I was hurt and confused, and I didn’t understand why nobody had ever told me.”

From the outside looking in, it’s easy to understand why she wasn’t told. Who wants to tell a kid that her father is one of the most notorious cult leaders and mass murderers of all time? Or to put it another way, who wants to tell a kid that her dad is a world-class dangerous nut job? It’s not the kind of thing that most kids want to reveal during the inevitable “and what does your dad do?” discussions that pop up from time to time. 

“My dad is a cop.”

“My dad is a carpenter.”

“My dad is a dentist.”

“My dad is a murderous looney tune.”

See? It makes for really awkward silent pauses. 

Do your genetics matter? Can you inherit your dad’s psychotic problems? Matthew Roberts worries about it. “I’m not nuts, but I’ve got a little bit of it. It’s scary and upsetting,” Roberts said in a 2009 interview. “If I get really worked up, my eyes get really big, and that’s really freaked some people out before.”

I can’t image what it would be like to wait and watch for Charlie’s character traits to show up in your own disposition. Of course, neither Matthew nor Rebecca were raised by Manson, which goes a long way towards offering peace of mind. They haven’t learned any of his traits. But they still have to live with the sneaking suspicion that nature is as much a part of our makeup as nurture. Studies of adopted children seem to indicate that genetics are not completely overshadowed.

You don’t have to be a descendant of a monster to suffer the effects of bad parentage. Paul struggled with it, even after he’d been adopted into Christ’s family. (The adoption motif is Paul’s: see Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5.) He wanted to be like his adopted father, but struggled with his inborn nature:

“For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my member. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24)

If you live long enough—say into your adult years—you will suddenly begin to discover personal traits that you didn’t realize you were living with. Traits that you don’t like. At some point, you discover the ugly darkness that lurks in your own heart. We are told that we are all God’s children from a young age, but there are things about God’s children that clearly don’t come from God:

– You lie to escape trouble or responsibility. 

– You lose your temper uncontrollably, and find yourself at a loss to explain what triggered such overpowering emotional responses. 

– You find yourself afraid of things that shouldn’t frighten really frighten you. 

– You inexplicably hate someone.

– You hate yourself for your addictive behaviors. 

– ________________________________. 

Fill in the blank. Only you know what you’ve discovered hiding in the darker corners of your soul. And if you haven’t discovered it, you will. 

If you don’t know of any flaws, you’re being willfully blind. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8) Jesus had to spell it out for the Pharisees. “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do,” He told them. “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.” (John 8:44)

Ancient Greek tragedies reflect the sad reality of human existence. We are born with high ambition and noble aspirations, but there is a tragic character flaw or misdeed in every one of us that proves to be our downfall. Our hubris, pride, or foolishness get the best of us. 

The good news? With God, the adoption process will be utter and complete. Sinful nature will eventually be eradicated. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12, 13) 

“Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Paul mourned. “I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25) 

The worst thing you can do is panic and try to fix the problem yourself: you can’t change your genetics. If you spend your Christian life trying to repair your soul, your focus is still on you—and that was the condition that led to the sin problem in the first place. It’s much better to put your heart in Christ’s hands and focus on the things He told you to focus on. There’s a world to win, people to help. Take eyes off of self and get out of the way of the Great Physician, who will use the assignment He gave to His church to repair the devastation that sin has inflicted on you. 

Matthew and Rebecca discovered that Charles Manson is their father. You and I have a much worse problem: we have the devil himself for a dad. The good news? You can utterly renounce your citizenship in the kingdom of darkness. You can be utterly emancipated from the father of lies. 

One day soon, you can set foot in a kingdom where the father of lies no longer exists, your struggle will be finished for all time, and no trace of his rebellious DNA will be found in you. In this case, nurture ultimately wins over nature. It doesn’t get much better than that!

When I think of Moses the first image that comes to mind is magnificent. I see the great patriarch holding up his hands as the Red Sea is subdued into two quivering walls of water flanking a dry path to freedom. I can almost feel the fresh water-droplet laden air and hear the sound of furious hoofs on the ground in the distance.

Moses was a great leader. A great man of God. But his was a long journey that began even before his pivotal encounter with God at a burning bush when he was 80 years old.

