The Thief who obtained Salvation

As a beautiful example of rewards accumulating over time after a person's death, is the Thief on the Cross who asked Jesus Christ on the Cross to remember him when Jesus Christ comes into His Kingdom.  Jesus Christ told the thief that on that very day that the thief would be with Him in Paradise.  Ever since that event, there have been people who were near death or even living debaucheries lives who remember the story of the thief where they also gave their life to Jesus Christ unto their Salvation. 

The thief, since that time on the cross has been earning future payments of rewards because of the action, deed and words spoken to our Savior Jesus Christ.  The final tally of those who had part of their inspiration because of the thief will not be known until the time of the end.  Of course we all know that it is impossible for all of us to accept Jesus Christ if God did not initiate the process with us.

* As a sub-note, the Thief did not have time to be water baptized or speak-in-tongues to be Saved, which proves the incorrect assertion by some uninformed Christians who have been incorrectly stating that water baptisms or speaking in tongues is required for Salvation.  Neither being water baptized or speak-in-tongues is required for Salvation

Can this apply to us?

There are many of us who in a simple action, that gave a testimony of Jesus Christ, may have been the witness, through the Holy Spirit, that gave someone the thought to become a Christian.  As an analogy in the theoretical concept called the "Butterfly Effect", popularized in many books and movies, where a small incident can make a larger difference.  We all never know if our Christian actions and words will be the start or the only Scripture that someone may hear or see which leads them to Salvation. 

The Thief on the Cross, was not thinking about any destiny other than the impending death and could not have known the far-reaching implications of his actions being a testimony until the end of times.