CREDIT: David Lofink on FLICKR
Dear Friends in Christ,
For those of us of a certain age, the phrase “E-Ticket” has a certain meaning. For those who’ve forgotten – or haven’t heard – an “E-Ticket” gave privilege to ride any attraction in the Magic Kingdom of Disney. Without an “E-Ticket” you could only look longingly at Space Mountain or It’s a Small World … wishing you could enter and ride. There were other tickets that let you ride the less spectacular rides, but only an “E-Ticket” would let you onto any ride you wished.
In the Book of St. John’s Revelation, what most simply call “Revelation”, God reveals to John the ultimate E-Ticket to the ultimate Kingdom that ticket grants admission to – The Kingdom of God. And to hear John tell of what he saw, WOW! What a place! Walls and gates of precious jewels and pearls. Streets paved with gold. And endless light because the actual Light of the World, Jesus, the Son and Lamb of God Himself is there all the time. (Revelation 21:11, 21-23)
The ticket to enter the Kingdom of God is one we can’t buy though. No matter how hard we might try, there is only One who can pay the price for our entry. Jesus Christ, who Himself overcame sin, death, and the devil by His death and resurrection. He pays the price, paving the way for our admission. And it is only by faith in Him that we can enter the gates of pearl and walk the streets of gold.
And even though we are by nature spiritually blind – unable to see the glory of God, lame – unable to use the gifts of body and soul as God intended, and paralyzed – incapable of moving ourselves to live as God has called us to live in the world … by God’s word alone, we have been healed! We’ve been given faith to believe in His promise of forgiveness, declared worthy to enter His Kingdom, our names written into the Lamb’s book of life. The ultimate “E-Ticket” is ours!
In Christ's Love,
Pastor Jim