Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
We were on our way! It was a two day road trip to my husband’s brother overnight, then the next day to our son’s home overnight. Both are in the Philly area, about two hours south of here. A beautiful day, great plan and lovely company made this a pleasant spring trip…until! Well, we usually go on the turnpike and we have even gone since the pandemic, but we took back roads this time. More scenic, leisurely, less traffic and breezy. Just one problem-where do we stop if needed? And, I always need to stop for a rest room in a two hour trip! My husband assured me there were fast food restaurants we would stop at when needed. I was reassured.
About an hour into the trip I told my husband we better start looking for a restaurant. No problem. Pretty soon we see the sign of the ‘yellow arches’ and I begin looking forward to a stop and a coffee. Not so fast! We go in, but the rest rooms are not open since covid! Nooooo! OK, well, no coffee either. I was still fine, for now. Next the King of burgers stop. “Sorry, rest rooms are not open to the public” came the response to my more desperate plea. “But I am getting desperate” I replied. “The entire city of Easton is closed to the public, it is only take out”. I heard the woman say. Now, what do we do?
We drove by several places that I did not even want to walk into, let alone use. We kept driving right out of Easton and into the next small town and finally saw a Turkey! Yeah for turkey. I asked my husband to check it out before I got my hopes up. Sure enough, third time was the charm. Clean well stocked rest rooms, and good coffee!
There really is a point to this story. Sometimes we don’t even think about our ‘next stop’ on this road trip called LIFE. We are facing our own mortality and often don’t give it much thought…until! Until we may be faced with an emergency, or an illness, or an accident. Then we begin wondering where are we going to stop-for good? There are several examples in scripture that talk about just that! Remember Noah? He warned the people-they laughed. He built a safe haven-they mocked. He invited them in, but it was not until it was to late and their desperation was causing them to float in the water. Then they finally cried out to Noah. But it was too late! They were left behind. Genesis 7:16 16The animals going in were male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the LORD shut him in.
How about the wise and foolish virgins? Some prepared, some did not, but the unprepared tried to ride in with the charity of the others to give them oil. Didn’t happen, they missed the wedding because they were not prepared. There are no ‘coat tail grabbing’ Christians in Heaven. Matthew 25:10“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
Or, maybe you think you will have time to change your mind. The thief on the cross did, after all. Well, that’s not something you can count on when you are talking about your eternal destination. Remember the rich man who cried out to the poor Lazarus…’go tell my brothers about this horrific place!’ So, sorry, too late! The gap between Heaven and Hell cannot be crossed over. Luke 16:24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
Once I finally knew there was a rest room open, I was very relieved. If you are in an unsettled place in your life right now, you are just not sure if the door to Heaven will be open to you, just imagine that feeling of relief knowing your future destination is settled. The deed is signed and filed. Your home in Heaven is being prepared for you. Your initials are on the door. It can be so easy to make that reservation. It’s as easy as A,B,C.
A…Accept the fact that Jesus took the penalty for your sin when He went to the cross.
B…Believe that He is a personal God, and died for YOU!
C…Confess all of your sins, and receive Him as your Lord and Savior.
Now, you have found the relief you have looked for all your life. The door to Heaven is opened wide for your entrance, your name is in the ‘Book of Life’. No pandemic will close these doors on you. Aghhhhhhh….. now doesn’t that feel better?
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