Lk 23:39-43 - One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
What great timing for the “other” man to understand the fear of God. Whereas the one man was railing on Jesus, the other was fearing Him. That fear led to faith and salvation. This verse underscores the absolute necessity of fear. It was the fear of God that led Him to faith in God. The reply by Jesus is basically, “Do not Fear! You will be with me today in paradise!” That is the encouragement for all of us! We will be with Him today in paradise, too, if we fear Him as God and Savior. And if the end result is true, than there should be nothing for us to worry about all the rest of our days.
