Have you ever ridden on a subway train? It travels underground through long tunnels that men have built. That way the train avoids all the traffic and stoplights on the streets above that all the cars and buses have to deal with, and so it is a faster ride.
When you want to get off the subway train, you reach up and pull a cord. That makes a beeping sound that tells the conductor that you want to get off at the next stop. Then he will stop the train at the next station, open the door and let you get off.
When my brother and I were still quite young, our grandma would often take us downtown on the subway. On one of these trips, Grandma and I got on the train and had just sat down when we heard a loud banging on the window. We looked out, and there was my brother, pounding on the window frantically and crying, “LET ME IN! LET ME IN!” The doors of the subway train had closed before he had a chance to get on!
You may never have been on a subway train going to the city, but every one of us in this world is on a “subway train,” and it’s not headed for a happy time. No, the train we are on as soon as we are born is headed for that awful place called hell, because each one of us is a sinner. I was on that train once, but I’m not on it any longer. I called to the Lord Jesus to take me off and put me on His “gospel train.” I confessed to Him that I was a sinner and had done lots of bad things. I told Him I was sorry about them and wanted Him to save me from the punishment I deserved for my sins.
Now, if you’re going to get on a subway train, you must have a ticket, and you also need a ticket to get on God’s “gospel train.” But the wonderful thing is that the Lord Jesus has already bought a ticket for you or anyone who is truly sorry for his or her sins and wants to be saved. He paid for those tickets with His very own blood. After He had died on Calvary’s cross, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and then blood and water flowed out. And a Bible verse says how wonderful and priceless that blood of Jesus is: “The blood of Jesus Christ [God’s] Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)). That’s the answer to our sin problem!
I didn’t know what the answer was to my brother’s problem as he pounded on the subway window, crying to be let in. I’ll never forget how scared Grandma and I both were. But Grandma quickly called to the conductor to open the door and let my brother in before he got left behind in the subway tunnel.
The conductor quickly opened the door, and you can imagine just how fast my brother jumped on the train. Nobody had to tell him twice not to wait a second longer! But how many times have you heard the gospel message, that God loves you and sent His beloved Son to die for you? Are you still just standing around on the platform, not sure you want to get on the “gospel train”? It is God’s plan of escape from the punishment for your sins. Don’t wait! That door will soon close, and you’ll be left behind.
ML-03/07/2010