Lasts and Firsts/It's Never Too Late

 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[d]”
 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:39-43

I often think about the circumstances and timing of salvation, and the "heavenly mechanics" of what opens the gates of eternity. Here were the 2 criminals, punished for their crimes, but one had a bitter heart till the bitter end, the other's door to his heart swung open, softened by Jesus, and his confession and petition unlock the Gates and he steps into eternal salvation greeted by the One who had suffered and hung beside him hours before. But the Pharisees, who used God's name, knew all the religious "tricks" and rules and manipulated the system for their earthly benefit- these men, and those like them throughout history, must've had a rude awakening when their eyes closed for the last time, and found themselves having passed into eternal judgement. It's faith, not works...for salvation. It's never too late. The scriptures tell us that the Lord is not slow in coming, but He's allowing more time for more souls to come in. His lovingkindness, not judgement, brings us to repentance, and as long as a body has breath, the Lord wants us, draws us. If He loved the criminal, who could be beyond His reach?