A few years ago in the Seattle area, someone looking for an evening’s entertainment might have bought tickets on the “Spirit of Washington Dinner Train.” The train, a vintage diesel engine, pulling several refurbished dining cars, left a suburb of Seattle in the evening and traveled a loop of several miles through the Cascade Mountains. Passengers onboard were treated to a first-class, scrumptious meal, beautiful scenery and a mystery show put on by trained actors. The actors disguised as passengers, cooks, conductors or waiters would deliver several clues in the first part of the journey. At least one of the clues delivered by the actors would be a red herring, or a clue intended to mislead the audience. Also, on occasion, a passenger might be asked to act out a certain role. At some point in the journey, a serious crime would be acted out. Then the diners would use powers of deduction to try to figure out who committed the crime.
A Truly Fascinating Wonder
People like the distraction created by mysteries. The dinner train was a mystery on a small scale. It consumed a few hours, provided some entertainment and then was over. But there is a mystery or fascinating wonder that is vastly more important, and certainly not a distraction. It is a wonder that has power to fill the human heart with timeless awe.
It began in the distant past. The Author is the One who called all created things into existence. He created all the beautiful scenery that is a backdrop to our lives. In the vast expanse of space, He placed a little watery planet full of life, and He placed men and women on it.
The chief person in this wonder is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. When men and women had fallen into sin and were headed to a lost eternity, out of love to them, He left His home in heaven and came down to this earth. Although He was God and spoke for the world to leap into existence, He humbled Himself and became a man, so that from that time forward, He would forever be both God and man in the same person.
What a profound wonder that Christ should come and live on earth. Why did He come? He came seeking lost people in order to bring them back to God. “The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)).
Can this wonder, as marvelous as it is, get any deeper? Amazingly, the answer is yes! The crime usually enacted on the train was a homicide. It wasn’t real; it was just acted out. But the crime committed against the Son of God was very real. After 3½ years of telling others of the kingdom of God, doing miracles of healing and even raising the dead back to life, at the age of 33, Jesus Christ was taken by wicked hands, given a false trial and then condemned to death.
The One who created the world was crucified by the very creatures He made! Nailed to the cross, He suffered untold agony. Then He cried out, “It is finished,” and He dismissed His spirit and died. Why did He let this happen? He let it happen because, through His death, He made a way that the sins of His creatures could be forgiven and washed away. “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:33For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (1 Corinthians 15:3)).
After He died, His body was wrapped in linen grave clothes, anointed with spices and laid in a grave. But the grave could not hold Him! Three days after He was buried, He arose from the dead.
He had done many wonderful works while He was alive, and you can read about them (in the books called the Gospels) in the Bible. But far and away, the most important work He accomplished on earth was His sacrificial death on the cross. By that atoning work, all who believe on the name of the Lord Jesus are justified and obtain the forgiveness of sins. “To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:4343To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43)).
And this brings us to the role you have to play in this great drama. Will you believe what God has said about these things, which is a most reasonable thing to do, and trust the blessed Savior? God has demonstrated His love to you in giving His Son to die on the cross. God freely loved you by sending His Son when He didn’t have to. Will you love Him in return? He wants you to come back to Him, and by His grace, He is willing to help you every step of the way home to heaven.
But what of those who decide against the Lord Jesus? Then the role they have chosen to play will eventually lead them to hell. There is nothing fake or pretend about the horrors of hell. Those who suffer torments there will not be playacting.
The Dinner Train traveled down the tracks for a short loop, and then the ride was over. Life is short too. We are given a few short years at best. Ask any older person, and they will tell you how fast life goes by. Also, we are given no guarantees that we will live out another day, week or month. In the short lifetime God has given us, we need to trust in the Savior if we are going to enter heaven.
The great wonder, which began in a past eternity when God drew up the plans for salvation that came to a climax when Christ died on the cross, will continue on into the distant ages of eternity to come. The resurrection bodies of those who believe in Christ will be far more glorious than our earthly bodies. They will never be subject to pain, decay or fatigue. They also will be well suited for the endless joys of heaven. The greatest joy of heaven will be seeing our Lord Jesus Christ. “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:88Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8)). The great wonder of God’s love shown to us through the Lord Jesus will fill us with joy forever.
People who wanted to ride the Dinner Train could buy a ticket, while others who didn’t want to ride could opt out. But this is not so with the great issues of life. Every person must be part of this drama. People get a “ticket” to participate in this great story when they are born. What will you do with Him that is called Christ?
Will you believe on the Lord Jesus and spend eternity with Him in heaven? “Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:1515That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:15)).
The Chunnel presents the greatest railroad tunnel of all time and an even greater barrier than the English Channel that has been bored through.