Everyone has the right to his opinion on any issue, most especially if exercising such right does not infringe  on the rights of others. As it is with secular matters, so it is with the spiritual. The major difference is that in matters of things of the spirit, one should be more careful.
However, in both cases, one's opinion formation is hinged on one's depth of knowledge, the available information and the ability to accurately analyse, among others.

Peculiar to spiritual opinions is the revelation attached and its clarity to the fellow forming the opinion.

This was with case that involves the title of this piece.
A school of thought will hastily declare that the Scriptures does not expressly disclose that it was the thief on the right hand of Jesus Christ on the day of His crucifixion that was shown mercy to meet the Lord in Paradise on that day.
They are right by Biblical account that reveals,
"23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
23:40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. Luke.
None of these verses discloses which of the condemned men railed on Jesus Christ and which one begged Him to remember him in his kingdom. The common language here is "one of the malefactors" and the "the other". To this extent, they are right.

A careful examination of the Holy Bible, by way of comparing Scriptures with Scriptures, reveals that all those who chose to believe that it was the thief on the right hand, may not be wrong after I.

Any proof of this? Yes is the answer!

Let's consider the words of Jesus in Matthew "25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.."
Let me draw your attention to verse forty which I want you to read again and again. Pay attention to the expression that "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these brethren, ye have done it unto me."

If the Lord appreciates all those who care for His brethren as much, will He fail to acknowledge the effort of someone who witnessed for Him, confessed his sins in agony and pleaded for last minute mercy? Will he not be among the righteous on the right hand of the Lord Jesus Christ who had forgiven him?
There are two groups of people everywhere. Group of the goats and group of the sheep. In Christ kingdom,the sheep will occupy their position on His right hand but the goats will be on the left hand side. At the last minute, the thief obtained mercy to be joined with the righteous on the right hand side of the Lord.

As a result of this Bible based truth, those who call the paradise bound thief to be that on the right hand of the Lord may not be wrong after all.

Now, let us turn the searchlight unto yourself. Are you a candidate of the right hand of the Lord? Those two thieves nailed to the cross on the same day with Jesus have got their cases settled with the Lord. How will your case be? Have taken the steps of the thief on the right hand of the Lord? He confessed his sins, witnessed the sinlessness of the Lord Jesus Christ and appealed to the court of His mercy and he was granted mercy. Do you engage in righteous works as appreciated by the Lord in the book of Matthew as stated in the piece?

Stay blessed and prepared for the imminent coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Author is the set man of CTFM(WORLD OUTREACH)and Presiding Pastor of Christ Restland Gospel Church.He is a Poet and author of many books. Visit his blogsites www.4thlink.wordpress.com and www.peacelink.wordpress.com for more quality contents.