I heard a song that described life as a train trip
which begins when you’re born and ends when you die. In other words, the whole trip was rather
depressing, for life never really had any purpose, was without design, had no
lasting effect, and ended abruptly at some desolate dumping off ground of none
existence. Like a blip in time, the life
that once was, was ended as quickly as it began, like a blade of grass that
springs up, withers and dies. According
to that song, each traveler on this train dies, and his whole life’s journey
was in vain. What a sad and awful
thought! It brings to my mind the title
of another song, “Is that all there is?”
Life can be typified as such a journey, but it doesn’t have to be, nor
was it ever meant to be.
Life was never meant to be lived so aimlessly, without
purpose, design, or direction. Every man
is given a choice as to how he will live his life, both his temporary life on
earth, and his eternal life, which will be lived either in the revelation of
new life, or in the death of hell. There
is but One who has known each of us even before we were conceived in our
mother’s womb; that One of course is the Almighty Lord our God, Creator of all
things both seen and unseen. Being made
in His image, it was always His plan that we should live life in a personal and
loving relationship with Him, knowing only good, and not evil. He knows the beginning from the end, and
everything in between. He has designed
us uniquely, with a purpose for each of our lives that no one else can fulfill. He has a plan meant for our well being, and
not for our harm.
Since the fall of man, this relationship has depended upon
our own, given by God, freewill choice, either to make Him Lord of our life, or
to live apart from Him, denying His Lordship in order to follow the selfish
desires of our own heart. It has to be
one way or the other, for there can not be two masters in one’s life. Either we will serve Him, or we will serve
our own self centered desires. Like the
word says, a house divided can not stand. (Mark 3:25 )
If we are to continue this story of life, as if it were a
journey on a train, we must first decide if we are going to receive the
required ticket that was bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus, or if we
want to attempt to pay for the ticket ourselves, trusting in our own works,
deeds, and efforts. Many choose the
“good deeds” ticket, not understanding that it is both faulty and completely
insufficient. No matter how many good deeds one does, it is never enough to
take you from one station to the next, much less to your final destination in
the world to come. You see your “good deeds” are of no eternal effect unless
they are validated by the blood stained ticket, the only one that is stamped
“paid in full” by Jesus, the Lamb of God.
It also lacks the seal of the King’s righteousness which guarantees safe
passage over and through every border, foreign land, or area of danger and
disaster. Without the seal of the King
of King’s righteousness, no one can gain acceptance into the Kingdom of God
There is only one ticket per person which has been purchased
by the grace of God, imprinted with your name, stamped “paid in full,” bearing
the precious blood of Jesus, and embossed with the seal of the righteousness of
the King of Kings. Only it can grant you
the gift of the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is He who will lead and guide you into all
truth throughout your life’s journey, guaranteeing your safe arrival and
acceptance into your eternal home in the new earth with God. No, this ticket can not be earned by you or
me. It is a free gift, granted by the
grace of our loving and merciful Heavenly Father, who so loved us that He sent
His only Son to live and die, to take upon Himself all our sins, paying in full
the sin debt of whomever would believe on Him, and who repents and confesses
Him as Savior and Lord. This ticket is
not received as a reward for any works that you or I have done, but strictly upon
faith in the works that Christ alone has done.
This prepaid ticket offers many benefits, one being the
forgiveness of all sins: past, present, and future. Who could refuse to accept such a gift? Unfortunately, many have received the
delusion and lie that they are basically good, and that they can change for the
better, by their own efforts, both themselves and the world. This is exactly the lie that Satan wants us
to believe that he may have dominion over us.
How quickly man forgets that only God is good. “.. Jesus answered, ‘no one is good -- except
God alone.’” (Luke 18: 19 NIV) Does this
mean that, once we have been born again, we are then entitled to live life
continuing in the practice of sin? Far
be it! “Knowing this, that our old man
[our old sin nature] was crucified with Him [Jesus], that the body of sin might
be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.” (Romans 6: 6
NKJV) If we should find ourselves
willfully and purposely practicing sin, it is a sign that we must reevaluate
our faith, and reevaluate if we have ever truly accepted Christ as our personal
Savior and Lord. If you are caught in
such a dilemma, I strongly encourage you to read and reconsider the truth of Romans
chapter 6 to reassess your present relationship with the Lord.
God offers each of us this free and unique ticket, giving
us the privilege to be born again as a child of God. He has promised us that He will be our God,
and that we may be His people, consecrated unto Him, and bound together by
cords of love that can not be broken. He
promises to sanctify and justify us. He
is the one who qualifies us, not we ourselves.
It’s a two way covenant in which He promises to protect, direct and care
for us; we promise to trust in Him and obey Him, knowing that He alone knows
and wants that which is for our best.