That encounter changed his life—and the lives of generations to follow—forever. Moses answered God’s call from the bush with the words “Here I am” but whether out of apprehension or humility, he quickly added five excuses for not immediately doing as God asked.

Excuse 1: I’m not good enough

“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” -Exodus 3:11

Moses was content with his shepherd life in Midian. So content that perhaps most days he did not remember the sin that drove him to this wilderness (Exodus 2:12). When God called him to go back to the Egypt how could he forget? I imagine that in the intimacy of that encounter at the burning bush every sin felt fresh as it flushed through his mind.

God so often chooses the most unlikely candidates to fulfill His work and mission. Jonah, Gideon, Peter, you and me. He sees past the man or woman standing before Him and sees eternity. He sees our potential for good and how our broken vessels can fulfill His ultimate purpose for our own and/or someone else’s life.

God didn’t accept Moses’ first excuse, because it is the same excuse anyone could use.

Excuse 2: I don’t have all the answers

“Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” -Exodus 3:13 

As a boy Moses was raised in Pharaoh’s household. He had every advantage to learn and cultivate his intellect. He must have been a well read, well educated man, and yet he questioned his abilities. But, he missed the point. This call wasn’t about him—it was about God.

God was asking him to be His vessel. To be His voice to save the Israelites from the tyranny of Egyptian leadership. To fulfill His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

This excuse didn’t fly. Moses didn’t need to know it all because it was never about him in the first place.

Excuse 3: People won’t believe me

“Then Moses answered and said, “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’ ” -Exodus 4:1   

This excuse is a natural human instinct. Being vulnerable is scary—especially to a potentially hostile group.

God didn’t let Moses hide behind this natural human fear. He gave him two miraculous tools to give him the confidence he needed.  A rod that could turn into a serpent, and the ability to turn his hand leprous, and then make it whole again, by simply placing it inside his cloak.

God did not dismiss this excuse. He equipped Moses to overcome it.

Excuse 4: I’m a terrible public speaker

“Then Moses said to the LORD, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” -Exodus 4:10 

I’m going to call Moses’ bluff on this one. We have plenty of Biblical evidence of his great orations. Perhaps Moses was being exceedingly humble, or perhaps God truly used a flawed vessel.

I believe both are true. God doesn’t call the flawless to do His work. He takes the humble and works His flawless plan through our cracked and broken vessels.

This excuse was his best sales-pitch for the job!

Excuse 5: I’m not qualified

“But he said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.” -Exodus 4:13   

Moses’ final excuse is desperate. “Please, anyone but me!”

God responds to this excuse in righteous anger. The excuses stop and God calls Aaron to serve alongside his brother. A man with the abilities Moses felt he lacked.

Final excuse abated.

When the aged shepherd finishes rehearsing his excuses, he shows amazing single-mindedness. Slow to accept the call and the appointed work, once he does Moses holds fast to it faithfully until his death.

The Moses of Exodus chapters 3 and 4 is the same man that shows remarkable courage, obedience, and strength of character a few chapters later. He fulfills his mission faithfully and lives up to the magnificent image I first see of him.

God works with each of us where we are and takes us to where He wants us to be. We just need to be willing to leave behind the excuses.

 

In a theory known as the Phantom Time Hypothesis,he suggests that all of the events between 614AD and 911AD never actually happened.  They were fabricated by the Holy Roman Emperor Otto III and Pope Sylvester II in order to alter the calendar such that their lives would intersect with the noteworthy year 1000 AD – the millennium. 

Unfortunately for Mr. Illig, it’s not an easy hypothesis to defend.  In order to believe it, you’d have to dismiss all of world history between those dates, not just the history written by Europeans.  The prophet Mohammed and the rise of Islam, for example, would also have to be western fabrications (Mohammed began dictating the Koran after 614 AD), and to maintain that thesis you would have to disregard all non-European (for example, Asian) contact with Islam during those years.

There’s a reason you’ve never likely heard of the hypothesis before today: it’s silly.  The amount of effort required to seamlessly invent 300 years of detailed history that would be studied and taught by generations of scholars without question?  Inconceivable. 

