It seemed to be his lot...

He was one of those unfortunate people with a talent for always being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

He was born wrong:

• Declining Roman Empire
• A broken home
• The conquered Jewish nation
• Poverty stricken slums

He lived wrong:

• Others went to school; he played hookie.
• Others played ball; he stole apples.
• Others learned trades; he learned to cheat.

Just a common thief:

• He started wrong.
• He lived wrong.
• And it looked as if he would finish wrong -
  • The wrong place
  • The wrong time
  • A Roman cross
  • Painful death
  • Final shame

When, from the middle cross, came the words of Redeeming Love:

"Verily I say unto thee,
To day shalt thou be with me
in paradise."
(Luke 23:43)

In all the stream of human history, One and only One of the numbered sons of Adam could have said those words... and He hung beside him. What tremendous fortune! What wondrous Providence! In one instant, his life -- given to evil, thorougly misused, doomed to eternal death -- was changed -- and ended in crowning glory.

It was the one sentence which redeems all failure -- and it was said to him! At Life's final flickering moment, the one most important issue of all was gloriously solved.

At long last, he was at the Right Place, at the right time!

Author Unknown

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David,
when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. {2} Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. {3} For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. {4} Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. {5} Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. {6} Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

{7} Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. {8} Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. {9} Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. {10} Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. {11} Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. {12} Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

{13} Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. {14} Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. {15} O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. {16} For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. {17} The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. {18} Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. {19} Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

(Psalm 51)