I was having a discussion with my wife regarding one of my postmortem essays, "Judgment at Nuremberg." We were debating who was guilty, who was less guilty and who was innocent, and we came to the topic: who deserves forgiveness? Then suddenly, my wife mentioned the two thieves who were crucified with Eashoa (Jesus). She said that the thief who repented would be forgiven, but the one who did not would never be forgiven. My wife is very perceptive. She has the uncanny ability to zero in on the essentials. I often get muddled in the details.
The Three Crosses on Calvary are a powerful reminder. The Lord had two more people crucified next to Him, because one of them would ask to be saved, the other would not. Eashoa came for the sake of the sinner who repented. He didn't come for the sake of the one who didn't repent. It's ironic that the sinner who wouldn't repent recognized Eashoa, but didn't accept Him, and the sinner who would repent, understood that it wasn't enough just to recognize Him. He made his life-saving statement, a statement that is a requisite for salvation. If it wasn't for the sake of the sinner who repented, Eashoa wouldn't have had to come to earth and die for the sins of humanity; He would have ruled from heaven. If humans were like the angels in heaven, He would not require recognition, because all truly righteous people recognize that Eashoa is the Lord.
![[Cross of Calvary]](http://www.v-a.com/bible/calvary_cross_250.jpg)
By
pointing out the symbolism of the Three Crosses at Calvary, my wife suddenly made me realize that Eashoa died for everyone's
sins, but not everyone would be saved. There are those who repent at the last
hour and there are those who will never repent. That's just how it is.
I looked up Luke, chapter 23, verses 39 to 43. "Then, one of the evildoers, who was on the cross said, "If you are that Messiah, save yourself, and save us too."
But his companion cried out and said to him, "Do you not even fear God? For you are also condemned! We became what we are on account of our deeds, and we are being repaid; however, he -- he did not do anything out of hate!"
And he turned to Eashoa and said, "Remember me, my Lord, when you come in the glory of your kingdom."
Eashoa said to him, "Amen, I am telling you, that on this day you are with me in Paradise."
Those who were meant to repent, will repent, because the Lord recognizes them through His omniscience. But those who have sold their soul to the devil cannot repent; they are too far gone to do it. Evil has taken them over completely. The Lord knows who they are beforehand. It's too bad, but that's how it is. The world is a testing ground. The faithful will endure. Those who endure to the very end shall be saved. Those who do not, lose their life. Not all end up in hell; however, those that follow Satan do end up in hell.
Oct. 14, 2011