Some time ago, I wrote an article about a young lady named Maggie Lieu. Like many 24-year-olds, she had dreams and aspirations. She wanted to complete her PhD, work with people, and occasionally visit her mom. And…she wanted to live on Earth.
For most of us, that last one might seem obvious, but not so for Maggie. It was a careful, difficult decision. You see, Maggie was one of one hundred finalists who had been selected for consideration to colonize Mars.
I imagine that, for many, colonizing another planet is a cool idea – intellectually. But in practical reality, the potential cost was too high for at least six finalists who dropped out, including Maggie. Why? Because it is a one-way trip!
One-way trips can be unnerving. You can’t come back! Perhaps that is why so many people refuse to accept the finality of heaven and hell. Intellectually, we get it. But in practice, it is hard to “count the cost” and live accordingly.
Jesus told His disciples to count the cost before deciding to follow Him: “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’” (Luke 14:28-30).
But did you know that everyone is on a one-way trip already? Every one of us will experience death and face the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Finishing the journey well is important to Jesus, and He warned His disciples to choose wisely.
Those who refuse Christ and practice sin are headed for eternal separation from God (2 Thessalonians 1:9). But we can change our destination to heaven…a one-way ticket to be in the presence of the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Count the costs. Choose wisely. Become His child today and live in Him. Enjoy the greatest one-way trip with the best destination!
Greg Wanderman