If a citizen of the United States leaves the country, when he returns he is required to pass through Customs where U.S. officials check his baggage. I recently returned from such a trip, and while in the Customs area was searching for the shortest line to get through quickly. It was then that I was approached by a man and a woman. I saw from their uniforms and badges that they both were Customs officials. They asked me many questions: “Where do you work? Where have you been? Where do you live?” Then they wanted to see my business card, residence card, passport, airline ticket and driver’s license. Finally they asked me to follow them, and they led me to a private examination room at the back of the Customs area. I realized then that they were going to search my baggage, probably for illegal drugs.
“Please open your bags,” said the Customs man. “Do you have any drugs?”
I answered “no” and unlocked my suitcase and unzipped my carry-on bag. Without another word they opened every package and looked inside. They carefully checked along the soles of my shoes. They even read some notes I had in my Bible and generally made a nice mess of my carefully packed bags.
Then the man asked the woman to step outside, and he proceeded to check every place on me where I could have hidden drugs. When he was satisfied that I had none, he informed me that if I wanted a lawyer present before answering his questions I could have one. I assured him that I did not need one. So he proceeded.
“Before you left the other country did you swallow any capsules with drugs inside?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Would you submit to an X-ray to prove your claim?”
“Yes, I would.”
“Okay,” said the man, “you can pack and leave.”
Very relieved, I repacked my bags and rushed to catch my next flight.
This reminded me of the time soon to come when every man, woman, boy and girl is going to have to stand in front of the Lord Jesus Christ and be searched. Only they won’t have travel bags to be examined. He will search our hearts. Anyone whose heart is still stained with sin will be sent out of the Lord’s presence into the lake of fire (hell) forever. Here they will be punished for those sins forever.
In my suitcase I had three bottles of prescription medicine to use in case I got an upset stomach while abroad. I had forgotten about them when the official asked if I had any drugs. Well, the Customs officials completely missed those bottles, for which I was very thankful.
Boys and girls, when you stand before the Lord Jesus Christ, He will not miss a thing! Every sin that you have ever committed has been recorded, and you are responsible for every one of them. He will only “miss” the sins of those who have had them forgiven by putting their faith and trust in Him and His death on the cross of Calvary. If you are still a sinner without the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, He will not let you into heaven.
While you still have the opportunity, accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour so that when you are searched your sins will have been forgiven, and you will be found fit for heaven and allowed to go in.
ML-04/25/1982