I am your tour guide for this part of the journey. I just wanted to let you know that God has personally called each one of you young people sitting in these seats and He loves you so much…but as you know nothing comes without a price…” Then I gave each passenger a Bible. “You will need one for your trip. This is a one way ticket…no turning back.”
“What do you mean not without a price?” a young man sporting large sunglasses protested. “My bus ticket is stamped “Paid in full by Jesus Christ.”
“That’s true…do you know where this bus is headed?”
“Not exactly! I just thought I was going to a place called Eternity…but the price was right…. It was paid for…I am just along for the ride.” A few heads nodded in agreement.
I could have shaken him, but instead I said, “Haven’t you read the small print? It says to count the cost before you accept the ticket…”
Most heads were shaking no they had not.
I shook my head sadly. “Look what it says in the fine print. ‘For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,’” (Philippians 1:29).
The young man put his head back and laughed scornfully. “Suffer? I didn’t sign up for that!” And he got up and strolled toward the exit and a few others followed. But most leaned their head back and looked out the window.
“If you get off…it’s back to the world…the world of lies, drinking, partying, stealing… sinning…greed…unhappiness. You’ve all got too much to lose.” How come they didn’t understand? I wondered.
“Please look at Romans 8:17 to help you understand.” I read the words loud and clear: “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”
“For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:5).
“Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God” (1 Peter 4:1-2).
“What’s in it for us?” Another bushy-haired young man asked.
“We all accepted the call and the reward is great. Let me explain…. We are co-heirs with Christ. That means everything He has we will have too.
“Let’s read 1 Corinthians 2:9: ‘… Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.’ The inheritance which God has prepared for each of us is far beyond anything we can have here in this temporary body.”
“What is this reward?” a red-haired girl with braces asked.
“It’s a world-ruling government headed and ruled by Christ, occupying the very land promised to Abraham—the land of Israel, and from the Nile to the Euphrates river. And this Kingdom composed of immortals (we will then be immortal) which flesh and blood cannot enter, shall rule over all the other nations of the earth (the other nations made up of flesh-and-blood mortals!). If we endure to the end of this journey Christ will bring his reward with Him. We are already inheritors with Christ and we know He has eternal life and will rule the world. We will rule with Him. We will have a position (job) in this coming Government” (Revelation 22:12; Isaiah 40:10).
“This is why we will need the armor of God to protect us while we are on this earth. We have been given temporary bodies to use while here… I would suggest you use them wisely.
“King David was given a glimpse as to the reward. ‘What are mere mortals that you should think about them,human beings that you should care for them? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority’ (Psalms 8:4-6 Living).
“Did you hear that? ‘….crowned them with glory and honor.’” My heart beat excitedly in my chest as I thought of these words. “This is an opportunity of a lifetime… I don’t know about you but I am excited. What a privilege to be called by the God of this awesome universe. We need to walk worthy of that calling and consider it a rare privilege.” A few hopeful faces turned to look at me.
“This is all temporary,” I said as I pounded my chest. “We are all going to die…this earth is corrupt…subject to decay. There is only one hope and you are now on the right path. Any difficulties or trials you may suffer, Jesus Christ will help you through. All you have to do is rely on Him.”
“That’s easy to say, but I don’t want to give up girls and drinking and having fun.”
“You don’t have to give up anything….just live your life within God’s guidelines and you will have an abundant life now and in the future.”
I couldn’t help but think, Don’t you guys get it? We are offered eternal life and the entire universe. We should be willing to do anything, but all we do is make excuses and whine and complain. That’s what the Israelites did and God was not happy with them.
“Jesus gave up His life for us. He promises us eternal life.You just have to read the Psalms. King David had all kinds of trouble in his life, yet he praises God till the end of his life. All we need is faith and trust in Jesus Christ.”
“By the way who is driving the bus? I didn’t see anyone when I got on.”
“Jesus Christ is driving the bus!
“Hang on you guys!” I shouted. “You are in for the ride of your life.”
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