“The Ticket”

These past days I have sat with a number of people and point blank asked them if they are going to Heaven.  Three reported that they thought so and one said he was not sure.

To the one reporting not sure, I gave him this illustration:

If I come to your door, as the owner, you are the one who controls the door allowing me entrance.  Such is true of Heaven – God owns and God controls the entrance.  So, if I show up seeking entrance and God says, “Why should I let you in?” and I say:

1. I served others more than myself.

2. I made regular gifts to my church.

3. I was a faithful church member.

4. I was a good person.

5. or…

To each, God will say, “Entrance denied!”

Why?  Because God, the owner and the doorkeeper, has declared that entrance is only to those who have “the ticket.”  And “the ticket” can only be acquired from Him BEFORE coming to the door seeking entrance.

And the price?  For the one seeking entrance, nothing!  That is, nothing material or by works of goodness, kindness, sacrifice or other.  “The ticket” is readily given to those who agree with God about their selfishness, rebellion, and multiple sins: sins such as greed, lust, coveting, lying, anger and disobedience to parents.  “The ticket” is offered to those who are sorry for their sins and ask God to forgive them.

Furthermore, those who want “the ticket” agree that Jesus paid their sin debt while dying on the cross for which they are deeply thankful.  They ask that Jesus accept them into His family and  they desire that He be their master forward.

For those who are honest about their sin and accept Jesus as their Savior, they are given “the ticket.”

So, when “the ticket” holder stands at Heaven’s door seeking entrance, they will be promptly ushered into God’s perfect, glorious, and happy world.

So, do you have “the ticket”?

Are you saved based on God’s terms?

Do you realize that no deeds or words or suffering or heritage will open Heaven’s door other than on God’s terms?  That is, not a church’s terms, not on grandmother’s terms, not on the preacher’s terms, or on those of a best friend.  Only God’s terms work, which are admitting and hating your sins, acknowledging Jesus’ love and payment of those sins, and asking Jesus to forgive and take control of your life.

Again, do you have “the ticket”?

Titus 3:5-7  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved
us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.