Many epic journeys have been made by mankind, such as Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay climbing the highest peak in the world, Mt. Everest, in 1953, or Ferdinand Magellan circumnavigating the globe, or Amelia Earhart attempting to fly across the Pacific, or the astronauts of Apollo 11 being the first to set foot on the moon. Perhaps you can think of other epic journeys.
But have you ever considered the fact that you are making an epic journey right at this moment? This is the greatest journey anyone could ever take because it covers the greatest distance. It covers the distance between time and eternity. Your epic journey began the moment of your birth and will end the moment after your death.
Some of the above-mentioned journeys were very expensive undertakings. To give everyone the opportunity of spending eternity in heaven cost God greatly. He opened His heart and gave His greatest treasure to make it possible. He gave His beloved Son to die on the cross.
Sinners need to believe in God’s Son in order to be justified. “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38-3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39)).
When a person believes in Christ, they are justified. This justification is God’s declaration — and He’s the One with the right to do it — that the person is declared righteous because of what Christ did for them on the cross of Calvary. Justification is a very important part of the journey home to heaven. There is no other way to get on the road that leads to heaven. Without being justified by faith in Christ, a person will forever be rushing down the broad way that leads to destruction. “Enter ... in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat” (Matthew 7:1313Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: (Matthew 7:13)).
TAKING THE FIRST STEP
Believing in Christ is the first step on the road to heaven. You will never be heaven-bound until you repent and believe in Christ. The journey is exciting because it is made in the company of the Savior, and every day we get to know Him better. Also, every day brings us that much closer to entering into the bliss of heaven.
Those who reject Christ and His message of grace are travelers too. They are travelling through life on the difficult path of sin and rebellion. The Bible says of this way, “The way of transgressors is hard” (Proverbs 13:1515Good understanding giveth favor: but the way of transgressors is hard. (Proverbs 13:15)). How many needless heartaches and sorrows do sinners bring on themselves as they walk through this world?
The journey through life for transgressors is going to come to an end. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:1212There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12)). The sinful pleasures they preferred to God will then be unobtainable. What will those who leave God out of their lives have to look forward to when they die? Nothing but the darkness and suffering of hell as the endless ages of eternity roll on.
We are all making an epic journey, each and every one of us, to either heaven or hell. It is a journey you cannot help but make. At some moment, life for you will be over, and you will either enter into the endless bliss of heaven or the never-ceasing misery of hell.
Be wise, and come to Christ by faith and your epic journey will end in heaven.