The thief on the cross is a very vivid example of what will happen to Christians when they decide to leave their old ways and follow that of Jesus. At the same time, so many people make the mistake of using the thief on the cross as an example of doing bad things so that when they are about to get caught or die, they will repent but it doesn’t work that way.
What really happened with the thief on the cross? When Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross, he was nailed alongside two other people, one on his right and the other on his left.
https://youtu.be/RuyPXcCbKAM?si=ACyTQ_8iyhCzA3Hx
As for the thief, he has never met Jesus Christ. He has never come across Jesus Christ even though he might have been hearing about him. For someone who has never heard about the gospel, how is he sure what to do and what not to do?
Then, after meeting Jesus Christ, he decided to repent his sins and be a Christian. It’s never too late and Jesus accepted him and said to him.
Jesus said to him in Luke 23:43 which states that; And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
That’s how the thief on the cross beside Jesus Christ gained access to heaven. It was that easy for him but we may never be opportune to be like the thief on the cross. Do you know why? It is because we have heard about Jesus, we have seen and read testimonies and that’s why we have to repent.
It is just good that God is a merciful God. If you choose to repent, he gives you the chance and there is joy in the Lord over a sinner who repents. It’s not too late to repent so you can go to heaven like that of the thief on the cross.