“Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’” Luke 23:42-43

It’s Never Too Late

The thief on the cross is nameless in the Bible, but his brief testimony has served as encouragement to thousands I’m sure. Here was a criminal at death’s door when he acknowledged that Jesus was the Son of God. But he also realized that death was not the end: it was merely the beginning, and it has been this literal “last second” act of repentance that sealed his soul for eternity.

I’m also convinced that his act of repentance 2,000 years ago has shown multitudes that it is never too late to come to Christ.

One individual who has had a tremendous impact on hundreds, if not thousands of lives throughout his NHL career, is Jarome Iginla – a player as quick with his fists as he is with his wrists.

Jarome told Sports Spectrum in 2004, “Growing up I always had a faith, but it was an unclear faith…When I was younger, I was talking with one of my best friends and he asked me, ‘What do you think happens when we die? Is it just black?’ I started to think about it and I got this pit of worry in my stomach…I would try to put it out of my mind, but whenever I would think about it, this empty feeling in my stomach would come back. This feeling of fear was there for some time until I went to my dad and asked for help. He said to me ‘Why don’t you ask Jesus to come into your life, and forgive your sins, and take that feeling away? If He doesn’t, then you haven’t lost anything, but if He does, look at what you’ve gained.’ So that’s what I did.”

As you reflect on your life, what will people remember you for? What will be your lasting legacy? Just like the thief on the cross, it is never too late to give your life to Christ.

—TERRY BURWELL

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