Ever been to a concert? The really popular ones cost a lot of money. Many times radio stations (such as the ones I work for) will give away free tickets. The best ones include back stage passes with all access granted. Anyone with those gets to go into the super-secret areas where band members relax before and after the performances.
God has free tickets to Heaven he wants to give us. They’re the all access kind, not just the “watch the performance and go home” tickets. These are the real deal, where we get to hang out with the angels as well as God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. We don’t have to be caller ninety-three, file form 1040, or prove who we are. He’s holding those tickets out to us, and all we have to do take them. He’s standing right there.
Now let’s say we get those tickets. Do you want to go to His concert? Do you lose the tickets? Maybe you throw them away. These are serious options.
The parable of the sower can be translated into that more modern concept.
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” Matthew chapter 13.
How about this: A man went out to give away tickets to a concert. In the public square he handed them out to everyone who came. Some tickets slipped out of the fan’s hands and were blown away. Some fans stuffed them in their pockets and forgot about them. Other tickets were received by those who didn’t like the band, but other people were big fans and ended up bringing all their friends. Whoever likes music, let him listen.
What we have to be careful about is treating God’s tickets with disdain. “Yeah, yeah, free tickets to paradise. Got ‘em, now when’s the game start?” You put them into your pocket and forget them until it’s too late to get to the concert. Three weeks after the performance you pull them out and facepalm yourself. “Oh, MAAAAN! I missed it!”
Someone who really wants to go to that concert will put them in a place of honor in their house. They’ll brag to visitors, “I’m going to hear God! Look, I have TICKETS!”
God’s tickets are right there for you. Prop them up next to your television, so every time you turn it on for a movie or show or video game you’ll be reminded.
“I’m going to God’s concert, and I want EVERYONE to know it!”
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