"So, John, you're really saved. You have been seeking salvation for a long time. How did you get saved at last?"
"Oh, it was the simplest thing in the world! I just presented the right ticket. I held it out; the door was opened and I entered in.
"The strange thing is, I found that the ticket of admission had been in my possession since childhood. I have been carrying it in my breast pocket for the last twelve months and never had the sense to use it."
"That is strange, for you were anxious to be saved. What kind of ticket was it, and what was written on it?"
"Was that all?"
"Yes, and what kept me so long from being saved was that I always added something to the words on the ticket when I presented it. Whenever the Lord saw anything of my adding, it was refused.
"The first time I went, I wrote at the bottom: 'But not so great a sinner as many of my neighbors.'
"That did not admit me, so I rubbed it out and put down: 'But is doing the best he can to improve.'
"That would not do either, so I became more anxious. I prayed and wept awhile, and then under the words, 'Admit the bearer, a sinner,' I wrote, 'who is praying and weeping for his sins.'
"Even that wouldn't do. After that I began to despair, and wrote down: 'too great a sinner to be saved.'
"That only made matters worse. I had almost given up when I looked at Christ and heard Him say: 'I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.' John 10:99I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (John 10:9).
"I looked again at the parable of the Pharisee and publican, and saw that it was simply as a sinner that the publican went and was justified. He did not make his sins too great to be forgiven, nor too little to need forgiveness. He went just as he was, 'a sinner.' Trusting to the promised grace of God he went down to his house 'justified.'
"I remembered that Jesus had said: 'I came to call sinners to repentance.' So I pulled out the old ticket, and without adding a word, I presented it. It was accepted, and I entered."