The Gospel according to Luke chapter 23 and reading verses 42 and 43. Luke's Gospel chapter 23 reading verses 42 and 43. And he said unto Jesus, Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise. Now we considered in the morning that woman whose faith was great, and it is true also here that we have a man whose faith is great. When you consider the character of the man before grace called him, and when you consider that in Matthew 27 we are reminded that the thieves also which were crucified with him cast the same in his teeth, if thou be the Christ, save thyself and thus. And surely we acknowledge the sovereignty of God's grace in calling this man. Why did one pray and not the other? The man was not saved and taken to heaven without a change. However, it was true that in the same day these changes took place. Yet the words of the Lord must ever stand, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Well, the man's faith we have here, and the man's repentance, and also the man's prayer, and the man's confession, and what a wonderful answer he got to his prayer. Now who told him that Jesus was Lord? Who told him that he had a kingdom? Did our Lord look to the natural eye as someone who could answer prayer? There was a Lord agonizing on the cross of Calvary, and yet this thief had a vision why he was there, and that he had a kingdom, and that he was the only one who could save him and answer his prayer. Now when you consider that this man was very near eternity, And so was the other man, of itself that cannot save us to know that we are nearing eternity, so that we mustn't slumber on a false pillow and promise ourselves salvation at the eleventh hour. Because, friend, will you know the eleventh hour when it does come? How many throughout our island and other places have suddenly been translated from time to eternity, and they did not know, and their nearest and dearest did not know, that they had approached the eleventh hour, and yet this was what was true. They were bordering eternity without knowing that this was true. Now there is much involved here in the word remembered. Very often we ask each other to remember us, the children of God in certain situations, they ask their brethren and sisters in the Lord to remember them. But above all they ask the Lord himself to remember them with that love. which he bears unto us all. Now when this man was asking the Lord to remember him, he meant save me, he meant deliver me, he meant thou art the only one who can remember me at this time. And if you won't remember me in this way, then I will be in a lost eternity. Remember me, consider all that was involved in that word when you consider the situation in which this thief was found on the cross. And when you consider this was probably the only faculty he could use, he could use his tongue and he was saying to himself that he was going to make use of that why he could utter a word and he asked the Lord to remember him and consider the vision which he had of why the Lord was on the cross of Calvary and the vision he had of the kingdom which he had and of course to the natural eye our Lord agonizing there He did not look like someone who had a kingdom. He did not look like someone who could answer prayers. But yet you acknowledge the sovereignty of God's grace and that this man had a prayer which God himself gave him. Even there on the cross you see the division. We were singing and reading of the division between the dressed and the weighed. in Psalm 1, and how there was progress in the ways of sin. And consider, you see the division here, the sovereignty of God's grace coming to light in a special way. Of course, every child of God marvels at the sovereignty of God's grace concerning themselves. They say, how wonderful that I was there at that certain time. where I met with my Lord and Saviour. How wonderful that there is a moment of time in my experience when I pass from death unto life. And how wonderful it is that those whom I knew in my youth and the same age as myself, that they are journeying on still in the broad way that leads us unto destruction. And when you say, why me, you have to acknowledge the sovereignty of God's grace. And the sovereignty of God's grace comes to light here in a special way. Why was one asking the Lord to remember him? Why did one have a vision that the Lord had a kingdom? Why was one praying in spirit and in truth? Lord, remember me. Thou art the only one who is able to save me. Thou art the only one who is able to deliver me. Thou art the only one who is able to have mercy on me. I cannot look to any other person. I'm in my dying moments. Lord, remember me. And surely then we marvel at this trophy of grace. But, of course, we must not slumber on a false pillow, promising ourselves salvation at the eleventh hour. As I said already, we may never realise we have reached the eleventh hour. So, how urgent the preaching of the Gospel is! because it has to do with undying souls on the way to eternity. It requires all the energies of the body, all the capacities of the mind. There is nothing so urgent as proclaiming the unsearchable riches of Christ. And you never know when you are preaching for the last time, and you never know when you are listening to the gospel. for the last time. We had experiences like that, the young in front of us and in eternity before the next Sabbath came. And I used to ask myself what text would you have preached from last Sabbath evening if you knew that some were there who were going to listen to the gospel for the last time. So there is nothing so urgent as the preaching of the gospel because it has to do with the undying souls of men, women and children on the way to eternity. Friend, have you asked the Lord to remember you? It doesn't matter who will remember us. It doesn't matter who will forget us. But if the Lord remembers us in this way, For we are going to consider the wonderful answer which our Lord gave to this prayer. Well, surely we acknowledge that this man had faith. When you consider his position, when you consider his sufferings, when you consider his surroundings, surely we acknowledge that this man had faith. when thou comest into thy kingdom. As if this man was saying, I now realise why you are suffering on the cross. I now realise why you are here. And speaking with all reverence, how sweet in the ears of our Lord and Saviour was this