Articles
Getting Through the Gate
Getting Through the Gate
Corey Sawyers
This past weekend, my youngest son and I had the opportunity to take a short trip together. We flew to Knoxville, TN, then drove over the Smokies to Gastonia, NC. There I gave a Bear Valley Bible Institute presentation and Q&A, preached Sunday morning, and spoke in their Sunday Night Summer Series. We then drove back to Knoxville before flying back to Denver on Monday.
While waiting in line on the incline toward the security gate in Knoxville, Gannon and I were shocked by two things. First, there were a lot of signs with pictures of guns which had been confiscated in recent months at that very security checkpoint. Those guns ended up in the TSA agents' hands for, potentially, a variety of reasons. Perhaps some innocently forgot. They may have been licensed to carry a weapon and forgot to leave it behind. Others might have intentionally tried to sneak the weapons on because they thought the rule did not apply to them. Perhaps they never would have thought of hurting anyone; but they believed they could get away with not keeping the rules. It also may have been that some tried to sneak those weapons on because they intended to hurt others. While I cannot be sure of their intentions, I am confident that those individuals did not make it through the security gate (thankfully!).
The second shock came right before we reached the x-ray machines. Gannon realized he had a half-full water bottle in his backpack. So, when we placed our bags on the conveyer belt, I told the officer of our error and showed her the bottle. She smiled and said, "That is okay. Just throw it away in that can under the belt." We complied and passed safely through the gate.
I am not sure what the security checks will be to pass into life eternal, but I wonder if sometimes we think we can get away with carrying sin like some have weapons at the airport. Some may not realize their sins. Some may think they can fool the Lord. Some may think this or that particular command of the Lord does not apply to them. However, the Bible is clear that no sin will enter into that eternal place of rest (Revelation 21:27).
On the other hand, the Bible tells us that we have one who is on our side: Jesus (I John 2:1-2). Those who are in Him (I John 1:7) must only confess those sins (I John 1:9). When we do, His blood washes them away.
The only way we could get through the security gate was to admit our error, and do what was required of us. The only way we can make it through "Heaven's Security Gate" is to admit our wrongs and do what He requires of us. It is the only way we can be sure that some glad morning, we will sing, "I'll fly away!"
