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 taking that person with you. Wouldn’t that be incredible? What an amazing experience! Skeptics might argue that isn’t how salvation works, that it’s more complicated than that. But is it really? The one criminal on the cross next to Jesus, in his final hours, believed on Him and receive salvation instantly. Jesus didn’t say, “I’m glad you believe, but it’s too late” or something along those lines. No. All that was required to receive salvation was to believe that Jesus was who He said He was. I know, it sounds simple enough, and that’s because fundamentally it is. Of course, if the criminal had lived, we might imagine his life would be transformed and he would have gone on to serve Christ in some capacity. Such is the nature of genuine transformation, which is the work of the Holy Spirit. Our charge is go forth and make disciples of all nations, to win souls for Christ, to offer the ticket to paradise, as it were.
Perhaps you’re like me. You believe the Bible, go to church, pray somewhat routinely, but haven’t really shared the gospel. You keep your head down hoping that simply living the Christian life and displaying kindness here and there along with frequent church involvement will suffice. And maybe you’ve lied to yourself along the way, telling yourself that you’ll get serious at some point in the future when you’re older and ready. John MacArthur noted in one of his sermons that if a person is still alive at sixty and beyond it’s because God has a plan for that person. Well, as I prepare to hit that tender age later this year, his words resonated with me. I began to ask myself why I was still here. What was God’s plan for my life (or more aptly stated, the remainder of it)? More importantly, was I seeking it? Or was I engaging in the folly of naïveté? There is nothing more sobering than the realization of one’s dwindling time on earth. Each day we are all a day closer to leaving this world and meeting our Maker. In my youth, I had all the time in the world. I was convinced I would never grow old, that I would somehow sidestep that landmine of life. But that is a youthful fantasy.
There’s a saying “youth is wasted on the young.” In many ways that’s true. If only wisdom were part of youth and not something that is acquired through experiences over the course of time, many of which are usually unfavorable and not worth repeating. Experience is the greatest teacher. Unforgiving and stolid, its lessons are indelibly marred in our memories. In my latter years, I have become much more introspective and cognizant of the things that truly matter - my relationship with God (or lack thereof), family, and health. I value time more than money. If only I could take out a second mortgage on my life and get another ten or twenty years. Such is not the case. As I approach I pivotal moment in my life - turning, ahem, sixty at the end of this month - I have take the time to stop and look back over my life. While I have lived a very blessed life and have many fond memories of it and the people with whom I shared it, I have, like most of us, I’m sure, frittered away a lot of time (and money) unnecessarily. I’m no psychologist, but it seems to me we all seek purpose to some extent or another in our lives. We chase the things society tells us we should - money, happiness, success - only to realize money is fleeting and happiness and success are inside jobs.
As I’ve grown older and closer to the day when I will depart this earth and stand face-to-face with Jesus, I’ve begun to consider my life. While I can’t go back and undo anything or regain even a moment of time, I can modify what I am doing and how I’m living, which is no easy task. Change takes time. But change is in fact possible. So, what I’ve decided to work on is developing positive spiritual habits, to create behaviors that allow me to serve God in whatever capacity I can given the gifts and talent He’s provided. I regularly think about the moment I will cross over from this life to the next and how I’ve lived my life (and continue to live it). Imagining the moment when I meet Jesus, see the pets who’ve departed, and am greeted by friends and family who’ve gone before me, I am filled with happiness. But then a twinge of sadness enters my mind as that moment passes and Jesus asks what I’ve done for His kingdom. Sure, I made it to Heaven, and that’s wonderful! The criminal on the cross made it to Heaven too. Unlike, him, though, I had time - time to serve God, to use my gifts for His glory - but I didn’t. I got caught up in the world. Too preoccupied with the things of this world, I never stored up treasure in Heaven. I never shared God’s Word with anyone or led someone to Christ. How could I ever lead someone to Christ when I barely followed Him myself, right?
Are your bags packed? We all have tickets to paradise - God’s Word. Our command is to share them!
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