Worthy Bible examples and lessons can come from the strangest places. One of the thieves who died beside the Lord is one such example. Understand, this man is not an example of how we are saved (he was under a different covenant that we), but he certainly does provide a number of lessons which we would do well to take note of.

He knew he was in the presence of Deity.
Recognizing Jesus to be the Lord, he rebuked the irreverence of the other thief. Many in our world, and perhaps more shocking, many in today's religious world, do not recognize the lordship of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20). Accepting His nature as Deity is part and parcel with acceptance of His lordship. He was not simply a dynamic reformer, nor a great leader --- He is God in the flesh (Matthew 1:23). And yet there are religious folks who stubbornly declare, "He was just a man." No doubt, the coming judgment will stop such foolishness, though then it will be too late (Romans 14:11-12; Philippians 2:10-11).

He knew that there was life after death.
The thief's statement, "Remember me when you come into your kingdom..." infers that the man understood there was something beyond this life. Furthermore, the word "remember" infers that memory does not cease at the grave, but continues on. Such is exactly what the Lord taught in Luke 16, with Lazarus and the rich man.

When death is eminent, the importance of preparedness is realized. This man, assured of his own death looked to the Lord, the source of spiritual life.

He knew that the kingdom was not yet established.
This man understood that Jesus was not yet in His kingdom, but that it was coming soon. The fact that he refers to Jesus' kingdom tells us that he acknowledged Jesus as the King (Luke 17:20; Matthew 21:5, 9). Recall that Jesus, speaking with Peter said, "...I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven..." (Matthew 16:18-19). In Acts 2, Peter uses those "keys of the kingdom", opening the door to the Lord's church/kingdom.

Many today error, saying either that the Lord's kingdom was present before the time of His resurrection, or that the Lord's kingdom has not yet come. The thief knew better.

He knew he deserved to be punished.
This criminal had a sense of justice. Notice, he did not ask Jesus to take him off the cross as the other thief. He realized he was receiving the due reward for his actions. Further, he knew that Jesus had done nothing deserving of death, He had committed no wrong.

All mankind is worthy of punishment (Romans 3:23; 6:23; Ecclesiastes 8:11). Let us not fool ourselves into thinking we deserve life, for the wages of our iniquity is death. It is only by the gift of God that we have eternal life.

He knew that being with Christ was better than his sinful way.
Though he had chosen a path of sin in his life, he realized, before it was too late, that he had chosen the wrong way. Jeremiah 10:23 reads, "O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps." My, how awful things can get when we walk our own path. This man's path lead him to be put to death for his deeds. However, meeting the Lord, he repented of his wickedness, and gained hope of eternal life (Matthew 27:44; Luke 23:40-41).

So long as we are in the land of the living, we have the opportunity to repent (Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30), and turn to the Lord.

This thief was willing to profess a faith in Christ when no one else was willing. Jesus' own disciples had been scattered away. Perhaps just minutes away from eternity's door, he saw a better way -- the Lord's way. How close are you to eternity's door? James tells us that life is "...even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." (James 4:14). The time we have guaranteed on this earth is the present moment; let us not waste it.

Click here for this week's Answering The Atheist
Who bought what field? Do Acts 7:16 and Genesis 23:17-18 contradict?