Travelers to Eternity

 •  5 min. read  •  grade level: 8
 
Some travelers who had passed through a mountainous district, had the matter of salvation put very clearly before them. The conversation turned upon the subject of how easily and comfortably they had traveled through the great mountain range on their train, as compared with the varied dangers and difficulties as well as downright hardships, which had to be encountered and endured, by any who had to pass that way before the great tunnel through which they had traveled, had been pierced through, and the railway constructed for the accommodation of travelers like themselves. One of them had nearly missed the train before it had left the last station on the other side, and had suggested how impossible it would have been to have climbed the huge mountains on foot, to have reached the other side, had such a thing been necessary. It was here that the case of one's salvation was brought in.
"Suppose," said one, "you were on a journey which must needs be accomplished without any stop, and you arrived, at just such a place, a huge un-scalable mountain with high steep precipices, reaching up far beyond the snowline and into the clouds, a mountain which none had ever succeeded in climbing, in spite of many, many attempts. There was a tunnel pierced through, and a train waiting to take its passengers to the other side, provided they had the necessary ticket, which ticket, was absolutely free to any who would receive it. Would you be foolish enough to say:
“‘O! I will take my chance of doing the best I can, by climbing the mountain, and I hope I may arrive safely at the other side?'
"I am very sure you would not, but with all speed, you would obtain your ticket, take your place on the train, and await the completion of your journey.”
"It would not be necessary to begin to hew a path for yourself through the mountain, for this has already been accomplished; in a word, it has been done, and you have nothing to do, but to accept the ticket and take your place.”
Thus it is with your salvation. The great mountain of sin, with its after effect, death, is before you.
"It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Heb. 9:27.
You cannot avoid it. Just a safe and accepted way has been made straight through the great barrier by God's Son, and the cost was His own life! Now that this way has been opened, and the barrier blocking us from our desired destination has been conquered, you and I and every other descendant of Adam, is invited to take our place in the manner provided, and with our "ticket" in our possession, to travel to our destination without all the toil and hardships and certain failure involved in attempting to climb the un-scalable heights.
What is our destination? Eternal life in that place prepared for those who come that way!
What blocks our way? Sin, for God is of holier eyes than to behold sin!
What is the way over the mountain that so many try, and that all fail in? The Law! "By the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." Gal. 2:16; Rom. 3:20.
What is it that corresponds to the tunnel? The Lord Jesus Christ Himself—"He who knew no sin, was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Cor. 5:21.
What corresponds to the train? Faith!
"Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom. 5:1.
What is our ticket?
"The Blood of Jesus Christ, His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7.
What does this ticket cost us? Nothing: "The gift of God is eternal life.”
"It is the gift of God; not of works" Eph. 2, 8, 9.
These seven questions, and their answers cover in a brief manner, God's way of salvation, but there is another important and pressing matter to be considered and decided upon without a moment's loss of time, and that is, to accept this offer while you may The means of conveyance is very soon to be withdrawn without notice, and the means of passage to be closed.
It is therefore up to you to take advantage of it while it is still available for you! Remember, that to not make up your mind, means that you have made up your mind!
If a vessel has been torpedoed, and is rapidly sinking, and you are standing on the deck just as it is about to plunge into the depths; and a lifeboat is waiting for you to embark, and you cannot decide what to do, you cannot make up your mind! The fact that you cannot make up your mind, really means that you have decided, for you remain exactly where you are, on the sinking ship!
When the lifeboat pulls away at the last moment without you, you go down with the vessel, because you are undecided whether to leave your dangerous situation or not. Your decision is, not to embark on the waiting means of safety!
Is this your situation, dear reader? Are you "undecided" as to whether you will accept God's free offer of salvation or not?
Remember, we are living in perilous days, and the gracious offer may be withdrawn at any minute, indeed, many believe it will be withdrawn in the very near future! Then why delay any longer in a matter so very serious, and so very important to you?
"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of Salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2.