There are two essential documents that are required by any traveler wanting to go from one country to another country. The first document is proof that the person is a citizen of their own country, called a passport. The second document is permission granted by the country of destination you want to enter, called a visa. Both of these documents need to be obtained before the person can begin travel.
Becoming a Christian is similar to international travel. To travel from this world to the next world (Heaven) two essential steps are required. First, like the passport, you must have proof that you are a citizen of this world and are cleared by this world to go into the next. Is there proof that you have broken the moral law of the Ten Commandments? Have you ever lied, stolen, hated or lusted? Of course you have, we all have! The passport is what the Bible calls “Repentance of sin.” Repentance means that you agree that you are a guilty lawbreaker and deserve punishment. It also means that you desire to obey the moral law.
The second step, like a visa, must be requested from the country that you desire to enter and can only be granted by that country (Heaven). When a person does this they are putting all their trust and hope in Jesus Christ to forgive their sin and allow them permission to enter heaven. The visa is what the Bible calls “Believe the Gospel.” Just like international travel, if a person tries to take a trip pretending to have these two documents but not really have them, they will be taken away by the authorities and punished.
My friend, please listen to your conscience. You will some day die and to pass safely from this world to the next you must repent and believe the Gospel. If you do not have the correct passport and visa you will be punished. If you have done this, read the Bible and pray every day. Find some Christians to hang out with and grow in your faith as you increase in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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