“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise,” Luke 23:42-43.

We could call the the ‘dying thief’, ‘the man who stood on the doorstep of hell and was snatched away to heaven!’

Such a title is much better than that which has been given to Judas Iscariot. ‘The man who kissed the door of heaven and went to hell!’

I. THIS MAN’S CONVERSION WAS MOST UNUSUAL

1. It has been rightly said of his conversion that it is recorded to show the power of God and His ability to rescue the most wicked.

He was a wicked man indeed. Here are his actions even as he was dying!

The two thieves joined in the mockery. “He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth,” Matthew 27:43-44.

2. It has also been said that his is the only such conversion recorded as a warning that such is not common. Do not plan a death-bed conversion! That would be most foolish and beyond your powers.

II. BUT WE MUST ALSO NOTE THAT THIS MAN’S CONVERSION WAS MOST USUAL!

He was saved just as ALL must be saved.

1. He was awakened to his sinfulness. “But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou 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,” verses 40-41.

2. Getting right with God took supreme place in his thoughts. A man dying in his circumstances had much to contend with — pain etc; but now he knew he was a lost sinner, nothing else mattered more than getting saved.

3. Doubtless what he heard others say of Christ and what was written on His cross produced faith. “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS,” Matt 27:37. “Jesus” — Saviour. “KING OF THE JEWS” — the Messiah.

4. That man died with the comfort of assurance of salvation given him by the Lord. “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise,” verse 43.

The way he travelled is the way all must travel if they are to get to heaven.

Follow him today, dear listener.