Travel Restrictions

“You can’t take it with you” was never truer than today.

Since September 11, 2001, things once considered harmless can no longer go anywhere near a commercial airplane. Anyone flying since that fateful day is very familiar with the new travel restrictions!

It took me a while to get used to the new reality. In November of 2001 I flew to Arizona with my family to spend Thanksgiving with relatives. Going through airport security, I forgot I was carrying a penknife in my pocket. Suddenly that small knife was enough to keep me off the plane. How could I be so dumb? They could have arrested me on the spot!

Thankfully I was allowed to throw it away and board the plane.

One day we all hope to successfully travel to our final destination. Are you aware that God has “travel restrictions” on what you can bring to Heaven?

Well, hold on just a minute! How can there be travel restrictions for Heaven? --Because the Bible tells us God is a holy God and he cannot permit sin in his presence.

“Holy” means God is clean, pure and separated above all other beings and there is no other god like him. It means his character is totally good and entirely without evil.

The Bible says, “Without holiness, no one will see the Lord.” Do you meet the standard? Like the penknife I carry, we’re so used to our sins we forget they’re in our spiritual “pockets.” And even “small” sins will keep us from holiness and Heaven. --Now that’s a travel restriction!

Many people believe the way to get to Heaven is by doing more good things than bad in this life. And when they meet God, they hope the good deeds will outweigh the bad.

But there’s a big problem with that view. The Bible says that all of our good works are like filthy rags in God’s sight. Nothing we do even comes close to his standard. Only perfection makes it into Heaven. And perfection is humanly impossible. You know it and so do I.

Thankfully God is not only holy but he is also a God of love.

Because of his great love for us, the Bible says that God sent his only son, Jesus, to solve our sin problem. Jesus made a way for us to have fellowship with God now and then live with him forever. His perfect life on earth and his death in our place on the cross makes it possible for God to forgive us. The resurrection proved his power to conquer sin’s eternal death penalty.

Before Jesus came, sin was enough to keep us out of Heaven and God’s presence. But since Jesus’ death paid for our sin, the only thing standing between God and us is Jesus Christ.

The Bible says God forgives the sin of whoever accepts Jesus as their personal Savior. They share in his holiness. However, the Bible is just as clear that those who will not believe in Christ still stand condemned because of their unbelief. Their sin is not forgiven.

It’s sad to think that many people will miss Heaven by five letters:
J-E-S-U-S.

For some reason they just can’t bring themselves to accept the Jesus of the Bible. They won’t trust him.

With the summer vacation season upon us, airline travelers need to be aware of travel restrictions before flying. But since any day could be the day of your trip to eternity, think about God’s travel restrictions (and Jesus’ solution) before it’s too late.

Remember--someone tougher than the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) will be doing the pre-flight inspection of your “baggage” before you’re cleared for Heaven. The Bible says that Jesus Christ is The Judge of the living and the dead. He is also our Savior.

Listen to the Bible; it’s good for your soul!