The Thief’s Last Word: What a Dying Criminal Teaches Us About Grace, Forgiveness, and the God Who Breaks the Rules

One final breath. One desperate plea. One God who answers with paradise.
He had no time left, no prayers memorized, and no second chances to prove himself. Yet in his dying moments, a thief whispered a request — and Jesus responded with a promise: “Today you will be with Me in paradise.”
The Thief’s Last Word invites you into one of the most radical moments of grace in all of Scripture. Through raw honesty and deep spiritual reflection, Joshua Schmidt explores what this encounter reveals about God’s heart: a love that shatters rules, erases shame, and opens the door of belonging to anyone willing to believe.
Whether you’ve been burned by religion, haunted by failure, or are simply searching for hope that feels real, this book will guide you past the weight of performance and into the freedom of grace. The thief’s story is your story — proof that God’s love is wide enough, deep enough, and strong enough to meet you exactly where you are.
In this book, you will:

• Step into the thief’s encounter with Jesus and discover the power of unearned grace.
• Find freedom from shame, striving, and spiritual exhaustion.
• Reimagine a faith built on belonging, forgiveness, and hope instead of fear and judgment.

Perfect for personal reading, small groups, or anyone longing to encounter God’s heart in a deeper way, The Thief’s Last Word is an invitation to believe that paradise doesn’t begin someday — it begins now.