Isn't that just like God?!?!?!?!

If you read my post from yesterday, you know that I struggle with my grandparents belief of issue of whether or not you go to heaven immediatly when you die. I gave my spin on things, and tried to provide scripture to back up my basis for believing that you do indeed go to heaven (ONLY if you are a repented, born again, believer in Jesus Christ who is the ONLY one that provides a way to heaven), immediately after death.
Well, today, I feel as though God was speaking to me directly. My pastor, Ryan Whitley, of CrossPoint Church, is doing an entire sermon series on the Glory of God. He is planning on taking the entire year of 2008 to lead us, and to delve into the Glory of God, and as Pastor Whitley puts it, even then, it wouldn't be enough time! Anyway, today's scripture reference, and subject matter revolved around the crucifixion of Jesus, and the two thieves on the cross. (Luke 23:32-38). Our topic revolved around the glory of God being revealed on the cross, but God also used those passages to reveal to me, what I'd been focusing on in the last few days while remembering my Nanny's death. It's found in verse 42 and 43 of Luke 23 when the thief on the cross was pleading to Jesus...
"And he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom'(v 42)
"And He said to him, 'Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.' " (v. 43)
First point...it wasn't a matter of "IF you come into your kingdom", it was WHEN! As my pastor stated, that is one of the greatest statements of faith! He wasn't just going out on a limb that it would happen, he believed it! The crimminal knew that Jesus was on his way to Heaven!
Second point...Jesus told the thief it would be so! v. 43 clearly states the words of Jesus as TRULY I say to you TODAY you will be with me in Paradise....Jesus gave that thief assurance of his salvation on the cross!
There was one more point from Pastor Whitley that I found especially interesting. He addressed the name of Paradise. I've always been curious to whether or not "Paradise" is the same thing as Heaven, or if it preceeded heaven...thus my struggle behind my grandparents belief of noone going to heaven until the day of judgement. Pastor Whitley pointed out that Heaven isn't really Heaven, unless GOD is there! Take these two scriptures and ponder them...
Genesis 2:8-9 "And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. (9)The tree of life was in the midst of the garden..."
And after the fall of man, God drove Adam and Eve out of the garden...the beginning of time began with God in paradise-a garden-with the tree of life...(hold that thought, I'm coming back)
and the end of time will END with God in paradise-a heavenly garden-with the tree of life...Revelation 2:7b, 22:1-2 "To the one who conquers I will grant t oeat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God...Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, through the middle of the street of the city;also, on either side of the river, the tree of life..."
Whatever you may personally believe, I feel that God has shown me what I'd been believing all along to be true....To be absent from the body is to be present with The Lord....and to be present with the Lord is to be in HEAVEN or PARADISE!
Blessings...