Paradise

As we are moving through the season of Lent it is time to discuss and apply another one of Jesus’ last words while dying on the cross. In Luke chapter 23 it is documented that our Lord turned to one of the prisoners who were being crucified next to him and said “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

While suffering and dying during his crucifixion, the thief that was being put to death next to Jesus was repentant of his actions on earth. Even though the thief knew that his mortal fate sealed, he was willing to look beyond that moment and realize that Jesus was more than a man. In comparison, the man who was being crucified on the other side was mocking Jesus. He knew his mortal life was going to end, but he was not willing to look beyond what was happening in the moment. The thief knew that his mortal life was ending, but his new life was just about to begin. He was asking Jesus to give him forgiveness and allow him the gift of eternal life.

In the political world today, it is so easy to only care about the here and now. Politicians only care about doing what will get them reelected for their next term. They care about what makes them look good in the moment. office. They will do whatever is necessary in the moment to hold onto the power that they have. They will refuse to do what is right in the long-term and instead do what benefits them in the short-term. They see everything as a transaction. They will refuse to help those that will not help them. If they do not get something now, they see no need in helping later. They ignore the future and instead focus on now.

The voting public is like this as well. Voters look to the government to give us things now. They want the stimulus money but fail to realize that their children and grandchildren will have to pay that money back. They want the government to force businesses to pay them more money but fail to realize that that will come with a rise in prices. They want to protect the climate but fail to understand how renewable energies are made. There is not need to worry about the future though, because these things are needed now. Voters focus on the here and now and fail to look beyond what is in front of them.

This world is the man that mocked Jesus while on the cross. He knew the claims being made about Jesus. He knew why Jesus was being put to death. If Jesus really were God’s son, why couldn’t he save their mortal lives? The man refused to look beyond that moment. He was focusing on his death, while he should have been focusing on his life. The world needs to be more like the repentant thief. He realized that it was not the end for him. He realized there was life after death. He knew the claims about Jesus as well. He knew in that moment that Jesus was the one that would grant him eternal life. He was ignoring his death and focusing on his life.

Time does not end right now. Things will continue to happen and what we do now will affect what happens in the future. That is true even until death. The political world needs to get away from our tunnel vision.

Politicians need to focus on doing good for everyone that they represent. They need to be content with where they are and focus on the job they have. They need to make decisions that will best affect those in the future. There will be a future and they will be remembered in it. Voters also need to think about the future. They should want the government to do better, while also not wanting to it to be irresponsible. They should realize what they want the government to do now will affect the next generation the most. You need to ask yourself in you will be the man that focuses on your death or are you the man that focuses on the rest of your life? If you focus on the future instead on the now, maybe the future will be paradise.