Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Nobody has to get their life in order before coming to God. Plenty of people quietly assume otherwise, especially while faith is still more of a question than a home. The idea is to sort a few things out first, become a steadier and kinder person, and then knock on the door.