Stories captivate the mind and stir the heart. Whether it’s in movies or the biblical story found in the Word of God, stories have a shaping influence on our lives and the broader culture. Stories have the power to change lives. Ultimately every story finds it’s fulfillment in the finished work of Christ. Jesus is the Story above all stories. His story reorients all other stories. The story of the thief on the cross is one of the most powerful stories in the Gospels. It is the story of a man who committed a crime against Rome and met Jesus, when he died crucifixion style next to Jesus. This is the basis for Colin Smith’s new book Heaven, How I Got Here the Story of the Thief On The Cross. The only twist about this book is rather than walking through the biblical text, the author gives a first-person account of the life of the thief on the cross.
This is one of the most interesting, refreshing, and helpful books I’ve read in awhile. This book is fictional in that it doesn’t follow the biblical storyline of the thief on the cross. With that said there is plenty of biblical engagement in that the author makes clear reference to what the two people next to Jesus on the cross said and did, along with what others said and did around the cross. If you’re like me and heard the story of the thief a lot over the years and read the story, many, many times then you’ll want to read this book. It will open your eyes afresh to this story.
If you’re a long-time Christian you know how easy it is to say, “I know this story”, and that’s true. After all, you should know the story if you’ve been a Christian for any length of time. Yet, we live in a day when biblical ignorance is rampant. Even if we know the story we need to hear it again as for the first time. This is what Heaven, I Got Here does so well. It will help the reader to hear the story of the thief on the cross, as for the first time. This book will help you to understand what Jesus went through and what He did for you on the cross, and in the resurrection. If you’re like me, you need books like this. You need to be reawakened to the wonder of the cross. You need to be reminded of your ongoing need for mercy and grace found in Jesus Christ.
As we march towards Easter, take some time consider the death of Jesus in our place and for our sins, and His resurrection which is the promise of our salvation, I encourage you to pick up and read this book. Maybe you’re going through a dry season in your walk with God, or perhaps you’re doing great in your walk with God. We all need to be reminded of what Jesus has done for us on the cross. We need to gather around the cross, look and behold the Son of God in His bloody death in our place for our sin, to know the tomb is empty, Christ has risen, and now serves as our High Priest, Intercessor, Mediator, and Advocate. This excellent book, while fictional will make you think. It will help stir you up this Easter season to consider afresh the claims of Jesus on your life as a Christian. I highly recommend this book and pray you’ll pick it up and pass it on to others who need it.
Buy the book at Amazon,or from WTS Books,
Title: Heaven, How I Got Here The Story of The Thief On The Cross
Author: Colin S. Smith
Publisher: Christian Focus
I received this book for free from Christian Focus for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
