God offers simple directions to heavenly destination

I saw this article in our local newspaper and thought it was cool. I wish I wrote it. I expecially like the part about (1) admit, (2) agree, and (3) accept.



Faith and values: God offers simple directions to heavenly destination
RACHAEL NICAR For The Gazette | Posted: Saturday, April 24, 2010 12:00 am

I can remember as a 7-year-old going to my grandparents’ house for a week.

Mom and Dad bought a ticket, gave me some spending money, put me on a Greyhound bus and told me not to talk to strangers or get off the bus until I saw my grandma out the window. They made it very clear to me that my destiny was Ralls, Texas.

God has done the same for you. He has placed you on a journey. He has a destiny for your life (and you’ll be glad to know it is not Ralls, Texas).

1 Thessalonians 5:9 says, “For God has destined us not for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

According to the Bible, God’s destiny for your life is salvation. Your intended destination is heaven.

God has done exactly what my parents did. He has purchased your passage. He has equipped you for the journey. God loves you so much that he wants you to be with him forever.

The choice, however, is up to you. Even though he stands at the door with ticket paid and pocket money for the trip, many choose to go in directions other than the one God intends. That is the problem.

What is that problem? Our problem? Sin. (We’re on the wrong bus.)

When my parents gave me that ticket and told me which bus to board, I believed them, and I did what they said. I trusted them. I know they loved me, and I knew they knew more than I did. So, I got on board.

There are many buses, each of them promising to take you to happiness. There is the bus of pleasure, of possessions, of power, of passion.

I saw a bus called “party” and got on board. It was full of people laughing and carousing; they seemed to be enjoying a nonstop party. It was quite some time before I learned they had to be loud to cover up all the pain inside.

The word for getting on the bus is “sin.” I’ll go my way instead of God’s way. Right in the middle of the word “sin” is the word “I.” Sin is when we say, I’ll do what I want, no matter what God says.

To board the wrong bus is a serious mistake.

What does God want you to do? He wants you to get on his bus. How is this done? Three simple steps: admit, agree, accept.

1. Admit that God has not been first place in your life and ask him to forgive your sins. “If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.” (1 John 1:9)

2. Agree that Jesus died to pay for your sins and that he rose from the dead and is alive today. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

3. Accept the gift of salvation he offers through grace.

Would you let him save you?

The Rev. Rachael Nicar is drama director at Open Bible Church of Hardin.