On the Cross, He gained the victory for us over Satan and
his minions. He broke the chains of sin
and death. He knows of our frailties,
our tendencies to sin, and that we are involved in spiritual warfare as long as
we are here on earth. The privilege of
going before His thrown of grace to repent and ask forgiveness for our sins is never
a closed door to us. Even our obedience
unto Him is a gift of God, for it is He who, through the power of the Holy
Spirit and the truth of His word, provides us both the will and the ability to
do that which is pleasing in His sight. (Phlp. 2: 13) It is written: “Not by might, nor by power,
but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 4: 6)
God does not leave us naked, unclothed, or unprepared for
this journey, but provides for us the full armor of God, against which nothing
can prevail. “Put on the full armour of
God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness
of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of
God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to
stand. Stand therefore, having your
loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all,
taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery
darts of the wicked. And take the helmet
of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Praying always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and
supplication for all saints.” (Eph. 6:
11 - 18)
As children of God, His banner over us is love. His love incorporates within it mercy, grace,
forgiveness, and so much more. Since He
is a loving and just God, His compassion for us is also balanced and made
complete through His judgment, or chastisement and discipline. One without the other can not have its
eternal saving influence and effect of transforming us into His image.
The analogy of the journey of the train of life, for which
the ticket is purchased by the blood of Christ, and received by the Believer,
who has trusted in and is obedient unto Him, can not possibly explain or
completely express how this blood stained ticket keeps on giving and giving
throughout one’s life. This journey
through life, with the security that only faith in Jesus can provide, is an
unfolding mystery, for our finite minds can never totally understand the
infinite mind of Christ, our Savior and Lord.
But this I know, it is the greatest privilege on earth afforded unto man
to receive by faith the Lord Jesus as Savior and Lord; to praise, glorify, and
magnify His name forever and ever, and to be indwelt by His Holy Spirit, for He
is the appointed Conductor of our faith journey.
Am I saying that good works have no place in this
journey? Far be it! Those good deeds that I do are an outpouring
of the heart towards the Christ who has saved and made me whole in Him. I can’t even take the credit or boast about
them, for even they are a sign of the work that He has begun in me, and
continues to do until He takes me home. (Philp. 1: 6) Any
good deeds that I do are to be laid at the feet of Jesus, for only He deserves
all the praise, glory, and honor, and NOT
myself. “For it is by grace you have
been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of
God—not by works so that no one can boast.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
(Eph. 2: 8 – 10) These are the fruits of
the Holy Spirit, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given unto the believers
for the building up and growing up of the individual, and the whole church as
the body of Christ on earth. (I Cor. 12)
I assure you that what
He’s done for me, He will also do for you.
The journey through life on this train is neither depressing nor
hopeless, for our HOPE is in the Lord Jesus Christ who was dead, buried, but
arose from the dead. His ascension into
heaven was witnessed by multitudes. He
sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. He has promised that as He is, so shall we be
glorified, on that destined day of resurrection.
I urge and encourage all of you, who may be stuck on the
train that leads only to Hell and eternal separation from God, to turn your
heart unto the Lord Jesus Christ.
Through faith, receive the free gift of the blood stained ticket which
is set apart just for you. Jesus is the
way the truth and the life. No man comes
to the Father except through faith in Him. (John 14:6) Having no righteousness of your own, let the
Lord Jesus Christ wrap you in His righteousness, that you may be acceptable
before God. The ticket does not
guarantee you a ride that is without bumps or danger, for we live in a fallen
world where there will be trials and tribulations. But we are encouraged to count even that as
God’s opportunity to grow us up in Him, while He refines us and knocks off the
barnacles of life which will try to become attached to us. “My brethren, count
it all joy when you fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying
of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that we
may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men
liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1: 1-6) Be obedient unto the Lord and His word, and
you will be blessed by His love and protection.
“Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice.” (Philp: 4: 4)
Go before the Lord, repent, confess your sins, and receive
Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord.
Reach out in faith with all your heart, mind and soul; receive by grace
the blood stained ticket that He has purchased just for you. Get on board! Ride the Glory Train all the
way through this earthly life, and into our eternal life in the Glory Land
Lastly, I reflect upon the lyrics of one other song; one
which expresses so wonderfully the joy of accepting the gift of the ticket
which never stops giving and giving into the life of all who will choose to
believe in and follow the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let Him touch you and make you whole.
Won’t you choose this day to receive the blood stained ticket that keeps
on giving and giving because of the precious blood of the Lamb?
HE TOUCHED ME
By
William J. Gaither
Shackled by a heavy burden,
‘Neath a load of guilt and shame.
Then the hand of Jesus touched me,
And now I am no longer the same.
He touched me, Oh He touched me.
And oh the joy that floods my soul!
Something happened and now I know,
He touched me and made me whole.
Since I met this blessed Savior,
Since He cleansed and made me whole,
I will never cease to praise Him,
I’ll shout it while eternity rolls.
He touched me, Oh He touched me.
And oh the joy that floods my soul!
Something happened and now I know,
He touched me and made me whole.
In today’s world, which is
filled with the spirit of the antichrist, I urge all to trust only in the word
of the Holy Bible, that you may be taught of the Lord. Put not your trust in your own opinions, or
the opinions of others. God’s word
stresses that we are to study the word for ourselves that we may not be
deceived by any false gospel, but trust in the Gospel of Jesus Christ alone.
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