Corona Devo 1881

When searching for an airline flight, there's no better word associated with a booking than, "Non-stop".  A direct flight makes everything better, doesn't it?  Sure, the in-direct and layover flights are often a better financial value, but the extra time and extra energy that we invest and spend at connecting airports and with layovers is often not worth the savings because, when you get right down to it: Our time has a value to it too.

Non-Stop means that you go through security only once.  Non-stop means that you check your luggage only once.  Non-stop means that you board a plane and deplane only once.  

No layovers, no rushing to get to the "next" gate.  No missed connections.  

Non-stop flights take much of the hassle out of travel, hence, "Non-stop" is our ideal travel itinerary. 

We know the benefits of earthly non-stop travel...But do we know that Jesus has booked us a non-stop ticket to Heaven?  All we need to do is accept it from Him.  Some religions and denominations may speak of "levels" of Heaven, or distinctions of being "saved", but the Bible never does.  

Jesus made His non-stop plans for us to get to Heaven plainly clear and attainable when He spoke of the (simple) route in booking our non-stop ticket:  

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 

(10) For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 

(11) As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” (12) For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, (13) for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  ~Romans 10:9-13

The Bible (Jesus!) says that we have a non-stop ticket to Eternity and Glory with Him when we have declared with our mouth  that He is Lord.  Have we confessed this to Him?  If yes, then enjoy your non-stop flight to Heaven when your eyes close here for the last time.

Do we believe in our heart that God raised (Jesus) from the dead?  If yes, then we have a non-stop ticket to Paradise once our earthly trials time out.

For those of us that are tempted to "try harder" or "do more" to earn God's non-stop booking to Eternity in His presence...read the Bible again:

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  ~Romans 10:9

For those of us who have been taught that there are levels of Heaven and stages of mercy....read the Bible again.  We must stop adding-on additions where God has placed a period.  

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  ~John 3:16

The Bible (our foundation of life's laws) does not say that when we do-enough, pray-enough, not-sin-enough, get-baptized/confirmed/communioned/pardoned/sanctified...enough...then we get to go to Heaven.  

Nope--read the Bible again: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9).

God has provided a non-stop route for us, andour ticket is punched if we confess and believe in Jesus--no other steps required.   

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”  

(40) But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? (41) We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”  

(42) Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  ~Luke 23:39-42

This "other criminal" had no option for good works or sacraments, but He declared that Jesus was Lord by asking Jesus to remember him when he came into His kingdom.  This "other criminal" believed in his heart.

And Jesus did not require anything more from him: There was no lay-over.  There was no commuting route, or indirect alternative given.  Right then and there, because of the other criminal's faith in Jesus and his declarations, Jesus granted the man a non-stop flight to paradise. 

(43) Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”  ~Luke 23:43

When searching for salvation, every religion has different answers and options, but there's no better word associated with "eternity" and "forever" than "non-stop", and that direct route is only provided through Jesus Christ.  A direct flight to God makes no sense because we are so far from worthy, but Jesus purchased that non-stop ticket for the salvation of our souls with his blood on Calvary.

And so why do we insist on repeatedly/daily/habitually investing the extra time and extra energy trying to make connections to Heaven and attempting to earn/bargain/"understand" our way in?  These are dead end routes that will never get us where God has already reserved a place for us to go.  

There are many rooms in My Father’s house. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going away to make a place for you. (3) After I go and make a place for you, I will come back and take you with Me. Then you may be where I am. (4) You know where I am going and you know how to get there.”  ~John 14:2-4  

So, let's stop wasting time and wasting our lives, because, when you get right down to it: Our time in service to our Savior has a value to it too.

This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.  ~Psalm 118:24  

Non-Stop means that we have only one God, and not "many paths" to salvation: “You shall have no other gods before Me (Exodus 20:3).

Non-stop means that once we confess our faith in our Lord, then we are "checked in" and on our way.  "Which way?"--we sometimes wonder?  The Jesus-way.  He is our non-stop ticket. 

Thomas said to Jesus, “Lord, we do not know where You are going. How can we know the way to get there?” 

(6) Jesus said, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one can go to the Father except by Me.   ~John 14:5-6 

"Non-stop" is our ideal (and the one true) salvation itinerary. 

Do you have your ticket? 

Jesus Christ is that non-stop ticket. 

Blessings,


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