“Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43. The dying thief found freedom in the final hours of his life.  He admitted that God was right to punish his sin and right there from the cross, Jesus gave him the assurance that he would enter Paradise that very day!  What hope for all who feel they’ve been too bad too long to start over!  What hope for the grieving parent who agonizes over a child who is living a rebellious life and faces an untimely death from the devastating effects of drugs or immorality!  If there comes a moment of conviction of sin, which is the Holy Spirit’s work, and a plea in faith to the Lord Jesus for mercy – no matter what the circumstances – He will have but one response: “You will be with Me in Paradise.”  Repentance doesn’t erase wasted years nor stay death’s hand, but it always swings wide the door to Paradise.  No one is too bad to be forgiven.