It was the newest restaurant in town, and there was one week to go until the grand opening. My son John had been hired as a chef there along with several others who had never cooked before. In order to make sure that serving plans worked properly and that the food turned out edible, the restaurant issued free-meal tickets to family members of their employees.
My wife and I looked forward to our evening out. As we stood by the front doors of the restaurant, waiting to be permitted inside, we saw another couple arrive. They walked up to the door and read this sign:
The couple turned away, looking disappointed. Seeing us waiting, the man said to us, “Don’t bother trying to go in. They won’t be open until next weekend.”
“Oh,” I replied, “but we have free-meal tickets for today.”
Quick as a flash, the wife turned to her husband and said, “Well then, I’m with them!”
But we all knew that the restaurant would not accept anyone that day without an issued ticket. So the couple had to find another place for dinner.
As we enjoyed the excellent service of my son and the rest of the staff that night, I couldn’t help but remember the words of the lady outside the restaurant: “I’m with them!” But it could not be, because she did not have a ticket, and she could not go inside with us.
Heaven is a much better place than any restaurant, even the one where my son works. But there is no stepping inside heaven’s door without a “ticket” with your name on it. Sometimes there are events in this life where children are admitted inside because their parents have tickets. But God does not accept anyone into heaven unless He sees that the sin-cleansing blood of His Son Jesus has cleaned that person’s heart. Nobody will be admitted into heaven because their parents or a friend are cleansed from their sins. No, you will only be admitted if your sins have been washed away by the Lord Jesus.
Won’t you make sure today that you have your “ticket” to heaven?
ML-07/28/2002