Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Monday, March 11, 2019

"Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!"¹

Years ago I was treated to a wonderful seven-day Caribbean Cruise. Joy and I were really looking forward to this break. We were to visit three ports in Mexico and visit some very interesting historic places. We flew to Florida where the ship was berthed and were ready to board when I ran into a problemâ€"a big problem. I, being a Permanent Resident of the U.S., had my Australian passport with me but forgot my Green Card (my U.S. Permanent Resident identification card).

Big mistake.

A well-meaning airline staff member had assured me that all I needed was my passport. Wrong. I was not allowed to even board the ship. I was assured that if I left the U.S., I would never be allowed to re-enter the country without my Green Card and would be sent back to Australia even though I have been a legal resident in the U.S. for many years. A half-hour before the ship sailed our luggage was unloaded and Joy and I, feeling extremely disappointed and let down, flew home to California.

You can rest assured that I will never do anything like that again. I will make absolutely certain that all my travel documents are in order.

This to me was a graphic reminder that we all need to make absolutely certain that all our "documents" (preparations) are in order for when we leave planet earth for eternity. Many a well-meaning friend will seek to assure us that as long as we live a good life, do more good things than bad things, or follow the religion of our choice and are sincere, we will be allowed entrance into God's heaven. Not so. As the U.S. government made the rules that governed my entrance into the U.S., so God makes the rules that govern the entrance into his Heaven.

As God instructed the ancient Israelites to prepare to meet him face to faceâ€"the same principle applies to you and me. Thus, it is imperative that we prepare now, while we have the opportunity, to meet God for our turn will come.

Eternity is forever. So be absolutely certain to obtain your "passport" for heaven today. Whatever you do, don't leave earth without it. For help see the article, "Passport for Heaven" at http://tinyurl.com/dm472.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you that your Word makes it very clear what is required to enter your heaven, and thank you for providing that way through your Son, Jesus Christ. Please help me to make sure that all my 'documentation' is in order. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Amos 4:12 (NKJV).

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