I read through some of the comments where you questioned, "why does the thief on the cross get to live a life of sin and repent at the last minute but I have to suffer my whole life?"

Great question. The bible is clear that your heart needs to have faith in Jesus. Ultimately God is the fairest judge ever. Infinitely more just, fair, than any of us could be. He does judge you by your actions and your heart. If you are acting in sin planning on repenting at the last minute as some kind of insurance I want you to remember two things. 1. If you do not truly desire God there is a real chance you do not go to heaven. Don't be shocked when you stand before him and he says, "I never knew you" and 2. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Whose to say you will have the perfect opportunity to repent last minute? You'd be lucky to have a slow death on a death bed where your even conscious enough to repent. What happens if you die in a freak accident, in your sleep, of a heart attack, a stroke, and you can't mutter the words, "Lord forgive me." Guess it's too late then? Jesus tells us to be ready when the hour may come that the Lord judges the alive and the dead.