{"id":705,"date":"2013-03-25T14:24:51","date_gmt":"2013-03-25T20:24:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/zekepipher\/?p=705"},"modified":"2013-03-25T14:45:41","modified_gmt":"2013-03-25T20:45:41","slug":"unable-to-do-anything-faith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/zekepipher\/2013\/03\/unable-to-do-anything-faith\/","title":{"rendered":"Unable-To-Do-Anything Faith"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Have you ever been pinned down and unable to do anything? I had a friend, Doug, who could grow a Zac-Brown-type beard<\/a> in 10^{th<\/sup> grade. He could also bench 250-lbs and throw other 10^{th<\/sup>-graders around like rag dolls. I\u2019ll never forget the time when Doug twisted my arms and legs into a pretzel and sat on me while my other buddies (and I use that term loosely) ate my share of the pizza. I lost it all because I was pinned down and couldn\u2019t do anything.<\/p>\n}}

At the end of Luke\u2019s Gospel we find another man who was pinned down and couldn\u2019t do anything. There were two men crucified with Jesus. Early in the execution, both men joined the soldiers in insulting Jesus. How men with stakes nailed between bones and slammed up against nerves found the energy to make fun of Jesus is a mystery to me. But they did. Matthew 27:44 states, \u201cAnd the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

But then something spectacular happened; one of these robbers had a change of heart. In Luke 23, after one thief mocked Jesus, the other rebuked him, saying,\u00a0\u201cDo you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.\u201d And he said, \u201cJesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.\u201d <\/em><\/strong>(23:40-41, ESV)<\/p>\n

Of all conversions in the history of Christianity, this has to be one of the most extraordinary. This man who, just a few moments prior \u201creviled\u201d Jesus, now wants to be with the Lord in eternity.<\/p>\n

But, here\u2019s the problem\u2026he\u2019s pinned down and can\u2019t do<\/em> anything. He can\u2019t lift a finger to help another human being. He can\u2019t give money to the church. He can\u2019t lead a ministry, read the Scriptures, or even share his faith with anyone. He\u2019s nailed to a cross, a few breaths away from eternity, and can\u2019t do one good deed.\u00a0We have a few sayings here in the US: \u201cGod helps those who help themselves,\u201d and \u201cwe get what we deserve,\u201d and \u201cyou get out of it what you put into it.\u201d Well, if there is any truth to these sayings when it comes to salvation, this man on the cross is in a world of trouble.<\/p>\n

So, what did Jesus say to this man with unable-to-do-anything faith? \u201cAnd Jesus said to him, \u2018Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus gave this helpless man heaven. This tells us that we can do good deeds from sunup to sundown, but if we don\u2019t have faith, we won\u2019t reach heaven. Likewise, we can have faith, but not a single chance to do one good deed, and we still gain \u201cParadise.\u201d It all comes down to faith<\/a>. Which side of the cross are you on this Easter?<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"