Dying Thief or Living Thief? - Sign Of The Times

On 2009  a Signs of the Times author wrote a short reflection about the thief who died on a cross next to Jesus.

A man was once asked, "Are you a believer in the Christian religion?"
"Oh, certainly!"the man replied.
"You are a member of some church, then, I suppose?" his questioner asked.
"No, indeed. Why should I join a church? the dying thief wasn't a member of a church, and he will be in heaven."
"But of course you have been baptized."
"Oh, no. I am as safe as the dying thief was,
he never was baptized."
"But since you will not join a church or be baptized, you will give of your means to help others in some way?"
"Of course not! The dying thief____"
The friend interrupted, "Let me remark that you seem to be on pretty intimate terms with the dying thief. You derive a great deal of consolation from his career. But there is one important difference between you and him. He was a dying thief. You are a living one."