Temporal or Eternal

Temporal or Eternal

By Hunter Grills

October 6, 2026

Luke 23:39-42 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

Jesus was on the cross of Calvary. There were two thieves crucified with Him, one on His right and one on His left. We often think of the thief on the cross that called upon the Lord for salvation. Our Lord answered in verse forty-three, “… Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

One thief called on the Lord for salvation from his circumstances; the other called on salvation because of his sinful condition.

Many people today want Jesus to heal them physically, bless them financially, and give them comfort as they live daily. The world wants Jesus to save them from their troubles but not from their sin. Jesus Christ came that He might give us life, even more abundantly.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

The eternal gift of salvation that Jesus Christ gives us should lead us to live our temporal life for Him. May we not look to Jesus as just someone who can help us in our temporal state but as the Saviour of all mankind for eternity.

Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Reflection—The thief thought of a future kingdom and to be remembered—Jesus promised him Paradise and an eternal relationship, Today.