As World War II was drawing to a close in May of 1945, we were on a troop ship traveling back to the United States. Many troops were being returned home for leaves after long tours of duty in the Pacific area. Some of the soldiers on that ship had been away from their families and homeland for as long as four years. You can imagine how glad all of us were to be returning home. There was an added joy on board the ship when we got the announcement of the enemy’s surrender in Europe. However, our greatest joy and excitement was knowing we were going home!
But I have an even greater joy as I look forward to the promise of another homecoming, because I have trusted the Lord Jesus as my Saviour. The Lord Jesus, whose precious blood cleanses from all sin, has promised, “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:33And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3)). This wonderful promise from the Lord Himself gives us joy, knowing that we shall soon be home in the Father’s house. The Lord Jesus tells us that He has prepared heaven for us by going back there after He bore our sins in His own body on Calvary’s cross.
The enemy of all who trust the Lord Jesus for salvation and forgiveness of our sins often brings things into our lives to rob us of that joy of looking ahead to being in heaven with the Lord Jesus. And we had a similar experience as our ship was bound for San Francisco, the location of the Golden Gate Bridge. All of us were excited about seeing the bridge, because it was the gateway to our homeland. But just as the devil often brings dark clouds of doubt and fear into our lives, the day we entered San Francisco Bay a heavy fog surrounded our ship. The fog was so thick it completely hid the bay and the bridge from view.
We could hear the foghorns on the pilings, the supports of the bridge, sounding to warn the Captain of their location. The nearness of the horns let us know we were indeed approaching the harbor and the Golden Gate. However, our excitement, like the skies, was overshadowed by the thought we might not even see the Golden Gate Bridge, a symbol to us that we were home at last. Just when we had about given up hope of seeing the Golden Gate, the fog lifted enough for the bridge to loom in view. With the bridge directly in front of the ship, emotion overcame many of us because of its beauty and what it meant to us. Its sudden appearance told us we had reached our longed-awaited homecoming.
Every boy and girl and every grown-up is on a journey to eternity. Some of you are already prepared to meet the Lord Jesus when He calls us to come up to the “Golden Gate” of heaven. You have heard the wonderful story of God’s love in giving His beloved Son to die for sinners. Recognizing that you are a sinner, you have accepted the Lord Jesus as your Saviour. If you have not yet opened your heart to believe the wonderful news that you may have all your sins washed away through the blood of Jesus, you are far from that heavenly home. You are like a ship upon a stormy ocean without a rudder or a captain to take you safely to heaven. On our ship we were fairly sure we would reach America, but those who neglect God’s great salvation and put off believing on the Lord Jesus are on a ship that is on a broad ocean that leads to destruction.
Just as those foghorns let us know how close we were coming to the Golden Gate Bridge that spans San Francisco Bay, the Lord Jesus has told us some things that will happen in the world just before He comes to take us up to the “Golden Gate” of heaven. We know from the Bible that many of those things are already present in the world. Make sure you are on the “ship of salvation” with the Lord Jesus as your Captain so you will have the joy of seeing and entering the “Golden Gate” of heaven. When you believe in your heart on the Lord Jesus Christ, God forgives your sins and you are just as ready for heaven as though you were already there. Make sure of your homecoming by trusting the Lord Jesus today. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)).
ML-01/18/1998