This past June hubby and I had the amazing opportunity of taking a cruise from Athens to Rome. Our cruise journey took us to three different countries, multiple different islands, and a number of unique ports.
Hubby and I were not citizens of the different countries we visited. We were “strangers” and “foreigners” in these countries. We had never been to these islands before … these were new to us. We had never sailed into any of these uniquely different ports before.
We were unaware that in order to re-board the ship in Kusadasi, Türkiye we must first find our way through a dizzying and confusing bazaar, designed so that unwary tourists might become accidentally lost along the way and thereby wind up purchasing more souvenirs!
Hubby and I had no idea that a visit to Santorini meant the cruise ship sailed right into the middle of a volcanic caldera! We had no idea! Nor did we know that the ship dropped anchor right there in the middle of the caldera … with the sheer steep walls of the caldera rising up on all sides!
To access Santorini (which was perched precariously along the top edge of the sheer drop-off!) required adventuring in small bobbing tinder boats.
Hubby and I did not realize that the big mountain we were gazing at as we pulled into port at Naples (just as the sun was coming up) was in fact Mt. Vesuvius! The very mountain that buried Pompeii!
The whole cruise experience reminded me a lot of what it is like to be a Christian.
Each of us are born into this world with a sin nature. We naturally do things which are wrong. We can’t help it. We are “citizens” (so to speak) of a sinful, fallen world.
God, who is eternal – never having a beginning or ending, lives in a wonderful perfect place called Heaven! Even though we are sinful and fallen, God invites us to come live with him in his perfect wonderful home. God invites us to become “citizens” of Heaven. That’s amazing!
How?!? How can we become “citizens” of Heaven??
Jesus Christ made a way. Jesus left Heaven and came to our sinful fallen world to pay the price which God required. God requires perfection for any of us to enter his perfect Heaven.
Jesus came to our sinful fallen world and lived a perfect, sinless life (that we each should have lived). Jesus took the punishment of death that we each deserve because of our sin. Jesus did this in our place, for us! That’s amazing!
If we repent of our sin (turning from our sin and giving all our “ick” and our sin to Jesus), and if we accept Jesus’s payment on our behalf, we are allowed access to God’s wonderful Heaven! Our “citizenship” immediately changes.
We are no longer “citizens” of this sinful fallen world. We are “citizens” of Heaven!
“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household.” – Ephesians 2:19
Just as hubby and I boarded the cruise ship, so also in the same way when we accept Jesus’s payment for our sin, we likewise “board the ship” bound for Heaven. Jesus is our ticket to “board the ship.” Jesus is our SeaPass card!
The ship pulls away from shore … and we forever leave behind our old, sinful life. We forever leave behind who we used to be.
We are “on board the ship” bound for Heaven. But we aren’t there yet. Our life on board Heaven’s “ship” is a journey. It’s a process.
Our “journey” takes us through different “countries” (aka: situations / life experiences) which we have never been to before. We do not “speak the language.” It is awkward and uncomfortable. But we learn. We grow. Our life is enriched by the experience!
Our “journey” docks in ports which are unique and different! We find ourselves in a maze of dizzying and confusing life circumstances, not quite sure which is the correct path to take. All along the way and at every turn “vendors” encourage us to “step into their stall” and “purchase” what they are selling. We learn “how to keep walking.”
Our “journey” takes us right into volcanic calderas! (so to speak) We find ourselves facing fears!
As far as our cruise this past summer I was not freaked out about sailing into a volcanic caldera, seeing as how I live every day on a major faultline (the Ring of Fire) and within sight of a stratovolcano (Mt. Rainier). However, when it comes to life itself, there are seasons of life and situations which feel very “volcanic” and it feels as if everything could blow up at any moment. It’s frightening, to be sure!
We find ourselves bobbing along on choppy waves in a little tinder boat! (so to speak)
We find ourselves in situations where we feel as if our life is perched precariously on the edge of a steep sheer drop-off! The least little earth tremor and we’re all going down! This is what life feels like!
“Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: ‘The Lord Jesus Christ knows those who are his.” – 2 Timothy 2:19
If we are a passenger on God’s ship bound for Heaven, God will see us safely along the journey! No matter what!
This is what it is like to be a Christian.
“You God hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.” – Psalm 73:23
