Have you ever gotten in your car, on the bus, train or purchased a plane ticket with no destination in mind? Are you even allowed to purchase such tickets? Without a destination in mind it generally means you are going nowhere. Now, I don’t mean the types of drives you take to clear your mind because those are sometimes needed. I’m speaking of aimlessly walking around with no place to go. It’s just like walking around in a circle, all you get is dizzy.
Well living in this world without a definite destination is the exact same way. You’ve heard the saying, “it makes no sense to live in Hell just to die and go to Hell.” But if you haven’t accepted Christ in your life or if you haven’t repented of your sins and kept God’s commandments, then this is surely where you are headed. Don’t get me wrong, you can also be a Christian and headed to Hell. Don’t believe me? Let me show you.
- Matthew 5:22 “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca (worthless), shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”
- Matthew 18:9, “And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.”
- Mark 9:43 “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.”
- John 14:16 “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” No God, no glory!
So you see, just because you say you’re a Christian doesn’t automatically grant you a ticket to Heaven because your actions and your mouth can get CANCELLED stamped right across it.
In John 10:9, Jesus says “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.” Going through Jesus is just like going through a metal detector at the airport. When you get there you have to empty your pockets, put your bags on the scanner and sometimes take off your shoes. If anything is found they feel is questionable or has been prohibited it keeps you from going through. Getting through Jesus is the same way. If, when you get to the gate, you’re still holding on to grudges you’ve had for the past 15 years against momma/daddy; you won’t get through (Ephesians 4:31-32). If, when you get to the gate, your pockets are filled with money and valuables that you’re stolen, you won’t get through (Exodus 20:15). If, when you get to the gates, you’re drunk (& I don’t mean with the Holy Ghost), you won’t get through (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
All these things (and more) keep you from passing through the gates to get to Heaven. But they can all be rectified if you let go and let God. Why are you holding grudges when they only hurt you? Usually the person you’re mad at has forgotten about the issue and has moved on. You’re still mad at the job that fired you 2 years ago instead of moving on to one that God has for you but your eyes can’t see it because all they see is red. You’re still mad at your ex-boyfriend because he wouldn’t have a baby with you but got the next girl pregnant that you can’t see that he is a deadbeat dad. You’re mad at the car dealership because they couldn’t get you approved that you can’t even see that all they sell is lemons. Wake up and loose those strongholds that are keeping you from reaping the benefits of being a child of a King. If your marriage isn’t working and you’re no good spouse continues to cheat, divorce them. If your job is constantly showing you the signs that they may not be open much longer, find a new one! If your friends are never there when you need them but quick to call you in a crisis, find some new ones! If you know you can’t afford the house you’re staying in, move! If the only pleasure your spouse gets is by knocking you upside the head, leave them!
You’re so boggled down with baggage that if you had to go to the airport you’d have $1500 in extra fees. Child, let it go! You can’t expect your new marriage to work if you keep comparing it to the old one. You can’t expect to enjoy your new job if you keep complaining about the old one. You won’t find joy at your new church if you came in messy from your old one. Just because things have happened in your past it doesn’t determine your future. Just because you use to be a drug addict doesn’t make you one now if it’s in the past. Just because you use to be a whoremonger doesn’t make you one now, if it’s in the past. Just because you use to be a thief doesn’t make you one now, if it’s in the past. The past cannot be changed so leave it there. Learn from your mistakes and move on! Repent for your sins and move on! Stop allowing the chains of yesterday to pull you from the peace of today. Stop allowing the devil access to your house. He doesn’t have legs so either you bring him or you let him in. Either way if he is there, put him out. You have to decide to accept the joy that God is handing out because he won’t beg you to take it.
God has already made a destination for you, but it’s up to you to get there. John 14:2-3 says “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” You, and only you, can decide what is stamped on your ticket. It doesn’t matter if you go when folks call if you complain the entire time. If doesn’t matter how much you give if your heart is not pure in your giving. It doesn’t matter how many extra mouths you feed if you brag about it to everyone and it surely doesn’t matter how much money you put in church if you only do it to boast. God doesn’t need you to keep count because his records are always up to date. You need to make sure you’re headed in the right direction in order to get to the right destination because the GPS in the car won’t be of any use to you then. A ticket from Delta won’t be any good on God’s Airline.
Lakisha, the Author 