I heard the best analogy of Easter and Heaven the other day on K-Love, a Christian radio station. Max Lucado was the guest and he gave the best comparison of flying standby and our view of Heaven.. I know I won't get this exactly but it will give you the gist of it, actually I'm probably going to add more of my thoughts with Max's concept of Heaven being a plane we need to have a ticket for. Check out what Max said in the interview by googling Max Lucado interview or you may find it on http://klove.com/We will start out by viewing Heaven as a flight and we are riding on standby tickets. If you never have ridden standby and I have not, you will immediately relate to the photo above. A big long line of hopefuls.. hoping to get on that flight (to Heaven) somehow. This flight is full and you are the one hoping for that illusive "standby" ticket to become a seat on that Plane.
You find yourself hanging out close to the airline desk, just in case they call you. Now I don't know if they call your name specifically, or if they just say there are seats available and you knock down anyone in your way to get to the desk first. I do know it's a time of wandering and wondering.. Wondering if you are where you need to be, wondering if they will let you on the plane, wondering if you got all your stuff together and ready. Wondering if there is something unforeseen you are not expecting. Worried if you'll get to your destination. Wondering if there is some way you can get your way on to that plane.. You Have To Be On That Plane..
It reminds me of "Home Alone" where the mom is trying to trade her watch, all her money, etc for a ticket to get home to her son. She was ready to do anything to get on that plane. You saw the desperation, heard it in her voice.. A desperate woman who would have offered anything to be on that Plane. The same desperation is in all of us, the desperate need to know if there is more, if there is a Heaven, what must I do to get there, how do I earn a way there, what must I do, what kind of things will be required of me? The list could go on and on. How do we get on that plane to Heaven.
The Standby travelers are desperate to get on the plane. They will do anything to get to their destination. they'll sleep in the airport, wait in long lines, go without food and sleep, hoping their name will be called, or the flight will be opened for more passengers to board.
Easter can remind us of our destination Heaven. Some of you may have considered this question, some might not have. Just how do you get a ticket to Heaven.. do you have to do something to pay for the ticket? Do you have to earn your ticket by being good enough, smart enough, successful enough? Do you throw up your hands in defeat, and like the man above in the photo sit in the middle of the floor and hold your head in your hands hoping against hope that you can get on that plane. The Plane to Heaven.
Easter is the Hope.. Jesus Christ came to earth, lived, walked, preformed miracles, taught, and followed God. His whole life's purpose was to die on that cross so YOU could have a confirmed seat on the flight to Heaven. You don't have to do anything except accept the ticket that has already been purchased for you. Jesus gave His life for your ticket.. He purchased it. It's already paid for. You only have to accept Him and His forgiveness, His sacrifice. And you have a Confirmed seat.. You can walk right up to the counter, and give your name. Your ticket is waiting there. No need to hope, to wonder, or to wander looking for a way on to that flight.
This Easter remember that God Loved you so much that He provided a way.. The WAY, for you to be with Him forever in Heaven. He provided you Jesus and His death on the Cross for you. So pray today. accept your free ticket to Heaven, your confirmed seat. I'll sit with you.
As I'm finishing this the song "I know my Redeemer Lives"... Is playing in the background. Jesus is your Redeemer.. He paid your purchase price.. How cool is that.. "He lives to take away my sin, and He lives forever I'll proclaim".. Now He's alive and there's an empty grave.. I know my Redeemer lives.. "... "He lives, He lives, He lives"....
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