Cheating God’s System
Posted: February 21, 2008 by stevie
It’s quite preposterous if you think about it, but it seems that as humans, specifically Malaysian humans, we tend to invent ways to go about a particular system. We don’t like to break the rules outrightly, but rather find a workaround. For instance, the demerit points are only awarded to you when you pay your fines, which are hopefully plugged already by now.
In some people’s opinions, there’s also a ‘cheat’ in God’s system of forgiveness and repentance, also known as ‘Deathbed Conversion’, and since for these few weeks leading up to Easter, we’re pretty much focused on the thief on the cross, this subject should be discussed.
‘Deathbed Conversion’ simply means this: the adoption of a religion just before dying.
Before dying, a person adopts Christianity–or any religion, but Christianity is the most marketable since it doesn’t require any works being done, and it’s all based on God’s grace–to avoid the torments of hell, and enjoy the benefits of heaven. It’s understandable that if I am about to kick the bucket soon, I might as well grab on to whatever I can just for insurance.
Now, it doesn’t mean that these conversions cannot happen: observe the story of the thief on the cross, and true repentance brought him into God’s presence. Also, countless people have come to know the Lord before dying, believing in Jesus Christ just before their death. It’s a reminder of how God loves us, in 2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
It is God’s intention that everyone should hear the gospel and everyone should have a chance to choose Him. If He wants to save a particular person, no matter how bad that person is, who are we to say whether he deserved the grace? Do we deserve anything at all?
Hence, conversions at the end of their lives is very possible, and who knows how many souls have been snatched from the brink of hell at the very last instance.
However, for those who think this is a loophole; or it allows the license to live a life of sin only to repent when you are dying, there are some bad news for them:
1) No one knows when he/she will die. It seems awfully risky to hedge your bet against something that cannot be calculated/determined in any way. Here today, gone tomorrow and an eternity of anguish.
2) It’s not just a verbal confession, it’s a heart’s confession. Recall that the thief didn’t just say, “Lord, I believe you, save me!” He merely says to the Lord, “Remember me WHEN you come into your kingdom.” Jesus assured him because his repentance was real.
3) Chances are, if you are waiting to cheat God’s system, you’re probably on the wrong side of the cross, i.e on the other robber’s side. Remember what the other robber said:
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” - Luke 23:39
He hung there waiting to be saved. He hung there thinking that he has got it made, he had ‘cheated’ the system. He says, “Aren’t you Christ?” or as the others put it, “IF thou art Christ…”.
“If” is a neutralizing word when praying to the Lord of the universe. When tempting Jesus in the wilderness, the devil revealed his identity when he said, “If thou be the Son of God.“ Matthew 4:3. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6), and the word “if” neutralizes a person’s faith.
Like much of the world, the thief on the left wanted salvation from the penalty of sin, but not from sin itself. He lacked a saving faith. Jesus says, “If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” John 8:24.
There is no loophole in God’s system. If repentance is real, then changes must be made now. There’s no bargaining, or petitioning, the idea of ‘cheating’ God is an absolute lie of the devil.
Dough Batchelor mentions in one of his sermons:
Did you know that this is the only story in the Bible of a “deathbed conversion”? This one example is recorded so none need lose hope of salvation-even in the end; but there is only one example so none would recklessly presume it is safe to wait till the bitter end. I am convinced that one of two things happens to people who purposely plan on turning to Jesus in the last hours of their life. Either they never can, or they never will.
To say, “I will give my life and strength and means to the devil and then, in the last fleeting moments of my earthly existence, I will turn to God” is the highest insult a mortal can offer God. It is something like offering an ugly, thorny rose stem to your spouse after all the beautiful, fragrant petals have fallen off.
Repentance is a gift from God (Acts 5:31; 2 Timothy 2:24, 25). We cannot predict when we are going to repent. If we have spent our lives spurning the loving invitations of the Holy Spirit, it may be that when the end comes, we will find we have grieved away the Comforter and lost our capacity to repent. “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation”? Hebrews 2:3. Then, of course, there is the very real possibility that we could die suddenly with no prior warning, and thus be unable to repent.
