The Cross and Pen

In 1977, Eddie Money’s self-titled debut album contained the song Two Tickets to Paradise. It’s a song about two lovers going on a trip to paradise - location undisclosed, although presumably somewhere in the Caribbean given the many references associated with places like the Bahamas. The chorus echoes, “I’ve got two tickets to paradise. Won’t you pack your bags, we’ll leave tonight.” While listening to a sermon by Dr. John Barnett, I recalled the popular song’s refrain - I’ve got two tickets to paradise, won’t you pack your bags, we’ll leave tonight. The reason I recalled this song was because Dr. Barnett discussed the Christian life and charge to win souls for Christ and take them to paradise with us. Paradise, of course, is a reference to Heaven that Jesus used most notably in Luke 23:43 when he said to the criminal on the cross, “Truly I tell you today, you will be with me in paradise.”  Imagine having two tickets to Heaven, echoing Eddie Money’s refrain to a non-believer, and ...