Just as inconceivable?  The notion that pops up in social media feeds from time to time that Jesus of Nazareth never existed.  If you haven’t seen it yet, you will: it makes the rounds with some regularity, sometimes with the names of purported experts and scholars attached.  They call themselves “mythicists.”  Some suggest that the gospels are nothing but a retelling of ancient Egyptian mythology.  Some say that Jesus didn’t exist at all.  One of the more recent attacks on the historicity of Christ was Joseph Atwill’s assertion that the story of Jesus was invented by Roman aristocrats in order to manipulate and control the poor.  

Like other attempts to dismiss Jesus, it didn’t gain much traction. Why? Because like the missing years in Heribert Illig’s theory, it’s just silly.  Even Bart Ehrman, a renowned skeptical scholar who regularly challenges the reliability of the New Testament, finds the claim that Jesus didn’t exist absurd:

“One may well choose to resonate with the concerns of our modern and post-modern cultural despisers of established religion (or not). But surely the best way to promote any such agenda is not to deny what virtually every sane historian on the planet — Christian, Jewish, Muslim, pagan, agnostic, atheist, what have you — has come to conclude based on a range of compelling historical evidence.

Whether we like it or not, Jesus certainly existed.”  

On this, Ehrman is right.  As Lawrence Mykytiuk points out in the current edition of the Biblical Archeaological Review, the evidence for Jesus is conclusive.   

The real question, as far as I’m concerned is why someone wouldn’t want Jesus to be real.  The Phantom Time Hypothesis doesn’t have many defenders; you certainly don’t hear from them on Facebook or Twitter. Why? There’s a lot less at stake. Whether Charlemagne was real or not doesn’t have the same immediate impact for the individual as the reality of Christ.  Charlemagne doesn’t make demands on me.  He doesn’t require me to examine his claims or repent of my sins.  He doesn’t point out the incredible gap between the sinner and God, and he doesn’t require humble repentance and a change of direction. 

Jesus, on the other hand, requires everything.  If He is real (and He is), it means everything.  “And I,” Jesus said, “if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”  (John 12:32)  When Jesus asked Peter, “but who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15) the question wasn’t just for Peter; it was for the entire human race.  It was for you.  

It’s curious how every new religious system, every new cult, feels the need to fit Jesus into the equation.  Even people who claim to make contact with space aliens eventually come around to squeezing Jesus into the story.  Why?  Because He demands examination; the claims of Jesus are not easily dismissed.   

Jesus leaves His audience with only a few choices.  We can (1) deal with who He is, what He said about Himself, and what He taught, or (2) we can rewrite the story to make it fit an alternate set of beliefs, or (3) pretend that He didn’t exist.  Few people choose the third option; it’s just too absurd.  The second option? It seems like a foolish risk, asking God to fit our fabricated belief system instead of the other way around.

The first option?  It certainly seems like the wisest course of action.

John 20:26 records Jesus appearing before the disciples even though the door was locked. Yes. . . yes, that’s what I need. If Jesus would simply materialize in front of me when I pray, I will believe.

I recall a time back in my college days when I struggled to find direction in my life. I was a weak Christian and an even weaker prayer warrior but my trials were too great to shoulder alone, so I begged the Lord to give me a sign. Actually, I did more than beg. I asked God to show up in my room and gave Him a deadline. I don’t remember the exact words but it went something like this: “Lord, if you’re real, I want you to make yourself visible to me, right here in my bedroom, by midnight tonight.”

I waited and watched the clock as the minutes ticked away. The closer midnight came the greater my anticipation. As the deadline drew near, a great anxiety came over me, a dread that is difficult for me to put into words. All of a sudden, I found myself hoping that nothing would happen. 11:59pm. . . 1 more minute. I was wide awake and shaking in fear. The next two minutes felt like an eternity. Would Jesus appear? What then? What if it wasn’t Jesus? Oh Lord save me! My thoughts were running wild.

I have never felt such relief as when 12:01am flashed on the face of my clock. Phew!!!! It’s over. Thank-you Jesus for not answering my prayer. Reminds you of a naive child, doesn’t it? However, in that moment, I was desperate. I truly wanted a sign but when the rubber met the road, I was unprepared to face my Lord. Looking back, I’m grateful for God’s mercy both in not showing up and in protecting me from the evil one impersonating an Angel of light.

