Sitting by the bedside of loved one is difficult if you are not quite sure of that loved ones’ eternal destination. Looking back on conversations, one is tempted to second guess. Were the right things said? Could the Gospel have been presented a better way? What could have been said differently?

I was expressing my concern to a godly friend. She lovingly reminded me that I was not ultimately responsible for that loved one’s salvation. My job is to show Christ and to tell about His work on the cross. Each person, including my loved one, has a decision to make and no one can make it for them. I just had to trust the Holy Spirit to do the convicting work.

Easter is this week. I am encouraged by the words of the thief next to our Lord on the cross. “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Those simple words revealed that the thief recognized and trusted who Christ truly was. Just imagine what that thief saw as he witnessed the forces of good and evil, reverent and pious, godly and ungodly play out before him. Christ did not share the Romans road with the thief. He did not go through the ABC’s of salvation. All the thief did was believe.

I think that with so many different subtle twists and turns of false religion out there, we ourselves have gotten confused about salvation. It’s not complicated. In fact, it is the very simple childlike faith that saves us. But for mature people, I think that simplicity is the hardest thing to overcome. We are used to an over complicated world that utilizes fine print and disclaimers. Surely, it can’t be as simple as believe. Yet the Bible clearly says,

“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved,” Acts 16:31. And again in Romans 10:9-10, 13, “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation….For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

It really is that simple. And the thief on the cross proves it.

Do you have someone you love whose spiritual condition concerns you? Keep praying! Keep telling them of the Good News! Keep living your faith out through the power of the Holy Spirit. That is our job. Leave the rest to our Savior.

Luke 23:42-43 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.

To contact Kaye Dee, email kayedee@thebeautifulspirit.org or message us on Facebook.