Packing Tips for the Trip to Heaven

What You Need to Pack

Now that you have seen what not to pack. Let us take at look of some items that should be on your packing list for the trip to heaven.

A Map

First, like anyone making a long journey you will need to pack a map for directions. Some people feel that a map to heaven is unnecessary. They claim that all sincere people will be going to heaven. Yet, Paul at one time persecuted Christians with a sincere conscious, yet he had to repent. The Lord appeared to him on the road to Damascus to give him directions on where to go next. Others are trusting in their good moral life to get them to heaven. No one deserves heaven.  You will not go to heaven because you are just so good that God had to let you in. Paul said, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Still many will take refuge in the fact that they are religious. However, the Pharisees were the most “religious” people in their day. Yet, Jesus warned that they were in danger of missing heaven (Matthew 23). Perhaps, the most popular belief is that all roads lead to Heaven. Jesus did not teach or believe this. As a matter of fact He clearly told His disciples that there is, but two roads or ways in life and only one of them leads to Heaven. Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13,14). Some will exclaim, “Only one road to Heaven! Isn’t that narrow-minded”. Truth by its very nature is narrow. This can be said about music and many other areas of life. When it comes to mathematics 2+2 = 4. Only one answer will do. In the chemical laboratory there is no room for broad-mindedness. For example, water is composed of two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen. The slightest deviation can be fatal. A high school chemistry teacher drove this point home to his students with a little bit of poetry.

Little Willy was a chemist now little Willy is no more what Willy though was H2O was really H2SO4.

Remember, the Bible, God’s Word is the only book that contains the map to heaven. As you begin your journey to heaven start off right by packing that map: the Word of God. In it you will find what you need to be saved from your sins.

Baptismal Certificate

To be saved from your sins you must be baptized. So when packing for Heaven, make sure you include you baptismal certificate. That is, make sure you have been properly baptized. In preaching his sermon on the day of Pentecost, Peter convicted many of their sins. Thus, they cried out to the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Peter told them to, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). Some denominational churches disagree. Instead, they say that all one needs to do to be saved is to believe in Christ. However, Jesus said, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark. 16:16). So, what are you going do listen to some denominational creed or the words of Jesus Himself right out of the pages of your Bible. The Savior said “belief plus baptism equals salvation”. Some preachers teach belief equals salvation then you can be baptized. Surely all baptisms are not the same. So when packing for Heaven make sure your baptism is the kind that Jesus commanded.

Anchor

Although it may sound odd, you need to pack your anchor. Just what is meant by packing an anchor for Heaven? The Hebrew writer explains, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast…” (Heb. 6:19). If your voyage home to heaven is likened unto a ship upon the sea of life, you will sail on troubled waters. The Devil does not want you to dock our ship in the haven called heaven. He wants to destroy your anchor so that you will lose stability in the time of life’s storms and give up all hope of reaching Heaven. What would life be without hope? The farmer plants in hope harvesting a crop. The worker labors all week long in hope of receiving a paycheck. The Christian journey’s through life’s troubled seas in hope of reaching Heaven. Consider the hope of a popular hymn:

“When our eyes behold through the gathering night The city of God, our harbor bright We shall anchor fast by the heavenly shore With the storms all past forevermore We have anchor that keeps the soul Steadfast and sure while the billows roll fastened to the Rock which cannot move Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.”

Passport

Not only should you pack your anchor, don’t forget to pack your passport. A passport is “an official warrant certifying the citizenship of the bearer when traveling abroad.” The ancient city of Philippi was a Roman colony, where citizens were mostly retired soldiers, given full citizenship in the “mother” city Rome. Though far from Rome, they dressed Roman, spoke Latin, observed Roman morals, and were governed by Roman magistrates. They were to live according to the laws and standards of Rome. Roman in every way though far from Rome. As Christians, your citizenship is in Heaven, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20). You live in this world, but are not of this world. You are to live according to the moral and ethical principles of heaven as revealed from God regardless of the standards proclaimed by the world around you. The Christian travels through life as a pilgrim. He has no permanent dwelling place on this earth. He knows his time on this planet it limited. As a traveler, he is on a journey home to Heaven with a passport in hand which verifies his citizenship.

Reservations

Before embarking on a trip which will require one to stay in a hotel overnight, reservations must be made to secure a room. As Christians packing for heaven do not forget your reservations. If you have not made reservations for Heaven it is time to look to Jesus. Just before His death, Jesus told his disciples, “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (Jn. 14:1-3). Perhaps a better word than “mansions” would be “dwelling places” or “rooms”. Nonetheless, think how terrifying it would be to come to the end of life’s journey only to find out that you failed to reserve a room in Heaven. It has been truly said, “Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people”.

Others

Often people of joke about smuggling someone on a trip packed inside a suitcase. However, this is no joke. When packing for Heaven take as many people with you as possible. If you value Heaven and your own soul you should also hold in high esteem the souls of others. The life of a Christians is not one of solitude. God designed the church for the mutual encouragement of His children. Christians will not make it to heaven alone. The lost will not find their way to heaven without the help of Christians. Therefore, it is time to help each other pack for the trip.

Start Packing Now!

Where are you in relation to heaven? How far have you traveled? The trip to Heaven can be a long journey. Let’s not make the fatal mistake of trying to take shortcuts. A Bible class teacher made this request of her class of little boys and girls, “All who want to go to heaven, please raise your hands.” One little boy didn’t raise his hand and after class was asked by the teacher, “Son, don’t you want to go to heaven when you die?” “Oh,” said the boy, “I thought you were getting up a load to go right now!” Remember, life travels by so quickly. If you are planning on going to Heaven, then it is later than you think. It is time to get packing.

– by Daniel R. Vess

 

News & Notes

● Morning’s Lesson:  How did the Jewish Leader change People’s Attitude Toward Jesus?
● Contribution Scripture: John 3:16
● Tonight’s Sermon will be: Weird Laws of God
● Children’s Bible Drill this evening after services