If a “genie in the bottle” Christ is not the answer, if He doesn’t simply show up when summoned, then how are we to know His will? How does He speak to us? Where do I go to have two-way conversation instead of carrying on a monologue with myself? Over and over again, scripture reveals a God that speaks, a God that does not leave His people wondering but directs them in every step. This phenomena begs the question, “if He spoke so clearly then, where is the God of the Bible today?”

1 John 1:1-3 has the answer:

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—
2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—
3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

How do these verses provide an answer, you might ask? Let’s take a closer look. In John 1:1, 2 and 14, John identifies “that which was from the beginning” as Jesus, the Word of God. With this in mind, 1 John 1 is referring to Jesus. It is Christ whom the disciples have heard, seen, and looked upon. This description points to their close, daily relationship while He was here on earth. However, John adds one more statement to the mix that’s a game changer. He says in vs. 1 “and our hands have handled, concerning the word of life.” While this also indicates a close, tangible, physical relationship it’s much more than that.

To the Bible writers, God entrusted Divine Revelation. This Revelation they declared to us through spoken and written word. The Bible says, “For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). In a real sense, the handling of the “Word of Life” in vs. 1 of 1 John 1, is not only their physical communion with Jesus while here on earth but their active part in writing the Bible. Furthermore, not only did the disciples write, but they also physically handled and read the holy scrolls that predated them.

Putting it altogether, notwithstanding their physical relationship with Christ, what John is relating to us in 1 Jn 1, is that they were able to get to know Jesus, in large part, through the handling of scripture. Through the pages of the Bible, they heard, saw, and looked upon the beauty of Christ. In the sacred oracles, Jesus Christ was manifested and this manifestation they now bear witness to and declare unto us. In vs. 4, John declares that through hearing, seeing, and looking upon the manifestation of Jesus, we fellowship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

So what implication does this have for us? Simple! God has always been right where we need Him all along, yet we don’t seem to believe or maybe realize it. He’s there on our shelves, coffee tables, desks, electronic devices and anywhere else we keep the “Word of Life.” In this day and age, God primarily manifests Himself to us through the Bible. In the pages of the canon, we will find Jesus. We don’t just catch a glimpse of Him. According to John, we will hear, see, look upon, handle and fellowship with Christ.

Would you like Jesus to show up as soon as you call? Here’s the good news. He’s already there. I encourage you to go to your prayer closet with your Bible in hand. Open up the divine pages and fellowship with Him. I guarantee He will speak to you in ways you never thought possible.

This past weekend our family in Canada celebrated Thanksgiving. Although we’ve lived stateside for over a decade, I still celebrate with them in spirit.

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” asked the Philippian Jailer fresh from a near miss (Acts 16:30). A few moments earlier he had pulled his sword with full intent of ending his miserable life but grace had prevailed. Paul and Silas, who had been mercilessly beaten at the hand of the multitude and magistrates and then turned over to the callous jailer, had prevented a mass escape from the prison following an earthquake that supernaturally opened all prison doors and loosed everyone’s chains. They themselves, prized prisoners, had remained as a testimony to the faithless.

The list of Christian heroes is populated by the persistent. It’s one thing to follow God the first moment you notice His voice, when His presence is obvious; it’s quite another to stay with Him through the rest of your life. The book of Hebrews speaks of those who walked away from the usual demands of life to follow God into eternity, and at one critical juncture in the story, the author makes an important point: “they would have had opportunity to return.” (Hebrews 11:15)

I’m already tired and it’s still morning. My grumbling is interrupted by an agent’s voice coming over the loudspeaker announcing that my flight has been overbooked and they are looking for people willing to give up their seats. In a moment of serious delusion, I find myself contemplating how nice it would be to get a free travel voucher–with a family of 6, any little bit helps. Then my better judgment kicks in as I quickly scan the pandemonic frenzy around me so commonly associated with holiday travel. It dawns on me that if I give up my seat so close to Thanksgiving day, who knows when I might get home and what multi-route journey I’ll have to take in order to do so. With that thought, I hold fast.

