Talking about obedience to God's commandments in our time, we believers, so many people used the thief on the cross as an excuse to reject baptism, but Brother Eli also explains why that situation was also unique.
The thief met Jesus in his final moments, already next to the cross. There was no opportunity to obey the commandments of baptism yet the Saviour himself, the giver of the law, personally promised him paradise.
This was an exception, not the standard.
Today we cannot rely on such kind of exception. Christ already gave his clear commands after the resurrection. Which is, go ye therefore baptizing them, but it is not just optional.
Those who want to become to good disciples.
Unlike the thief, we are all given that chance of freedom and time to obey. This message is simple but powerful. If we are to desire salvation, we must follow the right path Christ has established, not to create shortcuts based on those exceptional isolated cases.
Brother Eli explanation you might know is that God's mercy is great, so is his order. The wise choice is not to keep looking for excuses, but to submit to it. The commandment given for our salvation in life.