With
Chaplain Gary Rayburn
Luke 23: 39-43 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Here is a story I heard once and you can find this story on the internet, I published this in one of our Newsletters last year.
Long time ago there was a man traveling across country and he stopped in a small diner for lunch. He walked in the diner and sat down and ordered his lunch. As he sat there waiting, a picture across the room caught his eye. You see this man was the chess champion of the world and was on his way to defend his title in the city. The painting was of the devil and a young man setting at a table playing chess. The devil had a gleeful look of victory on his face and the young man had a dreadful look of terror. Sweat rolling off his face and tears in his eyes. The painting was of a chess game and the caption read Checkmate. The chess champion stood there studying the chess board. 15 minutes passed then 30 minutes and then 1 hour had passed. Everybody was watching and wondering what was going on when suddenly the chess champion started yelling at the painting! Don’t give up! Don’t give up! There’s one more move! There’s one more move! Victory is yours, you’re just one move away from victory young man, don’t give up! The chess champion had found that there was one more move and many people out there right now feel like there is no hope, but there is one more move! Just like the thief on the cross Jesus is waiting for us to make a move toward him and then He will rescue us out of whatever dilemma we find ourselves in. As we read the scripture we have to decide which side of the cross are we on?
Remember this friends, Jesus Loves you and we do too, and this is Chaplain Gary Rayburn and we will talk at you later!
