"And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him, saying, If thou be Christ, save Thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost thou not fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this Man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with Me in paradise" (Luke 23:39-43).

We see here the case of one who entered paradise in the simple character of a sinner saved by grace. He was a condemned criminal in the morning, a railing blasphemer in the course of the day, a ransomed spirit in heaven before the day closed. Led to cast himself on Christ as a justly condemned sinner, he went straight to heaven with Christ as a blood-bought saint. His was not to be a long and useful Christian course, nevertheless through the blessed Redeemer's blood alone he received salvation, by grace he was saved. And so it is for every sinner who repents and believes in Jesus. Yet, before the dying thief expired, he was enabled to bear testimony:

1. To the sinless humanity of the blessed Lord Jesus.

2. To own Jesus as Lord.

3. To speak of Christ's coming kingdom at a moment when, to mortal vision, not a trace of lordship or royalty was discernable.

These were good words and good works indeed. To confess Christ and flatly contradict a Christ-rejecting world are works of the first order—works that shed forth the sweetest perfume and shine with the brightest lustre.

Sweet indeed this testimony as it fell upon the ears and heart of the dying Saviour. Sweeter still the response which fell upon the heart of the dying thief. "Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise." This went far beyond the thief's expectation. The gracious Saviour was about to do "exceeding abundantly" above all that the thief "could ask or think." He had asked to be remembered in the time of the kingdom, and so he shall be, but the Lord Jesus said, "I shall have you with Me today."

This is the grace that saves to the uttermost. Why, oh why reject it?

—C.H.M.