A few minutes later, our plane arrives and the passengers begin to deplane. I notice that those getting ready to board are so anxious to get on that they are crowding around the agent’s desk effectively blocking the exit lane from those who are trying to get out. Once again, the agent’s voice is heard over the sound-system explaining that the plane just arrived, passengers need to exit, and the plane needs to be prepared for the next flight. Politely, he asks the crowd to step back. Step back they do, but only about a step. I think to myself, this is going to be a long day.

As I take in the scene, I see prime offender #1–a middle-aged man who is at the front of the line. Why don’t you step out of the way, I think. It’s not like you’re going to lose your seat or make the plane depart more rapidly. Sadly, here is where my profiling begins. Surprisingly, I immediately dislike this fellow and think, what a jerk! Directly after the last passenger exits, he promptly moves into the first class line and makes his way to the very front only stopping because the agent has blocked the way with the do-not-cross ribbon. I think, great, and he’s a first-class jerk at that!

A short time later they begin to board those who need a little more time–passengers in wheel chairs, parents with small children, etc. And that’s when I see her. She’s a young lady who seems to be somewhat challenged. She approaches the agent’s desk clutching her ticket with a death grip. I hear her inquire about when to board. The agent takes her ticket then kindly explains that they are boarding first class and Sky Priority and that she would need to wait until her zone is called to board. It’s clearly evident she does not understand. A female agent standing nearby says something like, “don’t worry honey, just stand right over there and I’ll wave at you when it’s time to board.” The girl turns away with a confounded expression while tightly holding the ticket with both hands and physically shaking. She steps to the side a few feet.  As I observe her, I feel righteous indignation swelling in the depths of my heart and want to scream out “why don’t you just let her board with the others that need more time?” But I keep quiet.

Minutes later, and with a great smile, the agent pulls back the ribbon allowing my “favorite person” to board. But he doesn’t! Up to this point I have been feeling rather incredulous at his pushiness, the crowd’s lack of patience, and the agent’s want of compassion. But nothing prepared me for what happens next. Mr. First Class Jerk holds up his ticket to the agent and says “I’m flying first class and I want this young lady (pointing to the young girl who had just been denied early boarding) to board with me.” What? I was floored. With a smile, the agent agrees and lets her board first. All of a sudden, I find myself rooting for the jerk. Way to go man, I thought. Humanity has just been redeemed by one simple, kind, Thanksgiving holiday act. I never would have thought it, but this guy turned my belly aching around and brought a smile to my face. When it was all said and done, he was the hero and I was the jerk. Thank-you Jesus for humbling me.

1st Samuel 16:7 “. . . For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

It is Thanksgiving Day in the United States. The roots of our Thanksgiving Day are traditionally traced to a 1621 celebration at the Plymouth Plantation. In the Fall of that year the Plymouth settlers held a harvest feast thanking God for a successful growing season and for sustaining the lives of those who survived that first harsh New England winter.

Historical accounts may differ somewhat, but it is generally shared that participants in the first Thanksgiving, included approximately 50 individuals who were on the Mayflower when it landed from England (survivors of the first year); and about 90 local Native Americans from the Wampanoag Tribe. The celebration lasted for three days. A prominent participant was Squanto, of the Pawtuxet Tribe, who had learned English and was a convert to Christianity.

Over the years, various US Presidents, such as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, declared days of Thanksgiving and historically it was observed on a regular basis. However, on November 26, 1941, President Roosevelt signed a bill, for the first time making the date of Thanksgiving a matter of federal law and fixing the day as the fourth Thursday of November.

The day was originally set aside to thank our Creator God for providing His blessings to us as individuals and a nation. Today, some may view the day differently than the original purpose. To them it is simply the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on television; followed by non-stop football, interrupted at half time with the BIG MEAL—turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, and additional family favorites, topped off with a glob of whip cream on their pumpkin pie.

However, for me, today is a day to thank God for His blessings of salvation, hope and yes, daily provisions and needs of life. Also, some of us have lost loved ones to death the past few months; or family members are too far away to visit; so there are empty chairs at our table this year. But I am thanking God for the promise of the resurrection and once again sitting together around God’s table in Heaven.

