Wednesday evening – How do we put that in perspective? We thought we had a plan. We were taking the youth to the Real Life Church in Macon to their Judgement House presentation called “the METH Effect”. I had called earlier in the week to try to make a reservation and was told that the earliest available was 8:45. When I expressed my concern over how late that would make the evening for the school kids the work adults, the lady on the line suggest we just show up early and they would fit us in as quickly as they could. That sounded like a workable solution. Max and Toni arranged their work schedules to start gathering kids beginning at 5:30. We traversed the town of Hawkinsville multiple times to eventually end up with a jam packed van full of folks – 14 in all. We then made the quiet, serene trip to Macon. And then the church came into view. It was large, it was impressive, it was welcoming. Perhaps too welcoming. As we pulled into the parking area we found a sea of people who obviously arrived before we did. After filling out registration cards we stood, and we stood, and we stood. Every 15 minutes 25 people were allowed in to view the presentation. After waiting for the first 10 groups to be called, I inquired where we fit into the scheme of things to get an idea of how long it might be before we would be called. After some lengthy research we found out some of us might get called in group number 15. That meant at least an hour and a half out in the cold before gaining entrance and then going through the presentation. That added up to getting out at 11:00 at the earliest. We then would still have to find a place to feed the kids and drive back to Hawkinsville. I went back to the registration desk and with drew our names from the list. I suppose you would agree with me it was not our finest hour. So why bring it up this morning and have us relive it. Because I feel there are important lessons to be learned from:
The Failed Journey
Though our intentions were good – we could not get in because we did not have the right credentials
Alexandra Flynn of Fremont, Nebraska, was looking forward to the 2002 homecoming dance. She left home in high spirits, but she did not have her high school ID with her. When the man at the door refused her admission without her ID, she went home to get it. Unable to find it, her mother went with her back to the dance to identify her and to explain. Again, the daughter was refused admission without the ID. Alex had the tickets in her hand but still was not admitted. Even though Alexandra Flynn of Freemont High is Student Body President, plays cello in the Allstate orchestra, is on the Honor Roll, is the school’s number one cheerleader, and she spent hours decorating the gym for the Homecoming Dance, she was still not admitted.
Did I mention she was homecoming queen?
But, she never did get in.
>>In a similar way, getting into heaven isn’t a matter of our good deeds and accomplishments. Without Jesus Christ, we have no ID to get into heaven.
Mt 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Mt 7:22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Mt 7:23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
The Message Matt 7:13-14
“Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in you spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life – to God!-is vigorous and requires total attention.”
Matt 7:21-23 “Knowing the correct password – saying Master, Master for instance-isn’t going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience-doing what my Father wills. I can see it now- at the Final Judgement thousands strutting up to me and saying “Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, out God-sponsored projects had everyone talking. And do know what I am going to say? You missed the boat. All you did was use to me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.”
In John 10 Jesus spoke of the right way to gain entrance – through the gate. He said anyone who tries to gain entrance any other way is a thief and a robber.
Though we had made the journey – we fell short of our actual goal – I heard somewhere that getting there is half the fun. I remember in one the family vacation movies that stars Chevy Chase where they travel cross country in a station wagon. The main character called Clark Griswald has just driven several thousand miles and is standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon. He takes a brief look, nods his head as if to say well I can check that off my list and proceeds to walk away and leave. I have watched as some of you have played basketball. You take aim at the basket (that’s like making the plan to take the trip); you shoot (that’s the journey or the trip), now comes the crucial part – the ball either goes into the hoop and down through the basket or it doesn’t. It does not matter if the ball hits the rim or maybe even rolls around the rim, if it does not drop through, it does not count, it nullifies the planning and the trip because nothing happened. SIN! Just the very word makes us uncomfortable. What does it mean? It simply means “missing the mark”. Romans 3:22-24 says Ro 3:22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,
Ro 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Ro 3:24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. The word all means everybody has sinned and they have fallen short. It does not matter how hard you try – you can take shot after shot at living a life where you try to be good enough – unless you have put your faith in Jesus Christ you will fall short of God’s glory.
Though we had paid a price – it was insufficient to influence the outcome – When I turned in the registration forms I paid the entry fee. If I try to gain entry into heaven using my own resources I am trying to use my own righteousness to get in and it will not work.
Though we were at the place of entry – access was not allowed. We did find out were the church was located and went directly there. The old saying “so near yet so far” comes to mind. There is a story of a woman driving through Oregon over the Cascade Range who ran into a snowstorm and became very frightened. She peered ahead and saw a snowplow. What luck, she thought! She kept as close to the machine as she could will it removed snow from the surface providing her with a smooth clear path. At times the heavy snowfall almost cut off her view, but her faithful guide kept on leading the way. After some time, the plow stopped, and it’s driver got out and walked over to her car. “Lady, where are you going?” he asked. “I’m on my way to Central Oregon” she replied. Well, you’ll never get there following me while I’m plowing this parking lot.
Though we started early – we missed out – some did not have as far to travel, some left home earlier and arrived ahead of us, some even arrived after us but got in because they had a reservation – the people in charge where not interested in the time we had left, all that mattered was what time did we arrive.
Though we endured discomfort – it did not change the outcome
I want you to close your eyes. I want you to imagine an old van – rather noisy all by itself – now I want you to think of it filled with 14 people – 11 of them teenagers. I want you to imagine peace and quiet – that’s the beauty of you doing it in your imagination – you can find a quiet place – in the real van ride there was neither peace or quiet. And canned sardines have more space to move around than the kids. And of course some were hot, some were cold. And then there were the three levels of chaos – NOISY, NOSIER, NOSIEST.
You would think after enduring a ride like that we would have been given special consideration, but that was not the case.
Gaining entrance to heaven is the same way. It does not matter whether life’s journey is an easy one or a hard one – we can only gain access through Jesus Christ
Jn 14:5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jn 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jn 14:7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him
I’m sure most of you remember the story Alice in Wonderland. In the story she encounters the Cheshire Cat and says to the cat “would you tell me please which way I ought to go from here”. The cat responds “That depends a great deal on where you want to go” Alice replies “Oh, I don’t much care.” To which the cat responds “then it really doesn’t matter which way you go.”
Though the journey may be fun for some – getting in was the real goal – Some people live their entire lives in pursuit of a good time, never giving thought to where their final destination is. In my lifetime I have taken a lot of trips. I have stopped at various hotels and restaurants. And of course especially when my kids where small there lots of stops at gas stations and rest areas for bathroom breaks. What is interesting is I really don’t remember any of those places. Why? They were never my destination, they were just places that made the journey to our ultimate destination a bit easier. As we consider this journey called life we are on, we must not be distracted by houses and buildings and careers, and entertainment, and forget that this place is not our home. We are just passing through. Jesus is preparing a better place for us, and one day He will come and take us there; but while we’re here, He’s left us with a mission. That is to help others prepare for the trip as well. We must commit ourselves to that mission.
While the outcome of the trip that we took on Wednesday was disappointing there is a trip that is far more important. There will come a day when you will stand before God to determine whether you will be allowed entrance into heaven. The only acceptable credential to gain you access into heaven is that you have placed your hope and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, you have admitted to God that you have missed the mark and have asked Jesus to be your Lord and your Savior.
