Almost 2,000 years ago, Jesus, often referred to as the greatest man who ever lived, was wrongly sentenced to death. While he was hanging from a torture rod, a thief hanging next to him said mockingly, “You are the Christ, aren't you? Save you and us ".
With that, another thief, who was also executed, reprimanded the man: "Don't you fear God now that you are in the same process?" And we are indeed with righteousness because we have fully received what we deserve for the things we have done; but this man did nothing. Then he turned to Jesus and asked, “Remember me when you enter his kingdom. ""
Jesus replied: "Verily I tell you today that you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23: 39-43).
Jesus had a wonderful hope before him. Seeing the effect of this hope on Jesus, the apostle Paul noted: "For the joy he was given, he endured a stake of torture and despised shame."
Included in the "joy" presented before Jesus, he returned to his Heavenly Father and eventually served as governor of the kingdom of God. In addition, he would also have the joy of welcoming his tried and trusted disciples to heaven, who would rule with him as kings on earth. (John 14: 2, 3; Philippians 2: 7-11; Revelation 20: 5, 6.) So what did Jesus mean when he promised the repentant doer that he would be in Paradise?
What hope does the guilty party have?
This man was not qualified to rule with Jesus in heaven. He is not one of those to whom Jesus said: “You are the one who accompanies me in my trials; and I make a pact with you like my father made a pact with me for a kingdom. (Luke 22:28, 29) However, Jesus promised that the perpetrator would be with him in heaven. How is this promise kept?
The first man and woman, Adam and Eve, were brought to Paradise, a garden of joy called Eden, by Jehovah God. (Genesis 2: 8, 15) Eden was on earth and God wanted the whole earth to be a paradise. However, Adam and Eve disobeyed God and were driven from their beautiful homes. (Genesis 3:23, 24) But Jesus revealed that heaven would be restored and include all of the earth.
When the apostle Peter asked Jesus what reward he and his fellow apostles would receive if they followed him, Jesus promised: Thrones. "(Matthew 19:27, 28). It is significant that in Luke's account of this conversation Jesus says" in the system of things to come "instead of saying" in rest "(Luke 18: 28-30).
Therefore, when Jesus Christ sits on his glorious throne with his rulers in heaven, he will establish a new and righteous system of things. (2 Timothy 2:11, 12; Revelation 5:10; 14: 1, 3.) It is through Christ's heavenly government that God's original purpose for the whole earth to be a paradise is fulfilled.
During this kingdom reign, Jesus will keep his promise to the criminal who died by his side. He will resurrect him and that man will become an earthly subject of Jesus. Then the perpetrator has the opportunity to meet God's requirements and live forever under the rule of the kingdom. We can certainly rejoice in the biblical perspective of living in heaven on earth forever!
Life can have meaning
Imagine the importance this great hope can have in our lives. It can help protect our minds from the disastrous consequences of negative thinking. The apostle Paul compared this hope to a vital piece of spiritual armor. He said we should wear “the hope of salvation” “as helmets.” --1 Thessalonians 5: 8; Psalm 37:29; Revelation 21: 3, 4.
That hope sustains life. In the coming paradise, loneliness turns into tears of joy when "the God who raises the dead" revives his loved ones. (2 Corinthians 1: 9) Then the frustration of physical frailty, pain and immobility is forgotten because "the lame climb like a deer". "A man's flesh will be fresher than it was in youth" and "will return to the days of his youthful vigor". Isaiah 35: 6; Job 33:25.
At this point, when "no resident says I am sick," the despair of prolonged illness will simply be a faded memory. (Isaiah 33:24) The void of chronic depression will "rejoice indefinitely." (Isaiah 35:10) The desperation of a terminal illness will subside with death itself, the former enemy of mankind (1 Corinthians 15:26).