When my wife and I got to the airport for a flight to Philadelphia, we headed to the check-in desk. We had bought our tickets several weeks earlier, and with the ticket came a statement that picture identification would be required at check-in. In most cases a driver’s license is all that is needed. When we arrived at the check-in desk, the ticket agent looked over my ticket and asked for my identification. Knowing the requirement, I already had my wallet out to show him my driver’s license.
The alert ticket agent looked very closely at my ticket and at the driver’s license I handed him. Then he said, “I need identification with the same name as the one on the ticket.” I stood there not understanding what the problem was until he showed me the name on the license. It came as quite a shock to me that it was not my license. I was carrying another man’s driver’s license! The ticket agent called his supervisor over. After some discussion and checking my wife’s driver’s license and seeing that her last name was the same as mine, the supervisor made the decision to let me board the plane.
The man whose driver’s license I was carrying had gone to the county jail with me two weeks earlier to preach the gospel to the prisoners. Before we could enter that part of the jail where the prisoners were, we were required to leave our driver’s licenses with an employee at the front desk. My friend went to the women’s section of the jail and I went to the men’s section. When time came for us to leave, the jail employee who returned our licenses accidentally made the switch. Because the two of us looked something alike and because we left at different times, the mistake made by the jail employee was understandable.
Have you ever had to show identification to enter a certain place? Perhaps where you work you have to show your identification badge before going in. Some high schools require their students to carry school identification cards at all times. There is another place where everyone, even boys and girls, must have necessary identification before entering. That is heaven. And God tells us in the Bible what is necessary.
The precious blood of the Lord Jesus shed on Calvary’s cross has the power to cleanse us from our sins. The Bible says, “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)). Only those who believe this and receive Him as their Saviour have their sins washed away. This is the necessary identification to enter heaven.
The very worst thing that could have happened to me at the airport with the wrong identification would have been that I could not get on the plane. But anyone who passes from this life still in their sins will never enter heaven. The Bible tells of some who will arrive at heaven’s gate who feel their good works outweigh their sins and that should let them in. But the Lord Jesus will have to tell them, “I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:2323And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:23)). How awful it will be to be turned away and to face an eternity apart from Christ in hell.
The Lord Jesus loves you and offers you free salvation. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)). He also said, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)). You can have the necessary identification for entering heaven simply by believing in your heart that Christ died for your sins and accepting Him as your very own Saviour.
Have you done this? Don’t put it off!
ML-04/26/1998