ACCESS

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Picture this:

From your limousine, you hurtle down and push your way towards the airport gate as your hand nervously fiddles through your Ferragamo bag.

"Ticket?" asks the guard. "No ticket, no entry," he stares at you coldly while the public address system announces, flight so and so has departed. And you scream the scariest of screams.

A bad dream, huh?

But could there be a worse nightmare than this: when your soul departs from your mortal body, reach eternity's gate and you're told, "Sorry, your name's not listed here."

Admit it. We think we could manipulate our way to heaven in much the same way that we use money to buy a first class airline ticket to a dream destination.

But the Bible is clear. We could not bribe our way to heaven; yes, not even with our good works!

"On that day, many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty good works in your name?" And then I will declare to them, I never knew you, depart from me, you workers of lawlessness." Matthew 7:22

God loves it when we do good. Yet, first things first. Numero uno requirement:

Belong to His family. Sonship must be first be established before we can prove by our actions that we are genuinely His.

"But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in His name." John 1:12

Why would Jesus insist, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me," if He didn't value our Father-son relationship with Him?

He's the only means through whom access to God is possible! The only ticket to your eternal destination.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so no one would boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

Now this might be a hard pill to swallow, especially if you're way in deep as far as being morally upright and helping others are concerned.

But take it from Jesus. Charity, if motivated by your desire to outweigh your bad deeds with good—is hypocrisy. Good deeds, if they're just meant for show-and-tell, or for praise release, or to preserve your cool image, or have your name inscribed in church pews, are stinkers as far as He's concerned.

Isaiah 64:6 says our righteous acts are like filthy rugs to Him.

Most everyone believes in Jesus. In mind, yes. But genuine faith in Jesus is this: Repenting and totally surrendering yourself to Him to be your Savior and Lord. Then our good works are done out of love, as a form of thanksgiving for His grace, and to glorify His name.

Come on, Jesus died for you and me; paid a high price to ransom our soul from death or eternal separation from Him. Until our hearts are stamped with Jesus's blood, our ticket to His kingdom is a fake. Invalid. Inadmissible. Even if you do a world of good.

But there's more. His grace through Jesus, gives you access to every good His kingdom has to offer.

You want peace in the middle of turmoil? His is a peace which surpasses understanding. He settles your heart because you're planted on the Rock of our salvation.

In fear of sickness or violent people lurking around? His grace surrounds you like a shield. And not to forget, His angels encamp around you.

And in the midst of sorrow or pain, I can have joy in my innermost because this I know:

He who paid the price for my sin and saved me from hell, will guide me wherever I turn—though darkness, intimidating characters, pestilence and dark days lurk around.