prayer, because Our Lord could say, this is the reason why I left the courts of heaven. This is the reason I came into the world. He shall see of the trouble of his soul and be satisfied. And that scripture was going to be fulfilled on the cross of Calvary, even in the midst of the suffering, when thou comest into thy kingdom. I have a vision. where you are going. I have a vision that you have a kingdom. And when you consider the translation of this man into the kingdom of grace, and then the translation of this man into the kingdom of glory, here was one who was not going to be left in the world to witness for his Lord and Savior. This man was not going to be left to speak to the question and tell of the experiences which he had concerning his conversion because in moments he was going to be in eternity. Now you will notice from scripture that Jesus did not always use the word verily. He only used the word verily on certain occasions. He wanted to seal this answer in this way, in such a way that there was no room for doubt concerning the answer to this prayer. Our Lord was saying, verily, truly I say unto thee, today before another day dawns, You are going to be with me in paradise. There he was a short time ago. He was without Christ. And as I said already, it is evident from the Gospel of Matthew that he was also, the thieves also which were crucified with him cast the same in his teeth. A short time ago he was without Christ. and without hope in the world. In a moment he was in Christ. And what a union that is! Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Death touches every other union, but death cannot touch this union in Christ. And then in a short time he was going to be with Christ, which is far better. Well, verily I say unto thee, you see the man had faith, and the man had repentance. We indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds, but this man hath done nothing amiss. The man's confession, and then the wonderful answer which Jesus was going to bestow on this man. Friend, have you asked the Lord to remember you? We are journeying towards the great eternity, and when you consider the number of people you knew in this world who are no longer here, we deceive ourselves if we do not believe that very soon we are going to follow them. Change and decay in all around I see, O those that interest not, abide with me and consider how we spend our years as a tale that is told. Friend, are you spending your years without Christ? When I was a boy, time crept. Since becoming a man, time runs. Since becoming old, time flew. And soon it will be time gone. for each one of us. Are you asking the Lord to remember you this evening? Remembering that you have to keep an appointment with him which we cannot delay. There are many appointments perhaps in this world we can avoid, but not the appointment with the faithful messenger of death. Death will come at the appointed time. to each home, to each family, to each individual, it is appointed unto men once to die and after death the judgment. Have you then got a vision of the kingdom which our Lord has? Have you got a good hope through grace that you are going to enter the kingdom of glory? Have your sins been forgiven? Heaven opening blood, opening the door for us, they shall be brought with gladness great, and mirth on every side, into the palace of the King, and there they shall abide. Remember me. There is nothing so personal as the salvation of our souls. God has done wonderful things for the Old Testament since. And God has done wonderful things in the history of the church in times of revival. But you remember what the psalmist was saying, come here I'll tell what he did for my soul. So there's nothing so personal as the salvation of our soul. Now when you consider the character of this man before grace called him. You see the enemies thought they were going to bring disgrace upon the cross of Calvary by their choice of these two thieves. And consider what happened. The sovereignty of God's grace. The sovereignty of God's grace the sovereignty of God's grace in calling him. Why did one pray and not the other? Child of God, did you not acknowledge the sovereignty of God's grace? When you think of many friends and relatives, perhaps you are without Christ and without hope in the world. And how we should marvel at the sovereignty of His grace! Behold what manner of love The Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God. Well, without Christ, in Christ, with Christ. Are you without Christ then this evening? The child of God can rejoice in the portion which they have. No condemnation nor separation from the portion which they have. And when we are in Christ, that cannot be separated from being with Christ. Father, I will that they whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory. How wonderful in the experience of this man that our Lord had a desire that ye would be with him throughout all eternity, singing the song of Moses and the Lamb. And surely, child of God, do marvel at the fact that the Lord would have a desire that you would be with him throughout all eternity. Verily I say unto thee, the word which our Lord used on certain occasions and which he did not always use, verily sealing the answer to this man's prayer. Today, what a wonderful day it was in the experience of this man. What wonderful translations took place in his experience. In such a short time, and will rejoice that we have this example in the word of God of salvation at the eleventh hour. It is not our place to pronounce judgment. We must leave that to God. But consider how wonderful we have this example of salvation at the eleventh hour. And yet there is the danger that we may sleep on a false pillow, promising ourselves salvation at the eleventh hour. It is not sufficient to be near the kingdom. Remember the one who said, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. But what if death comes, and we are only almost, and almost Christian? That is not sufficient to enter eternity being described in that way. We must be all together, Christians, if we are secure for time and for eternity. And you remember the other who was promising himself a more convenient season. He trembled, but yet he was promising himself a more convenient season. The devils believe and tremble, and that's more than many do in this day, under the preaching of the gospel, blinded by the adversary of their soul on the way to a lost eternity, and deceived by the adversary of their soul in such a way that they do not believe in death, judgment, and eternity. Yet the word of God abideth forever. Well, remember me. Therefore you think of this man, the condition he was in, realizing that soon he would be in eternity, and remembering his sufferings, and the only faculty he could use was his tongue. And he made good use of it. He prayed from his heart. He meant what he said, deliver me, save me, you are the only one who can answer my prayer. How urgent then, bordering eternity, when thou comest into thy kingdom. I have a vision of the kingdom of glory. There he was in a state of nature, there he was in a state of grace, and there he was translated from grace to glory. Surely then we see here the sovereignty of God's grace. Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. And the words of the Lord must ever stand, even when this took place in this man's experience. In such a short time, the words of the Lord must ever stand. except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. So that this man was born again, he attested of the newness of Christ, he attested of the newness of the life, living by faith on the Son of God, who loved him, and gave himself for him. How wonderful it was. When you consider the prayer in John 17, and we would not think that this man's character before Grace Colton, that he was someone who was inside, who was secure concerning the prayer which we have in John 17. Yet this is what must be true, that he hath this desire. Father, I will that they whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory. Well, friend, ask the Lord to remember you this evening. Ask the Lord to help you this evening. You remember Bartimaeus they were trying to silence him but no one could silence him because he had a cry of need and he had a cry of faith and he had a cry of recognition just as this man had when he said unto Jesus Lord. There you have the cry of recognition he had a cry of faith and he had a cry of need. And Bartimaeus had the same cry, but he heard Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, and nothing could silence him, because it was the work of God's Holy Spirit. And there he was, crying unto the Lord. Well, verily, I say unto thee, how wonderful it was for this man to hear this answer to his prayer. What a wonderful answer Jesus was to bestow on this man. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise before this day draws to its close. the many experiences which people may have, even in one day. Even in one day. Perhaps a day dawns with some experience that never entered your mind. Perhaps a day will progress in the same way, and perhaps a day will conclude. We know not what will be on the morrow, whether it will be life or death, Whether it will be sickness or health, we do not know. But for the people of God, consider the security which they have, what ye have done for my soul. Well, how this man would marvel concerning that, what ye have done for my soul, and what ye have done for my soul in such a short time. and what he hath done for my soul by answering my prayer, and how the Lord hath remembered me when I am just going to enter eternity, and for him it was going to be an eternity of bliss. Grace and glory cannot be separated. And yet, how wonderful it was, how wonderful we have this example, in the word of God, salvation at the eleventh hour. But surely we recognize the division even on the cross of Calvary, that we recognize the sovereignty of God's grace. Why did one have a prayer, why not the other? There you have to acknowledge the division and the sovereignty of God's grace. Now, is there a division in this gathering this evening because of whom? A division because we have different opinions of Christ. We have different opinions of his doctrine. We have different opinions concerning the return of the Lord Jesus. Everywhere our Lord went during the days of humiliation, there was a division because of him, and so solemn to think that there is a witness in the heavens tonight, that there is a division in this place of worship, because we have different thoughts concerning him. What think ye of Christ? That is the question of questions in the word of God. Friend, do you not think that your thoughts are not important? We are important at this very moment because God is the divine observer in our experience. And our thoughts are so important that what we think of Christ is going to determine our eternal destiny. It's not what you think of a preacher, but what you think of Christ. That is what's going to determine your eternal destiny. And what think ye of Christ this evening? What think ye of the prayer of this man? What think ye of the faith of this man? What think ye of the answer to this man's prayer? What think ye of the wonderful demonstration of God's love? God so loved the world that he gave us only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Well, Jesus of Nazareth passeth by in the gospel this evening, and do we take heed to the voice of God in providence, reminding us so often that certainly People are translated from time to eternity. Do you ever think it could be yourself next? Well, we know not what a day may bring forth. Now is the accepted time. Now is the day of salvation. Jesus of Nazareth passes by in the gospel. As I said already, it is not sufficient to say with another almost thou persuadest me. There are many almost Christians under the gospel, but if they continue in that state and the messenger of death comes, consider what the end is going to be. There are many also who are saying that a more convenient season will come, and yet There are those who harden so much under the gospel. We have met people who confessed how moved they were under the gospel when they were young, and they are not moved now. Hardening under the gospel. We are either hardening or softening under the message of the gospel. And we are either hardening or softening under the solemn messenger of death when it comes near us, to the neighborhood, to the village, to the congregation, God reminding us that soon we will be in eternity. But God's servant of old said, God make us, my heart soft. Has your heart been softened by the God of all grace? Don't promise yourself a more convenient season, which will never come. And don't continue in the state