THE
TICKET
There
was a certain man who had worked all his life and was ready for a vacation. He
wanted to go to a far away place he had never been before. He thought to
himself; you are a good person, you've helped the poor and took care of the
needy. So you deserve this trip.
He
went to the airport and got in line to get on the plane. In his mind, he felt no
need to buy a ticket because of all the great things he has done for people in
his lifetime. He thought he had earned this trip. As the line got closer and
closer to board the plane, he grew more and more anxious to start enjoying
himself on his journey.
It
came his turn to pass his ticket in and to the amazement of the ticket
collector, he told her he didn't have a ticket because he deserved a free trip.
He
went on to explain what a good person he was, and how he never hurt anyone or
caused anyone any sort of pain, but the ticket collector told him, "you
still need a ticket sir"
He
told her "I have never stolen from anyone, nor cheated anyone in all my
life", but still she stood firm and insisted he could not board the plane
unless a ticket was given to her.
He
said "I have given money to the poor and fed the needy", but still not
being moved the ticket collector said if you want to get on this plane you have
to have a ticket. No exceptions.
The
man was shocked. He walked away with his head held down low and thought to
himself, "I figured if I was a good person, who never hurt anyone and took
care of other people, surely I would be able to get a free ride on the plane,
but I guess I was wrong".
That
is what some people think of Heaven. They think if they are good people, who
never hurt anyone and take care of others, they will get a free ride into
Heaven. But the Bible declares in Ephesians 2: 8-9, "For it is by grace you
have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift
of God; not by works, so that no one can boast."
Salvation
is a free gift through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. No man can buy his way
into Heaven, but Jesus came down to Earth in His own free will to give us
Eternal Life. All we have to do is trust Him by Faith and accept Him into your
heart as your Personal Lord and Savior. He has bought our ticket on the cross,
but it is up to you to claim it.
Here
is how you can receive Christ if you haven't already:
1.Admit
your need (I am a sinner). 2.Be willing to turn from your sins (repent).
3.Believe that Jesus died for you on the Cross and rose from the grave.
4.Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come into your heart and life through
the Holy Spirit. (Receive Him as Lord and Savior.)
Just
pray a pray similar to this one:
Dear
Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that
You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite You to come into
my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. I know
now that I have a ticket to get into Heaven. In Jesus name. Amen.
If
you prayed this prayer, the Bible declares in Romans 10:13
"Everyone
who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved"
Your
sins are forgiven as it declares in Isaiah 1:18
"Come
now, let us reason together," says the LORD.
"Though
your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red
as crimson, they shall be like wool."
You
are a new creature in Christ Jesus as it declares in 2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away;
behold, all things have become new."
This
is just the beginning of a wonderful new life in Christ. To deepen this
relationship you should:
1.
Read your Bible everyday to know Christ better. Start with the Gospel of John.
2.
Talk to God in prayer every day. Bring all your troubles and worries to the
Lord.
3.
Worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is
preached.
4.
Tell others about Christ. Sharing the good news of the Lord is needed now more
than ever in this world full of trouble.
5.
Be Baptized. Baptism is an outward expression of what the Lord has done on the
inside. Baptism symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
(Romans 6:3-4) (Colossians 2:10-13)
May
the Lord bless you in your life with Him.
Please
do pass this on to all you feel led to share it with