Nothing gets restored in this world that is fallen and falling away. Singing songs or having some joyous mindset isn’t going to solve the problem that we living here in the flesh are in continual sin and can run amuck even further if not following a strict practice of absolving of our sins repeatedly by confessing them and then receiving the bread and wine or the body and blood of Jesus Christ through the blessed sacrament and the consecrated host or Eucharist of that process via the Holy Mass.
A cleansing or purging of our souls and a renewal or sanctifying that can only come via this practice to be in a state of grace. I’ve met many a giddy slap happy person that keep saying praise the Lord almost sounding like parrots and I’m saved when in fact they are acting foolish and not even aware how precarious their situation is being on the precipice as we are here in this flesh and sinful existence as they are so deluded in this silly mindset, virtually being held captive by the Evil one. Look at the government leaders in their deluded and wicked stature wielding earthly powers government against government and people against people of and by the Devil; while yet they run slipshod over the Truth and condemn themselves by these actions not being saved because all will be fine eventually at the judgment! They are screwed so that is something to be worried about and fear; not only for them but for us who could screw-up just as badly if we don’t remain vigilant and tow the line or keep our own affairs in order so as not to follow these corrupted leaders as millions of citizens are exactly doing; and will straight into hell! Salvation isn’t some given and we just show up at the judgment and all will be good for all because Jesus did all the work, and we are already saved! We’re not already saved! If that were the case then we all should have a devil may care attitude and sin all we want and go for the gusto of this world like many are; then later God will understand and cut us all the slack we need because we all share in the redemption and salvation to live in His glory and be in bliss; don’t matter what sins or how many we made its all good in the end! If that were the case then why continue with this charade and just cancel the whole mess we are in, and even the Devil will be forgiven because Sin will be no more; and Nobody is held accountable.
We all do need to fear judgment because not all are going to be forgiven, and we don’t know absolutely for sure who will be or who won’t be. We are not home until we are home; so pretending won’t cut the mustard! Though the faith the size of a mustard seed can save us that faith has to be genuine and according to the prescribed teachings that Jesus provided to the apostles during the Last Supper the actual Mass before the Sacrifice of Him the lamb of God, His body and blood that were going to be shed in order to redeem our souls from eternal damnation. Dismas on the cross next to Jesus did not assume for one second that he could or would be saved but told Jesus right there next to him that he didn’t deserve the suffering, condemnation and punishment He was relieving because he could see Jesus was great, good and innocent no some criminal hay made Him out to be, but that he Dismas certainly did deserve and accept his own failure punishment with all that comes with it asking only that Jesus please “remember me when you are in your Kingdom.” Everything I said to this point here came to me by inspired thought as I was reaching out to Jesus Christ to send the Holy Spirit from our Father in heaven. Then suddenly because I wanted to be certain about Saint Dismas in what I type here I immediately came to this when I performed an online search about Dismas. God wanted me to speak about Dismas and this proves it. Some of these following words were going through my mind exactly as they are printed on this page just before I did the search!
“This man has done nothing wrong.” This man only does what is good. This man only speaks the truth. This man is worthy of our faith and allegiance and imitation. And then, sixth, the thief goes a step further and acknowledges that indeed, Jesus is a king. “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” desiringgod.org
Now please hear me here.
This was faith the size of a mustard seed by a real sinner/criminal who was paying the price for his SINS. But that faith was absolutely Real and Genuine beyond any doubt no some yackety-yak that anyone can shoot off, but from a man that was done for and knew it for his heathen sinful life, while on a Crucifixion cross, the worst way to be put to death and was totally unassuming while apologetic an accepting of the truth he had failed and was in great grief fear and sorrow; feeling hopeless. But he was surely respecting and honoring Jesus for His beauty and purity of heart and great good! This is a most very serious fine line business that will separate the Sheep from the Goats and there will be plenty of both nothing in-between. Only God can judge that perfectly and know in the end who belongs to Him!
The first thing the repentant thief does is not get deceived by all this talk.
“But he rebuked him saying, ‘Do you not fear God?” This is the second thing about this penitent thief: he feared God. God was real to him. God was his creator, and he knew that a pot can’t take up arms against the potter and come away victorious. It is fitting that creatures bow in submission before their creator and subject all their life to his wisdom. It is even more fitting that sinful creatures bow before God in holy fear, instead of railing against God as if a rebel ant should kick against the foothills of Mt. Everest and demand that it flatten out so the ant can walk across.
Third, the penitent thief admitted that he had done wrong: “We are receiving the due reward of our deeds” (v. 41). He had no desire to save face any more; he had no more will to assert himself. He was here and laid open before the God he feared and there was no way to hide his guilt. I know people right now who are in trouble. But instead of laying down their self-righteous defenses, they are devising every means to finagle and distort so as to appear innocent and cool. The penitent thief gave it up. It’s a hopeless tack, anyway, before an all-knowing God!
“We are under the sentence of condemnation justly.” This is the real test of humility before God. Many will mouth the confession of sin: “God be merciful to us miserable sinners,” but when some trouble comes, they get angry at him. And this anger reveals that they do not really feel undeserving before God. They still feel, deep down, that they have some rights before God. There are not many people like Job, who, when he lost everything, said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked shall I return; the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” But this penitent thief did become like Job in the last minutes of his life—he took his suffering without complaint, and feared God.
Fifth, the thief acknowledged Jesus’ righteousness: “This man had done nothing wrong.” It didn’t make any difference to the first thief if Jesus was right or wrong. If he could drive the get-away car—that’s all that mattered. But it matters a lot to Jesus if we think his life was good or bad. Jesus does not want to drive a get-away car; he wants to be followed because we admire him. We must say with the thief: “This man has done nothing wrong.” This man only does what is good. This man only speaks the truth. This man is worthy of our faith and allegiance and imitation.
And then, sixth, the thief goes a step further and acknowledges that indeed, Jesus is a king. “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Even though he is suffering now, Jesus has the mark of a king. For those who have eyes to see, he has a power here on the cross—a power of love that makes him king over all his tormentors. He is not only good, he is powerful, and one day he will vindicate his great name, and every knee will bow and confess that Jesus is Lord—to the glory of God, the Father.
And finally, the penitent thief does one more thing. He fears God, admits wrong, accepts justice, acknowledges the goodness and power of Jesus. Now he pleads for help. “Jesus, remember when you come into your kingdom.” Both thieves wanted to be saved from death. But O how differently they sought their salvation: 1) “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 2) “Jesus, remember when you come into your kingdom!” There is an infinite qualitative difference between “Save me!” and “Save me!” desiringgod.org
I put it this way; we are all on thin ice because as for example I could suddenly receive a huge opportunity to work for the government and be given a top ranking position through connections here on earth, but then to serve those who gave me this huge opportunity I follow their ways or lead because I’m now one of them; while we all follow the ways of the world and Satan in that scenario. Do I deserve heaven at the end of my road here after serving these despots that heaped a huge big shot opportunity upon me? Of course now I am in that getaway car with the criminals trying to get away with murder and worse, blaspheming God Almighty! That was why I walked away from government jobs or political connection and even Hollywood many years ago or any other damned man-made ways that would trap me into a hell on earth way of life; living as the unrepentant sinner!
God isn’t just giving lip service to us!
No I will keep this Scripture right up front in my consciousness and act accordingly. Amen.
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13)
God bless you.
Brother in Christ Jesus,
Lawrence Morra III
By Ronald Stein ~
Just a few hundred years ago, before oil…
Zero Lift-Off 
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