When Disneyland opened in 1955, the very best rides required E-tickets. They still symbolize the ultimate rides, the best experiences, and the most coveted moments in life.
For Christians, the ultimate lifetime experience comes when we yield ourselves fully to Jesus Christ. He gives us a packet of divine "E-tickets" which take us to new heights, broader horizons, the most fulfilling destinations imaginable.
Evangelism
Our first E-ticket, Evangelism, refers to God's message of eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. This Good News changes our lives, brings hope to our hearts, and establishes our steps on the pathway to heaven.
A Methodist preacher once agreed to debate a fiery atheist, saying, "I'll bring one hundred whose lives have been changed by the Gospel. You bring one hundred whose lives have been changed through your testimony."
The atheist didn't show and the event became an evangelistic rally. Our Savior has the power to change lives, to cleanse, convert, bring our lives under control. Will you accept His evangelism E-ticket?
Edification
Having won us to Himself, the Lord begins the process of edifying us-building us up. The Bible compares Christians to temples being built by God for His glory.
We're all under construction-tempers, unwise words, lustful thoughts. God isn't finished with us. He uses our daily troubles and the power of His Word to mold and make us, develop and mature us, edify, strengthen, develop, perfect (Psalm 138:8), building us into His image-"You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5.)
Encouragement
Growing and maturing is often hard. But God gives encouragement-another E-ticket. "May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word" (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NIV.)
Trusting God for healing, a grandmother despaired when her little granddaughter died. Devastated, she felt anger toward God, and depression. One day she read: "Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief" (Isaiah 53:10).
"God made His own Son to suffer, but it was a good plan...it was perfect, as only something from God can be. It was terribly important to the future of the human race that Jesus Christ have His dark night experience on the cross....
When life hands us situations we cannot understand...we can wallow in misery, or we can choose to trust the Lord." (Catherine Marshall)
When we falter and fail, the God of encouragement strengthens us, usually revealing a specific promise or a particular truth from Scripture.
Endurance
The next ticket says "Endurance"-a rare quality today. The newspaper reports "U.S. athletes...won't and therefore can't go the distance in world-class times nowadays."
All of us are sometimes tempted to drop out of the race or run away. But to pursue the Christian life, we are to be qualifiers, not quitters. Christianity is an endurance event. As God encourages us, He enables us to endure, persevere, press on, keep going.
Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians facing pressure from a pagan society. "You have need of endurance," (10:36). Moses endured his troubles by "seeing Him who is invisible" (Hebrews 11:27). So "let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross" (Hebrews 12:2-2.)
Eternal Life
We will reach the goal-Eternal Life-the ultimate E-Ticket. Paul said, "I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14).
"Facing the end of [our] earthly pilgrimage is...like preparation for the most exciting journey of all" (Isobel Kuhn.)
Life is a roller coaster, a fast/slow, up/down E-Ticket, but the Lord is at the controls. You possess a little packet of divine coupons to use as needed: Evangelism, Edification, Encouragement, Endurance, Eternal Life. Use all your tickets-and enjoy the ride.
This article was excerpted from Turning Points, Dr. David Jeremiah's devotional magazine. Call Turning Point at 1-800-947-1993 for your complimentary copy of Turning Points.
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