Salvation Airlines

There is a ticket and boarding pass waiting for you at the counter. It is for a permanent vacation at the greatest resort, ever. The price is so high that all the people in the world could not collectively buy even just one ticket, but yours is already bought and paid for. And there is one for everyone who asks for one.

The problem is, nobody knows just exactly when the plane leaves, but we think it is very soon. The owner of the resort feels that, if the departure time were posted, a lot of folks would wait until the last minute before they showed up at the airport.

He's probably right, isn't He?

Believe it or not, there are a lot of jerks who want you to skip this vacation, on the grounds that you can have a lot more fun here. They don't tell you just how bad that will be, they just count on you not checking up on their lies.

"As Jesus was leaving the temple grounds, His disciples came along and wanted to take Him on a tour of the various temple buildings. But He told them, 'All these buildings will be knocked down, with not one stone left on top of another!' 'When will this happen?' the disciples asked Him later, as He sat on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. 'What events will signal Your return, and the end of the world?' Jesus told them, 'Don't let anyone fool you. For many will come claiming to be the Messiah, and will lead many astray. When you hear of wars beginning, this does not signal My return, these must come, but the end is not yet. The nations and kingdoms of the earth will rise up against each other and there will be famines and earthquakes in many places. But all this will be only the beginning of the horrors to come. Then you will be tortured and killed and hated all over the world because you are mine, and many of you shall fall back into sin and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and lead many astray. Sin will be rampant everywhere and will cool the love of many. But those enduring to the end shall be saved. And the good news about the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it, and then, finally, the end will come. So when you see the horrible thing told by Daniel the prophet standing in a holy place, then those in Judea must flee into the Judean hills. Those on their porches must not even go inside to pack before they flee. Those in the fields must not return to their homes for their clothes. And woe to pregnant women and those with babies in those days. And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For there will be persecution such as the world has never before seen, and will never see again. In fact, unless those days are shortened, all mankind will perish. But they will be shortened for the sake of God's chosen people. Then if anyone tells you, The Messiah has arrived at such a place, or has appeared here or there, don't believe it. For false Christs shall arise, and false prophets, and will do wonderful miracles, so that if it were possible, even God's chosen ones would be deceived. See, I have warned you.' " (Mat 24:1-25)tlb

We can see that the world is bad. Jesus has warned us that it is going to get worse, much worse!

Do you remember the "Ghostbusters" movie from some years ago? The theme song said, "Don't go out alone, Oh No!" Take Christ with you, in all you do.

Pick up your ticket and boarding pass from Jesus at the counter. It is unbelievably easy; Confess your sins. Believe Christ died for you. Tell others.

Jesus paid the price! Get your ticket on Salvation Airlines!

See you soon at the Paradise Resort!

"And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed. Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." LUKE 22:41-44 kjv

I have been "adopted" by several children. In each case, the kid said something like, "I wish you’d been MY grandpa. Could you, would you, be my grandpa?"

The emotional overload is incredible! My eyes watered up. My heart pounded! A wave of nearly indescribable feeling washed over me! I could not have said "no" to any of them any more than I could have flapped my arms and flown to the moon!

(A by-product of this is that I now understand how important it is to a woman to have someone ask for her hand, in marriage.)

Each of these children occupies a permanent, special place in my heart. Each is the subject of a great deal of prayer-time. I love them all just as if they had actually been my kids or grandkids. In some ways, perhaps a bit more, just because they asked. Because they are neither relatives, nor dependants, I can do nothing for them from a legal standpoint, so I worry about them even more.

When problems arise in their lives, especially because there is absolutely nothing I can do about those problems, it feels as though a tremendous weight has been dropped heavily onto my neck and shoulders. I wish I could take on their burdens. I wish there were some magic button I could push to fix everything instantly, but, of course, there is not. (A good friend once told me that I have the worst case of "White Knight Syndrome" he’s ever seen.)

When all you can do in this world is to hurt for someone you care deeply about, prayer is the first and only answer. Most guys aren’t made this way. We want to grab the problem by the horns, do battle, and emerge victorious!

All of us who are Christians are "adoptees" of Christ. By virtue of our asking Him to be our Saviour, and accepting His sacrifice, we have become His. He loves each and every one of us far more than I ever could any of the children who’ve "adopted" me. I know of no limit as to what I would do to protect any of "my kids," but Jesus did so much more!

What a matchless example of love our God is! Kneeling, praying in the garden, Jesus knew the trouble we would get into. He knew that many would fail and never make it to heaven. He knew the endless pitfalls that Satan has laid out for us, and He knew we would fail Him repeatedly. He still paid the price.

Are we worth it? Any honest person would have to say that not one of us is. Yet, He still paid the price! He carried our load of guilt, took the blame for us, and died in our place!

All you have to do is accept this incredible sacrifice, knowing that sin has made each of us unworthy, but He did it anyway! Then, get out and tell everyone else. God wants us all to be "adopted."

See you soon, in Paradise!