Kimberly McCarthy was recently executed in Texas for brutally murdering her 71 year old neighbor in 1997. Immediately before she died McCarthy said she was going home to be with Jesus. Is it possible she did, according to the Bible? 
Without doubt her crime was heinous and Kimberly McCarthy herself was a cold-blooded, premeditated murderer in 1997, but could her identity have been changed? Could she really have died with a pure heart, which is needed to see God (Mt. 5:8; Heb. 12:14; Rev. 21:27 cf. 1 Cor. 6:9,10; Rev. 21:8; Eph. 5:5-7)?
McCarthy, 52, was executed for the 1997 robbery, beating and fatal stabbing of retired psychology professor Dorothy Booth. Booth had agreed to give McCarthy a cup of sugar before she was attacked with a butcher knife and candelabra at her home, south of Dallas. Authorities say McCarthy cut off Booth’s finger to remove her wedding ring. It was among three slayings linked to McCarthy, a former nursing home therapist who became addicted to crack cocaine …. In her final statement, McCarthy did not mention her status as the 500th inmate to be executed or acknowledge Booth or her family. “This is not a loss. This is a win. You know where I’m going. I’m going home to be with Jesus. Keep the faith. I love you all,” she said, while looking toward her witnesses — her attorney, her spiritual adviser and her ex-husband, New Black Panther Party founder Aaron Michaels. ( http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/26/texas-protesters-execution/2462013/, bold emphasis mine )
The Dying Repentant Thief
Death bed repentance is taught in Scripture. It is shown by what happened to the dying repentant thief. After he asked Jesus for mercy, he was instantly forgiven and headed for Paradise (Luke 23:40-43)! Based on that passage, perhaps millions have been forgiven during the last couple minutes of their lives. [Some people will be in heaven whom Christians never expected would be there!] Though that is so, that doesn’t mean Kimberly McCarthy was surely going home to be with Jesus, like she said! One must wonder what was the basis of her statement. WHY did Kimberly McCarthy think she was going to heaven, at the end of her life, and not hell for her theft and murder?
Unfortunately, like much of the world, Texas is flooded with the once saved always saved counterfeit gospel. That is where Kimberly McCarthy was placed in prison and probably where she received spiritual counsel. Believe it or not, based on that heretical doctrine, some criminals think they are Christians bound for heaven, if they were ever previously saved! If Kimberly McCarthy didn’t repent of her sins and die with a pure heart, she was deceived and is now in eternal fire. If she died with a pure heart, she did indeed go to be with Jesus. The same holds true for us all! Do you know Jesus NOW?
