Today’s Podcast

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1. Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
2. Did you ever wonder where Jesus and the thief on the cross went when they died that day? Jesus said they were headed to paradise that day. Well then, what is paradise anyway?
3. Scripture
   1. Luke 23:43
   2. Jesus:  I promise you that this very day you will be with Me in paradise.
4. Devotional
   1. Have you thought much about Jesus’ comment to the thief hanging next to Him at Golgotha?
      1. Criminal
      2. Evil enough for crucifixion
      3. Cruelest form of execution
      4. Today join Jesus in paradise
   2. Paradise
      1. Wikipedia – Paradise is the term for a place of timeless harmony. The Abrahamic faiths associate paradise with the Garden of Eden, that is, the perfect state of the world prior to the fall from grace, and the perfect state that will be restored in the World to Come. in paradise there is only peace, prosperity, and happiness. Paradise is a place of contentment, a land of luxury and fulfillment.
      2. Is it heaven?
      3. Has the thief already faced judgment and entered into eternity with the triune Godhead around the throne?
      4. Does John’s Revelation and other eschatological writings agree with or refute what Jesus says to the thief?
   3. Arguments by believers and non-believers alike
      1. Does everyone go here awaiting judgment or just believers?
      2. Is this like the lobby to heaven where you get the appetizers before dinner?
      3. If Jesus talks about a judgment day, then what is paradise? A place between death and heaven?
      4. Will good people, but non-believers stay here instead of hell?
      5. Is this the opposite of purgatory for those who earn a better place than the flames or eternal separation from God?
   4. No one knows this side of heaven. We do know some things.
      1. Death is not the final victor, there is something after that – Jesus talks about that
      2. There is a heaven and hell – Jesus talks about both
      3. There will be a judgment day – Jesus talks about that
      4. We determine by our faith and actions now whether we will spend eternity in heaven or hell – Jesus talks about that
   5. What is paradise? We don’t really know this side of the curtain we call death. But for believers, whether we are ushered into an anteroom of heaven with Jesus awaiting the judgment that He called paradise when He talked to the thief, or whether we face judgment immediately, or whether time just stops and doesn’t matter anymore once we pace from this life to the next, does it really matter? As long as we are with Him, who cares? We don’t need to be concerned about what paradise is or when it is or what it looks like or if it’s part of heaven or not. Who cares? Just be ready when He comes and you’ll hear Him say, “this very day you will be with Me in paradise.”
5. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.