Ticket to Hell?

How many of you have ever gotten a speeding ticket? You know what happens: a cop with nothing better to do--it is his job, you know--is just sitting alongside the road just waiting. Because he knows what's coming around the bend. Eventually.

It never fails him, some idiot doing more than ten over the posted speed limit comes whizzing by. Never mind that many people have radar jammers/sensors/detectors--the cops always have a way around it, and the culprit--this time you--gets nailed for a $100-$200 fine. And a court date.

Well, wouldn't you know it, God has put a traffic cop in your life. Only this guy isn't waiting around the bend for you--he's in your head. And he doesn't just occasionally catch you in a traffic violation (let's face it: for every ticket we gtet, we've probably done it 100 times). He sees every time that you lie, steal, hate, lust, curse, blaspheme, covet, worship idols, refuse to consult God, refuse to thank God, etc. And he rights a ticket for every violation.

That's why you feel guilty when you do something wrong--your conscience has just written you a ticket with a court date on it, and a terrible fine: eternal damnation.

Did you know that lying gets you a fine of eternal damnation--on the first offence?

It's true. Revelation 21:8 says, "[A]nd all liars shall have their part in the Lake which burns with Fire and Brimstone, which is the second death."


Same with stealing (1 Corinthians 6:9-10), lust (which Jesus said is adultery--Matthew 5:27-30), divorce (Matthew 5:31-32; 19:4-10), hatred (which is murder in God's eyes--1 John 3:15--and includes name-calling and cursing--Matthew 5:21-26), murder (which includes abortion), etc.

Have you ever had someone pay a traffic ticket for you? Felt good, didn't it? Or it would feel good, if it hasn't happened yet. How would you (or did you) feel toward the person who paid your $200 fine for you?

How should you then feel toward the Person who volunteered to pay your eternal damnation fines? That is what Jesus did when He died on the cross almost 2000 years ago. Jesus was punished for the sins of the whole world, even though He had never sinned Himself (because God can't sin, and Jesus is God in the flesh).

So, if you are truly grateful, then this is what you should do: repent. That's right, turn away from your sins. Don't just say, "Oh, God, I'm a sinner"--make sin your mortal enemy! Flee from it! Cut off relationships that would hinder a holy life! Be willing to lose friends, jobs, family members, and other comforts--because that's what it costs to walk in Righteousness with Him (Luke 14:25-33).

Then start praying for your friends. As long as they are still breathing, it is not too late for them to do the same. Pray that God doesn't lose patience with them, just as He has shown so much mercy to you. Then read your Bible every day, and obey what you read. And find a good, Bible-living church (lots of churches say they believe the Bible--do they live it?), where you can get help in your Christian walk.

And may God bless you.