of being almost a Christian. We must be altogether Christians. Verily, I say unto you, well, speaking with all reverence, we believe the prayer of this man was sweet in the ears of our Lord and Savior. even in the midst of his sufferings. Our Lord could say, this is the reason why I am here. This is the reason why I came into the world. He shall see of the trouble of his soul and be satisfied. And how sweet it must have been in the experience of the dying thief on the cross to hear this answer to his prayer. The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day, and there may I, as vile as him, wash all my sins away. Well, we are not able to put into words the joy that this answer to his prayer would bring to this man when he was bordering eternity. Friend, as you make your way home this evening, ask the Lord to remember you, to remember you, and to remember you with the love which he bears unto his own. And if you are remembered in this way, this will bring you to the kingdom of glory. And let the child of God marvel at the sovereignty of God's grace. and say, why me? How wonderful it is that I am in a state of grace, that I have a good hope through grace, when many of those whom I knew in this world are forgetting about their undying souls, forgetting about death, judgment, and eternity, and many in our day forgetting about the Lord's day, and many in our day forgetting about the place of worship and what an encouragement it is in a congregation like this to see the young attending the means of grace and our prayer is that many will be born here in this beautiful place of worship that God will honour it that God will beautify it with his own presence and with his own power and with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and that revival may come and how wonderful that would be if the Lord would remember us in that way. And of course surely if we have tasted that the Lord is gracious that we are burdened for the souls of others. Oh, taste and see that God is good, who trusts in him is blessed. Sometimes I think to myself, I visit hospital since last November, and this is what I think to myself, the number of sermons I'm seeing with my two eyes every time I enter that place. seeing sermons with my two eyes reminding me of the brevity of my life journey and that soon we will be in eternity and surely if we are spiritually minded that we see there in hospitals we see sermons with those very two eyes as it were you don't need to listen to words You are seeing it with your two eyes, and very soon then, you will all be in eternity, where Jesus of Nazareth passeth by in the gospel. How blessed this evening, if someone here would have a cry of need, if someone here would have a cry of faith, if someone here would have a cry of recognition, concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. If someone here would realize I am not able to help myself, if someone here would realize no one else is able to save me, but the Lord is able to save me. Remember me, Lord, with that love which thou to thine dost bear. Well, this man's faith consider what a measure of faith he had, because to the natural eye, there when you consider his sufferings, when you consider his condition, when you consider his surroundings, when you would look at the Lord agonising on the cross of Calvary, did he look to the natural eye like someone who could answer prayer. Did he look to the natural eye like someone who could save him? Did he look to the natural eye like someone who could deliver him? But the Lord doth give the blind their sight. He was able to see in the light of eternity. He was able to recognise the urgency of the salvation of a soul. Remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. I haven't many moments in this world, but if you remember me in this way, Jesus said unto him, Verily, how sweet then in the ears of this man, this Verily. There was a feeling here for time and for eternity, translated from one kingdom to another. with Christ. Friend, are you with us, Christ, this evening? If you are, you are in a slippery place. We know not what a day may bring forth. The young, the middle-aged, the old, entering eternity in the twinkling of an eye. In the twinkling of an eye. Sudden death. Sudden glory for the believers. but if we die without Christ and without hope in the world. Worth me, the best is yet to come. If you have enjoyed so many blessings, child of God, with your brethren and sisters in the Lord in this world, having communion with them in fellowship and in our life of grace, who is able to describe what it will mean in eternity, For now, Lord says, with me, with me. May God have this blessing, let us pray. Gracious God, remember thine own children and may they marvel at the sovereignty of thy grace. May they marvel that there was a spot in the world where they met with their Lord and Saviour. May they marvel that there was a time in the world when they met with their Lord and Saviour. May they marvel how Providence co-worked with Grace in such a way that they were in a certain place at a certain time. It was through concerning our Lord Himself He must needs go through some area, and this was a divine appointment. There were going to be those in that city who were going to pass from death to life, who were going to rejoice in Christ as their Saviour. And there may be many musts in our experience concerning the places we have to go through, concerning the experiences which we must pass through, but we must all needs die. And may we make our way home this evening, remembering that this must, as in the experience of each one of us, that we must all meet die. But for the believer to be with Christ is far better. And if we are in Christ this evening, this is a union which cannot be severed. We shall, in thine own time, be with Christ. Remember those who are without Christ and without hope in the world, blinded by the adversary of their soul. O Lord, do thou remember them in mercy, and may they make a discovery of themselves, and of their sin, and of their vileness, and a discovery of thee, that they may be able to say with the prophet of old, though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away. and thou comfortest me. Behold, God is my salvation. Dismiss us with thy blessing, bring us safely to our respective places of abode, and abide with us these, and pardon sin for Jesus' sake. Amen.