Marlene was 10 years old and lived in a little town near Geneva, Switzerland. There are many countries all around Switzerland, and Marlene’s family often drove to France or Germany for short weekend vacations. They would just pack up their car and leave when school was over for the week. Marlene’s mother was busy most of the time with the baby, so her father usually did the driving.
One spring Marlene’s parents took the family on a vacation to Holland. Although it was only a few hours’ drive from where they lived, her parents decided to take a longer way there. Marlene and her brothers were on their spring vacation from school. Since they had plenty of time, the family went by ferry to England first, then across to Belgium, and then drove to Holland.
Marlene did not like spending long hours riding in the car, and she often complained about it as they were traveling. Although she was sometimes excited about the places they were visiting, she also sometimes wished (out loud) that she could have stayed at home.
Finally the family arrived in Amsterdam, Holland and checked into a hotel. There were many interesting sights to see that evening and the next few days. They rode a boat up the river through Amsterdam and one night went to a park with a lighted fountain. But the trip to the Keukenhof was what Marlene liked best.
She had always loved flowers—looking at them, picking them, smelling them, and even growing some at home. When they arrived at the Keukenhof—one of the most famous tulip gardens of Holland—she saw more beautiful flowers than she had ever seen in her life! Not only were there tulips of every color, but many, many other gorgeous flowers as well. Little winding stone pathways curved under trees hanging low with fragrant blossoms. Streams with little windmills beside them flowed past fields of pink, red, yellow and white flowers. Inside glass houses were more varieties of trees and plants. Marlene wanted to touch everything, to remember every flower and every color. She felt as if she never wanted to leave.
But they did have to leave. When she got back home Marlene planted seeds of many colored flowers in her own little garden. These flowers grew to be very pretty, and Marlene loved them, but none of them could quite match the beautiful flowers she had seen in the Keukenhof.
God says in the Bible, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:99But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9). The Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son, said to those of us who will believe on Him as our Saviour, “I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:22In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2).
There are many things that we love and think are beautiful in this world. But the Lord Jesus has made a way for us to go to His home (heaven) after our life here is over. He has said that it is a beautiful place, and that everyone there will always be happy. But each one of us —you, me, anyone who wants to go there—must ask Him to wash our sins away. The Bible also says, “There shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth.” Revelation 21:2727And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. (Revelation 21:27). That means no sin can be allowed in heaven.
The Lord Jesus took the punishment for sin—yours and mine, if we accept Him—because He loves us. He died, but He also rose from the grave, and is waiting in that beautiful place, His home, for everyone who will let Him save them. Will you let Him save you right now?
ML-07/15/1984