One Friday, almost 2,000 years ago, there were three crosses.

On those crosses were three men: two were thieves, and one was sinless.

The sinless one was Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to take away the sin of the world. By His death on the cross, forgiveness and life were offered to all who would receive them. They were right there, free for the asking, free for the taking, but only one man chose to receive that gift. This man’s choice had eternal consequences, as did the rejection of the gift by the other man. To the one who believed Jesus was the Savior, eternal life was given, beginning that very day. To the other man, there was nothing to receive except eternal separation from God. And so it is today.¹

The offer Jesus gave through His death on the cross remains, and there are only two choices about what to do with it: receive it or reject it. Will you receive His gift today?²

The two thieves knew their deaths were imminent and that a choice had to be made rather soon. We don’t find ourselves on a cross today, but we need to make our choice soon—before we draw our last breaths. And since none of us knows when that moment will come, we should prepare now while we can. Time is precious, and time is fleeting.

I hope you will accept the gift that has been offered to you. I hope you choose the One and Only Savior!

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For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

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NOTES

¹ See Luke 23:43, John 1:29, John 3:16–18, and Romans 6:23.

² See Romans 10:13, 1 John 1:8–9, and 1 John 4:15.

Quotation of John 3:16 taken from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible, ©1982 by Thomas Nelson.

©Text and photo Francee Strain, April 7, 2023

For further reading, you may access these articles on my website:

• Easter Preparations
• Easter—The Preparation, the Purpose, and the Promise (A Three-part Series)
• He Is Risen! He Is Risen, Indeed!
• Passing Time
• Remember the Way
• The Forefront
• This Moment
• Three Crosses