Truth or Lie

Truth or Lie

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” 
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise
Luke 23:42,43

The following is a an inscription found on the linen wrappings of the Egyptian Mummy Thothmes II 1493-1479 B.C.
“Hail to thee, O my father Osiris, I have come and I have embalmed this my flesh so that my body may not decay.”
For thousands of years mankind has believed in an afterlife and a God or gods. Today if surveys are correct the majority of people around the world still believe in an afterlife.
The Egyptians created great pyramids for their kings laying in them vast amounts of grave goods thought to be needed in the afterlife.
About four thousand seven hundred years ago the Bronze age Beaker people buried their dead in the crouched position accompanied by grave goods that included food and drinking vessels and body ornamentation and even weapons.
In the middle Iron age Britain some bodies were even laid along side carts to speed them into the afterlife.
We all must die as Seneca the Younger said in 65A.D.
“Anyone can stop a man’s life, but no one his death: a thousand doors open onto it.”
The question is where will we spend eternity. I as a Christian do not believe we can live a life good enough to stand before a holy God.
Isaiah said,
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” 
                                                                                             Isaiah 64:6
I believe God knew this that is why he reached down to us through his one and only Son Jesus Christ.
I believe Jesus when he said,
 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 
                                                                                                                            John 14:6
I don’t think God cares too much about our way of life, our lifestyle, our social economic status or whether we are a pauper, prince or king.
I believe God only care for us as individuals. The apostle Paul writing to the Ephesians states,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                  Ephesians 2:8,9.
At the beginning of this article I quoted a conversation recorded in the book of Luke between one of the criminals crucified with Jesus and Jesus.
“Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” 
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:42,43
That man did what I as a Christian believe all men must do. He recognized that Jesus was innocent of what he was being crucified for and that he was the Son of God. He then confessed his sins to Christ, who forgave those sins.
Jesus making it clear saying “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
At this point Jesus was either lying or telling the truth.
If he is telling the truth and I believe he is. Then he must be the one and only Son of God. For only God can forgive sin.
If he is telling the truth then what the John states,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
 And what I have quoted from John 14:6 is true,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 
                                                                                                                            John 14:6
No other faith in the world makes that claim. No other founder of any faith in the world makes that claim.
Therefore it comes down to the individual. Do you believe the claims of Jesus or not.
Think about it.