Illustration “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".
Luke 18:18-23 A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" [19] "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. [20] You know the commandments: ’Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’" [21] "All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said. [22] When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." [23] When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.
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:
1. Admit your sinful ways and desire to turn from them and be delivered from the judgment they bring.
Romans 3:10 as it is written, "There is none righteous, not even one;
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Acts 3:19 "Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;
2. Acknowledge what Christ did on the cross by virtue of His resurrection
1 Cor. 15:3-4 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies,
3. Receive Him as the only means of eternal life
But the bible clearly says,
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."
1 Tim. 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved."
Conclusion:
A little boy worked side by side with his father learning how to build a tiny boat. Later the young builder sat next to the lake on their farm and clapped with glee as he launched the boat and it floated. One big push, however, sent the boat out of the boy’s reach and he sadly watched it sail out of sight. The father promised to take him to a nearby town to buy an even better boat.
The next day, the little boy looked in the window of a small pawnshop and exclaimed, "That’s my boat!" Upon approaching the shop owner, the child was told he must pay for the boat, and he reluctantly gave a few coins to the man. The lad clutched his boat and said, "You belong to me twice. Once ’cause I made you. And twice ’cause I bought you back." God was prepared to pay whatever price to buy us back. And He did. Paid in full.... "It is finished." [John 19:30]
Prayer Just pray a prayer 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.
