I believe that short of dying and going to Heaven, you can’t get much closer to God than flying in a plane. There are two reasons this comes to mind. First, every time I’ve flown—all of twice—I have been relatively certain I was going to die. In addition, both times I have been lucky enough to get a window seat, where I can sit peacefully; staring through the window, at an azure blue sky that I know only my God could create. The second reason, for the most part, supersedes the first. Someone once told me to try Dramamine, said it would calm my stomach. Yeah, that’s the ticket. I suppose it would be terribly rude of me to projectile vomit on the unsuspecting, elderly passenger, whose sitting in front of me, as we’re crashing into the side of a mountain or plunging into the ocean. Honestly, once you get beyond take-off, it’s not that bad.
The seat belt light above you goes out, and the captain gives you the green light to move freely about the plane. It truly is the best way to travel. When I consider my epiphany that flying the friendly skies is the safest and simplest path to reach one’s destination, I’m reminded of what Jesus said about the path to Heaven. Ask ten different people how to get to Heaven, and you’re likely to get ten different explanations. You only need one clarification. Jesus tells us, “I am the way, the truth, and the light. No man cometh unto the Father but by me.” That’s about as direct as it gets. Consider those last three, powerful, resolute, words: but by me. If we believe God is our Heavenly Father, He lives in Heaven, and we want to go to Heaven, The Bible tells us there’s only one way to get there, through Jesus.
We can’t join the choir and sing our way to Heaven. If that were the case, I would be doomed. God tells us to make a joyful noise unto the Lord. Right! Noise, I got it. Joyful, well, that’s stretching it a bit. Ever been in five square feet of a cat in the throes of labor? Enough said. No amount of cash, stocks, or bonds will buy us a ticket inside the pearly gates. It doesn’t matter how much you drop in the collection plate at church. Every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday evening, you’re sitting faithfully in the pew. I’ll say this, you’re a more faithful Christian than I, but that still won’t get you to Heaven. What exactly do we have to do to get into Heaven? That’s the point; we can’t “do our way into Heaven.” Now that we’ve talked about all the ways we can’t get to Heaven,. let me give you the inside scoop. There’s no singular group or denomination that God has chosen exclusively to go to Heaven, while the rest of us are doomed. God is no respecter of persons. Preachers have just as much prospect of being hell bound as drug dealers. Check your Bible. It’s all right there in black, white, and red.
I still have a white-knuckle grip on the armrests, until I hear Captain Kirk say, “Ok, doesn’t look like we’re gonna crash.” “Ya’ll can go potty now.” I still believe flying is the safest and most direct way to reach my destination. Having the assurance that God has forgiven your sins and saved your soul is just the tip of the ‘Christian iceberg’. Find a church and congregation that embrace you for who you are and a preacher who brings the Word of God from the King James Version Bible. Once you certain that God has placed you in the church He wants you, be prepared to serve.
There are several ways in which we can serve the Lord. It pleases Him, when we step out in faith and offer ourselves as servants of the Gospel of Christ, but be on guard! It’s no stroll down Easy Street. Satan is going to pull out all the stops in an effort to discourage and hinder you.
Do not give up! Serve God with all your heart and soul, and for the right reasons. If you’re dusting pews, hoping to polish your way to Heaven’s gates, you’re in for an eternity of disappointment. God does not play favorites. There are no first, second, or third places, depending on how often or how long we served the Lord, while here on Earth. It is about the state of our hearts. Are you serving God? If not, why? Are you serving Him with no ulterior motives? Working for our Heavenly Father is about attitude and gratitude. The Bible tells us to prove our faith in Christ by our works. In the book of James, we read that our faith without works is dead. That’s powerful stuff. What God is saying to us is if we accept Christ as our Savior and place our faith in Him but do nothing for Him, our faith is pointless. James challenges us, “show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”
Our faith in Christ goes well beyond a one-time prayer, making a beeline to the closest church, and holding down a pew, until the Lord returns. If that’s your game plan, accept Christ as your Savior and then merely ride through life, waiting for Christ to swing down one day and grab ya, you’re in for a long and bumpy ride. Don’t be too surprised if the ride ends, shall we say, ‘a little farther south’ than where you planned. Bear in mind, there’s no do-overs. We don’t get to take this ride of life twice. Sadly, there will be countless individuals who will face the Lord and say, “God this can’t be right.” “I did this, that, or the other, all in your name.” Trust me, that’s one ‘in crowd’ in which you do not want to be a member; the ones whose lives end in the eternal lake or fire.
Pew Ride to Hell
Attending church, singing, tithing, do not a Christian make.
You may fool the preacher, the elders, and the membership.
God sees the void in your soul; He knows that you’re a fake.
He knows your true heart, as praises rise from your lips.
If you succeed, convince the world you are saved by grace,
What’ll you do, when time is up, and it’s Judgment Day?
What’ll you say to God, standing before him, face to face?
Think you’ll convince him too, or will He turn you away?
The Lord speaks, “depart thou from me; I never knew thee.”
Nothing to say; you knew all along your soul was depraved.
Christ paid your sin debt in full; His salvation is wholly free.
Your chance is lost, as are you. Your soul will ne’er be saved.