But as we enjoy family time and eat our meal together, I am reminded of the lyrics of a song that a few years back were sang in many youth groups and congregations. Remember the words… Bread of Heaven fill me till I want no more…today being Thanksgiving Day, those lyrics come back to my mind once again. The lyrics continue,

Speaking clearly to my heart,
hope and wisdom You impart.

I’ve been tested and subdued,
but Thy Word shall bring me through.

Yes, today, remember Jesus, the Living Word, the Bread of Life, when you bow your head and join hands at your dinner table.

“For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”…”I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” John 6:33, 35.

Some people dislike heights. The problem is that it is a long ways down and it makes them feel as if their head is spinning and their stomach is churning. I have a friend who always sits in the aisle or middle seat on an airplane. The window seat is too harrowing. For them the window seat is like the time my sister talked me into going with her 8th grade classroom to Magic Mountain—the “crown jewel” of all theme parks. She needed another chaperon and I looked perfect for the job.

I did have a lot of fun. I especially liked the “old peoples” ride on the wood beam supported roller coaster—Colossus. Even the 13 year olds liked it, so I must not be too old. All was well until my sister said, “Kurt, lets go ride that one…as I followed the pointing of her finger. What I did not know is that what she was really saying was, “Hey, lets go get strapped into a chair by a mechanical arm, that pins your arms, head and body into a body clamp that will not let you move. Then this gigantic wheel will twirl us into the air, upside down with G forces that make your face cheeks look like the neighbors bulldog.”

When the ride was finished, my over-zealous sister shouted out, “That was fun! Lets ride it again!”

Heights—for some it is negative. But there is a height that I know that all of us can experience in a positive manner.

Oh, the height and depth of mercy!
Oh, the length and breadth of love!
Oh, the fullness of redemption,
Pledge of endless life above!

When Fanny Crosby wrote these words she had you in mind. I cannot ask her, but I wonder if this text inspired her to write the words of the hymn.

“When I consider Your heavens, the works of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained. What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?” Psalms 8:3, 4

The height of God’s mercy…the works of His hands revealed in the universe…there is hope in a Creator God, who loves us so much that His mercy and love cannot be fully comprehended by mortals.

On a Friday afternoon I know one man who experienced the height of God’s mercy and love. His name is “Criminal.” (Luke 23: 39) He lived a life that deserved death. The Bible does not tell us his crime, but we do know something about his character. As he hung on a cross beside Jesus, he rebuked the other criminal for the way he talked to Jesus. Criminal said (1) do not talk to the God in this manner; (2) this man has done nothing wrong; but, (3) Criminal believed that Jesus was returning to this earth a second time—remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” (Luke 23:39-43)

Criminal was a believer. Through a life of crime that nailed him to a cross, he understood the truth about Jesus. He knew. So he spoke those famous words—remember me—that is the same as saying, “please forgive me and give me eternal life.”

The only thing more amazing than the request was that it was granted! A con-man asking for salvation, while breathing his last breath. But I love Jesus’ response…

“Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43

Maybe Criminal had heard Jesus speak. Maybe he had seen him heal the sick, or speak kind words to someone, or hold a child on His lap. Maybe he had seen Jesus eat lunch with those considered outcasts. Or maybe the only thing he knew about Jesus was what he had observed over the past few hours as He hung on the cross. He knew this Man was who others claimed He was, the Son of God.

Think about it. We deserve heaven just the same as Criminal. The difference between Criminal and you and me is that he got caught in public. But this is where God’s mercy that stretches as far into the heavens as you can see and goes deeper than you can imagine, comes in.

Jesus’ love for you does not depend upon what you do for Him. You are valuable just because you exist! Not because of what you have accomplished or are going to do, but just because you are you. Jesus died hanging beside Criminal because he “so loved” you to a height and depth you cannot imagine.

So next time you are discouraged or feel like hanging up on life, remember Criminal and Jesus…at least it gives me encouragement and I hope it does for you too.

So when every day life gets a bit dizzy for you; when you feel like the bottom has dropped out of your world and it is a long ways down; then, remember the words of the old hymn—“Oh the heights and depth of mercy, Oh the length and breadth of love.” If you are at the bottom—look up, God is there waiting to lift you up! If you are at the top, don’t worry, if you fall, God will catch you…so let out a deep sigh and rest in His arms, they are big enough for all of us!