How Did You Get Here?
Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise. – Luke 23:43
Luke 23:39-43
One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself – and us, too, while you’re at it!”
But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Dire Consequences of Incorrect Facts and Assumptions
Misunderstandings can lead to serious consequences, emphasizing the need for accurate information to avoid needless tragedies. Historical examples demonstrate how misjudgment, misinformation, and false assumptions can lead to disasters. Many tragic events serve as reminders to seek trustworthy information, dismiss faulty assumptions, and remain aware of confirmation bias.
Japan’s Underestimation of U.S. Resolve and Industrial Power
One of the biggest intelligence failures of World War II was Japan’s misjudgment of the United States’ ability to fight back. Japanese leaders thought that the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, would cripple the U.S. Pacific Fleet and force America to accept a quick peace. Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, who planned the attack, famously warned, “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.”
Japan underestimated the U.S.’s industrial power, which enabled it to quickly rebuild its navy and produce vast quantities of war materials. They also misjudged the American public’s resolve to fight after the attack. Instead of discouraging the U.S., it had the opposite effect, galvanizing American support and leading to a declaration of war. Japan found itself in a long and unwinnable war, ultimately ending in its defeat in 1945.
Germany’s Misjudgment of U.S. Military Capabilities
Similarly, Nazi Germany underestimated the United States’ ability to mobilize and sustain a global war effort. Adolf Hitler dismissed the U.S. as a “decayed country” plagued by racial and social inequalities, as a nation of “shopkeepers,” “materialists” unprepared for the rigors of war. German intelligence failed to grasp the scale of American industrial production and the effectiveness of its military leadership.
This misjudgment became evident during the D-Day invasion in June 1944. Germany underestimated the Allies’ capacity to coordinate a massive amphibious assault and sustain a prolonged campaign in Europe. The success of the Normandy landings not only marked a pivotal turning point in the war but also signaled the start of the end for Nazi Germany.
Proverbs 14:12 warns us with these sobering words: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” This serves as a powerful reminder of the limitations of human wisdom and the consequences of relying on our own understanding. What may feel right in the moment, align with our desires, or seem to offer the greatest benefit can ultimately lead to destruction.
Human beings are naturally inclined to trust their own judgment. We often make decisions based on what feels right in the moment, what aligns with our desires, or what seems to offer the most significant benefit.
Why Should Anyone Go to Heaven?
There are many mistaken notions about why anyone should go to heaven. Dr. D. James Kennedy designed two questions to help individuals reflect on their spiritual beliefs and eternal destiny. These questions are designed to gently uncover misconceptions about salvation and to guide individuals toward a clear understanding of the gospel. They emphasize the need for personal faith in Jesus Christ as the only way to eternal life, helping people move from uncertainty to a confident trust in God’s grace.
Question One: “Have you come to the place in your spiritual life where you know for certain that if you were to die today, you would go to heaven?”
This question seeks to assess an individual’s confidence in their salvation, encouraging them to contemplate their spiritual state and the certainty of their eternal destiny. For numerous people, this question reveals underlying doubts or a reliance on good deeds, ethical conduct, or religious practices as a basis for their salvation.
Question Two: “If you were to stand before God and He were to ask you, ‘Why should I let you into My heaven?’ what would you say?”
This inquiry explores an individual’s understanding of salvation, prompting them to articulate what they believe qualifies them for eternal life. Responses often highlight good deeds, personal achievements, religious practices, or moral conduct. This provides an opportunity to clarify the core of the gospel: salvation is not something earned through human effort but is a gracious gift given to us through Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross. Through Jesus’ sacrificial death, the penalty for sin has been paid, enabling all who place their faith in Him to enter into eternal life.
Alistair Begg’s Call to Proclaim Truth
In 2019, Alistair Begg delivered a profound and thought-provoking sermon titled “The Power and Message of the Cross” at the National Preaching Conference held at Baylor University. His address resonated deeply with his audience, offering a clarion call to return to the heart of the Christian faith: the cross of Christ.
The Danger of the First-Person Answer
Why Should Anyone Go to Heaven? If our answer begins in the first person, “Because I believed,” “Because I have faith,” “Because I . . .”, we have already gone astray. The focus has shifted to ourselves, our actions, or our faith as the basis of salvation.
The only proper response to the question of why we are granted entry into heaven is rooted entirely in the third person: “Because He . . . Because He died for me. Because He bore my sin. Because he paid my debt in full. Because He promised eternal life.” Salvation isn’t a team effort between God and us; it is entirely the work of Christ, done for us. It isn’t based on anything we do.
Refocusing on the Cross
Begg began by emphasizing the centrality of the cross in Christian doctrine, urging his listeners to resist the temptation to shift focus toward themes that might seem more appealing, culturally acceptable, or politically correct. He warned against the tendency to dilute the message of the cross to make it more palatable, reminding his audience that the cross is not merely a symbol of faith but the very foundation of the gospel.
Begg acknowledged that the message of the cross is inherently offensive to some. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:18, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” The cross confronts the world with the reality of its need for a Savior. While a stumbling block to some, the cross encapsulates the essence of God’s redemptive plan.
REFLECT & PRAY
Redemption is a gift from God rather than something we achieve through our own efforts. Embracing the grace and sacrifice of Christ influences our moral principles, provides meaning to our lives, and motivates us to embody God’s love in our interactions with others.
INSIGHT
The Thief on the Cross
In his exploration of grace and redemption, Alistair Begg employs the poignant narrative of the thief on the cross as a vivid example of a deep truth.
One moment, he was hurling insults; the next, he was asking to come into His kingdom. He had never attended a Bible study or been involved in a church. He had never been baptized, and yet he made it. How did he make?
Imagine an angel greeting this man in heaven and having a brief conversation with him.
“What are you doing here?”
“Well, I don’t know.”
“What do you mean, you don’t know?”
“Well, ‘cause I don’t know.”
“Well, you know . . . Excuse me. Let me get my supervisor.”
They go get the supervisor angel: “So, we’ve just a few questions for you. First of all, are you clear on the doctrine of justification by faith?”
The guy says, “I’ve never heard of it in my life.”
“And what about the doctrine of inerrancy?”
This guy’s just staring, dumbfounded.
Frustrated, eventually, the supervisor angel says, “On What Basis Are You Here?”
And he said, “The man on the middle cross said I can come.”
This is the only answer. It is not about what we have done or understood, but about what Christ has done and His invitation. The thief’s story highlights the pure grace of God, unearned and undeserved.
The cross is not merely a historical event or a theological concept; it is the core of the Christian faith. It is the only answer to the question of salvation, the only hope for the sinner, and the only source of true freedom. To take our eyes off the cross is to lose sight of the gospel itself. It is only through the man on the middle cross that we are welcomed into God’s presence.
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© Dr. H 2025
Dr H Reflections 