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One of my favorite stories in the Bible tells of Jesus' interaction with one of the two criminals who were hanging on crosses next to Him. Because the passage is so short, here it is:

Luke 23:32-33,39-43 (NKJV): “There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.'”

There is a lot we can learn from this passage, but what I want to take time to focus on are the criminals. They both saw the same thing, experienced the same situation, and both had the same initial response to Jesus.

Matthew 27:44 (NKJV) says: “Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.” Mark 15:32 has a similar statement. Yes, BOTH criminals bad-mouthed Jesus at first. But…

In the Gospel of Luke we find one more act in their encounter with Him. One of the men turned again toward the beaten beyond recognition, dying Messiah and saw something he missed the first time. This criminal recognized Christ's innocence and His position of Lord (“remember me when You come into Your kingdom”).

Jesus didn't have a lot of time, energy, or words left within Him, but He took part of what remained and addressed the criminal, the man who earlier verbally attacked Him. Jesus told him, no wait, Jesus confidently ASSURED him that he would be with Him in Paradise. In the midst of His dying for the whole world, Jesus saw and ministered to the individual - even an individual looked down on by society, condemned to a degrading death.

Jesus knew the man on the cross was a criminal. At one point this man admitted that he and the other man deserved the punishment they were receiving. This criminal had reviled Jesus. And yet Jesus didn't hesitate when this man humbled himself before Him.

Maybe you have been living out the consequences of your sins and mistakes for the world to see. It seems everyone knows your history, and the present you find yourself in isn't anything to be proud of. Maybe you have participated with others that have made fun of believers, Jesus, or what the Bible has to say. Maybe even recently you had a conversation criticizing those things. Maybe you know that you aren't innocent or righteous, and you feel you deserve any bad that comes your way - you should “sleep in the bed you made.”

But do you also know that Jesus has time for you? He's got energy and words to put towards you. He also has His righteousness and life to give you. Do you know that as that criminal was promised a change, an amazing change he didn't deserve, you too can have that? Yes, you may think you don't deserve another opportunity to have a new start, another chance, a new beginning, but because of Christ and through Him, you can. Do you know that if you simply turn to Him that He will without hesitation draw near to you? Yes, even if you said things to hurt Him just minutes ago.

So if you identify with that criminal and think you are too far gone - you're rightfully suffering in your current condition, wasting time until death comes - continue to follow that criminal's example and turn toward Jesus. He's been waiting for you to do that exact thing. And when you call out to Him, you will never be without Him again. You will pass from the judgment and death you've been living under into life through Him.

John 5:24 (NKJV) “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”

I hope you know that you aren't too far gone for Jesus to reach you.