Divine Promises

Jesus made seven statements while on the Cross. The first statement was a prayer (“Father, forgive them”);the second a promise to a repentant thief, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).
Two men were crucified with Jesus, one on his right and the other on his left. One was bitter to the end, even railing against Jesus. The other was humble and repentant, asking Jesus to remember him when he came into his kingdom. Jesus promised, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus promised to him what he promises to every believer: a new heart, a new life and a new destiny.
Jesus promises the believer a new heart. To be with Jesus in paradise meant that this new believer was going to heaven, where he would see God. Only the pure in heart will see God (Matthew 5:8). This man was being crucified justly (his own words), for he was a criminal. He desperately needed a change of heart. Jesus’ promise of a home in heaven is the promise of a new heart. The man who cried, “Remember me,” to Jesus had sinned, but in a split second had been gloriously saved by the grace of God.
Jesus promises the believer a new life. This new believer had only a few more hours to live on this earth, but every hour was spent as a child of God, and every moment wishing he could come down from the cross and tell the world what Jesus had done for him. We can rest assured that, had he lived, he would have served his Savior. “..if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Jesus promises the believer a new destiny. This man was going to die right there on that cross, but he had been assured by Jesus that he would be going to Heaven. The new destiny would be fulfilled that very day. The promise of Heaven is crystal clear in the New Testament. When a Christian dies, at that very moment he is “absent from the body, present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8).
Jesus keeps his promises.