Let's Think

When speaking about large modes of transportation like airplanes, trains, and ships, you can notice the following. To get inside these constructions, you must enter a small door that you will be directed to. And when you need to fly to a specific city, upon entering the departure terminal, you do not board just any airliner but look for the exact one you need. What difference does it make? After all, all planes look the same, and boarding gates are very similar to each other. However, you begin to think, look at the boarding pass, compare the numbers on the ticket with the gate numbers, read which city's boarding has begun, listen to announcements, and if you get lost, you start looking for airport staff and ask for their help, which you receive. Why so much worry? It's just a plane. So what if it flies without you? You'll fly on another - it's not fatal. And if you fly to the wrong place, what difference does it make? At least you'll see the world and have something to remember and tell about.

I think you are now trying to understand if the person writing this is in their right mind. I want to assure you that everything is perfectly fine with me.

Let's take this example and apply it to the spiritual realm.

Jesus has prepared a large plane that can accommodate the entire world to fly to Eternity. In this Heavenly airliner, there is a small door that can only be entered by bending down. To get on the plane, you must buy tickets in advance, study flight rules, come personally to the airport, sit in the waiting area meeting other passengers, and pass through customs and passport control. Depending on the approaching departure date, some flight rules are reformed, which are worth studying and applying to one's life.

In the terminal where you await boarding, there are many exits, and they all look very similar to each other. Periodically, managers from other airlines appear, conducting advertising programs and inviting passengers to their planes, promising that with them you will definitely get where you need to go, while with others you might get lost. Many flight numbers have Biblical names. Representatives of these airlines bustle between passengers, wanting to attract each one to their flight. Some, to get more passengers, remove flight rules, and at the customs and passport control point, create a green corridor so that the path leading to the plane is as wide and comfortable as possible. And many follow it.

At the airport, there are also boarding exits where only special people from secret societies or special services are allowed. Their planes periodically take their passengers into the unknown, and many airport visitors look with envy at these chosen lucky ones who have privileges and cover all their affairs with darkness and mystery.

The airport's life resembles a large beehive, where each airline representative knows their job and confidently advertises their flight. Many passengers often change their planes, following the calls of advertising agents. What difference does it make what to fly on, as long as it's comfortable?! Sometimes rumors circulate that many planes crash en route and everyone dies, which though alarming to some people, the general excitement distracts thoughts from reflection. Everyone thinks they will be lucky because the pilot of the chosen plane is very beautiful and smiles widely, promising a pleasant flight and soft landing. And since all planes will somehow arrive in the Heavenly country, there's no difference in what to fly on.

There is no queue for Jesus' flight, and those who decide to enter His airliner must be checked and tested for integrity, passing through the narrow path of trial. Some passengers are brought on stretchers, some come on crutches, and some crawl to the gangway in a last hope, and the Lord accepts everyone, excluding no one.

God's servants tenderly care for all who have entered Christ's liner and daily offer bread and water of life, assuring that departure is rapidly approaching. Some passengers lose patience and leave for other planes, while some make forays into the airport to invite new passengers to God's airliner.

After 2,300 evenings and mornings, Jesus changed the boarding exit and explained why He did so, to test the faith of those called and purify the ranks of the chosen.

But the previously familiar exit was not left closed. The enemy of the soul immediately took it over and made it the main entrance to his flights, trying to make this boarding exit as wide as possible.

And Jesus decided that just before departure, He would give a special counsel to all His passengers so that, hearing Him, they would give everything expected of them to acquire what is offered. The Lord gave this new boarding exit the name of Revelation 3:18 and abundantly prepared what He advised to buy from Himself. Many passengers looked at this strange exit and did not understand why such an expense was needed and, without thinking, continued searching for the familiar door. The thought that the narrow path had become even narrower as the day of departure approached simply did not fit in many heads. They did not even want to think that the new boarding exit would be so special. Although they were warned about the coming sifting, they could not believe that it had already begun.

Some passengers who had already passed customs and passport control began arguing while waiting for departure about how harmful or necessary acupuncture was, who was behind it, and whose sign it was. And these disputes reached such a pitch that the Lord was forced to remove this group from the plane so they would not infect reasonable passengers with their spirit. The reasonable ones took oil in their vessels, which they bought on the advice of the Faithful Witness, and waited for the time when it might be useful.

An emergency was announced at the airport, and everything possible was done so that those who did not want to think about Jesus' advice would find an alternative on other flights very similar to God's.

The Lord looked sadly at those approaching the boarding exit to His plane, listened to testimonies of people who had entered into trade relations with the Faithful Witness but did not think about what was happening, immediately forgot about the offer and went to do their usual business, immersing themselves in familiar bustle and internet expanses. Some of the called, not knowing what to do, tried Babylon's wine and fell asleep from pleasure.

And the Lord patiently waited for all who would reflect on His offer and buy His goods. He had invested His entire soul and creative thought in them, making buyers understand that they were acquiring all of Heaven and Those who are in it.

The time came, and boarding on God's plane was completed, and the doors were shut. The enemy of the soul realized that he had finally lost power over those who had entered God's airliner and in a last rage unleashed his entire Armageddon on God's plane. But nothing could extinguish the burning lamps, and the wise passengers quietly prayed, waiting for takeoff, relying not on their own righteousness but on the pilot's skill. And the only thing they did well was love each other.

Questions for Reflection on this Chapter

1. Please read Daniel 12:10; John 10:1,6-11; Exodus 19:4; Revelation 3:18-20; 14:8; 18:2-4,21-23; Matthew 25:3-4; 23:37; Deuteronomy 32:11-12; 2 Samuel 22:11-12; John 6:37,44,56; 10:16; 15:6; 17:21; Psalm 90:1-4 in light of this chapter.

2. What did you understand from this chapter?

3. What main idea did you extract for yourself from this chapter?

4. What symbols in this chapter point to Jesus?

5. Do you understand the importance of God's counsel to Laodicea?

6. Should I think about my salvation, or is it God's care, and let Him save me?

7. Is there a difference in which denomination I belong to in the last time?

8. What does this lesson propose to think about?

9. Does every joyful and emotional excitement in a worship service indicate that it is God's gathering?

10. By what criteria can I determine that I am on the right plane?

11. What should I do if I realize I am not in God's church, but I do not know where the true church is?

12. Why is it so important in the last time not to mistake the door and board the correct airliner?

13. What role does the Agape Love School play in this chapter? What symbol represents it?

14. What will happen to those who heeded Jesus' advice and did everything as He advised?

15. How does one thinking about their salvation differ from one thinking about everything?