God’s Red Carpet

One of my favorite movies is the first Pirates of the Caribbean. Jack makes me laugh. One of my favorite scenes is during the first encounter Will has with Jack. Jack points a gun at Will. He asks Will to please move, and he says something like, “This bullet’s not meant for you.” To that, Will gives him a really puzzled look.

Not everything we can choose is meant for us.

From the time sin entered the world with Adam and Eve, God has been giving us a choice. The first sacrifices to God were not enough to cover sins permanently. The sacrifices had to continue. When Jesus came and died for our sins, He was the permanent sacrifice, but we still have to choose Him.

And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.
Matthew 22:11-14

Many were invited, but the man without the wedding garment had not chosen to be a part. Likewise many are called or invited unto salvation, but few by comparison choose to follow in that decision. For those who do not choose to follow, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Heaven is being prepared for those of us who do choose to follow.

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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
John 14:2-3

From a parable in Matthew 25, we read for whom the everlasting fire was prepared.

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Matthew 25:40-41

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Matthew 25:46

In the fictional story, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jack told Will that bullet was not meant for him. Will was faced with a choice – at least for the moment.

In real life, the everlasting fire was not prepared for us. We do not belong there. Unlike a fictional story, we are faced with a very real choice.

LIFE APPLICATION

Today’s challenge is to realize that God provided a way. In a sense, He rolled out the red carpet stained with the blood of our Lord Jesus as our way of escape from the eternal fire that was prepared for the devil and his angels. He loved us enough to make a way and prepare a place in Heaven for whosoever will. Where will you choose to spend eternity?