Is there a biblical story which illustrates grace better than the thief on the cross? There he hung nailed to a cross because someone had caught him and now the government had condemned him to death.
Prior to his being caught, how many times had this thief successfully slipped away undetected after his crimes into the shadows? Did he ever really believe that they would catch and convict him?
Now the reality of suffering consequences for what he had done was crashing in upon him. The pain from the nails piercing his skin, muscle and bone removed any doubt that this was just a bad nightmare from which he could wake up and "everything would be OK." He knew there would be no escaping this grizzly ending.
What is it like to know that you have no hope? His words from the cross betray that he understood that this painful death was not the end of his troubles. To the other criminal being crucified along with him, the one who had been hurling abusive language toward Jesus, he yelled out, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same condemnation? We are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds."1 Mankind had attached his body to a cross. His encounter with God was still forthcoming.
In the midst of hopelessness and excruciating pain, is it possible to feel an oasis of cool water? If it is, then Jesus' words "today you will be with me in paradise" must have provided a cool drink. As Jesus had forgiven the sins of others during his earthly ministry, once more grace was poured out.
Later that day a thief experienced the blessing of grace firsthand. Can you imagine anyone praising God and the slain Lamb with more joy than this thief? (Actually, I suspect that when we can see our sin for what it truly is, we will all be praising God with the same intensity) There is a thief in heaven who understands grace. There is a thief who understands being forgiven by grace. There is a thief who is expressing his gratitude as he praises God.
I ask you a question. Are any of the following scenarios even remotely plausible? I don't know that it is possible to steal anything in heaven, but if it is, can you imagine the thief saying, "I'm under grace, so I can steal." Of course not! Or suppose that in heaven Jesus asked the thief to serve God in a particular manner. Can you imagine the thief responding, "I think that serving God in the way I prefer is perfectly acceptable after all I'm under grace." Again, of course not! Why? Because this thief who deeply understands grace is overflowing with gratefulness. He will do exactly what the Lord has asked of him. The thief is not going to start haggling over what he thinks is acceptable or what he would rather do. This is not how gratitude responds.
When people truly understand grace, their lives do not center around "what I want," "what I like," or "what I think is OK." Rather, their gratefulness draws them humbly before God to obediently follow wherever He might lead them.2 Self has been sacrificed in order to serve God and His will.
Grace does not enlarge the boundaries of the permissible to encompass what was previously forbidden, nor does it empower ego-driven lives to fulfill their selfish desires.3 Grace teaches us to repent and flee from what is wrong in order that we might serve God's will.
1Luke 23:40,41
2Titus 2:11-14; Romans 2:4
3Jude 4
Other articles which might be of interest:
The Best Attorney Money Can't Buy
What About the Thief on the Cross?
Barry Newton © 2002