Jana’s Passport
JANA’S PASSPORT
Read Philippians 3:4-9.
Ted and Jana were going to spend the summer in England with their older sister. “Did you forget anything?” Dad asked when they were on their way to the airport. “If so, now is the time to remember before we get too far from home.”
“Do you have the tickets and passports?” Mom asked.
“Right here.” Jana patted her purse. “But I hate my passport picture.”
“Let me see it again.” Ted held out his hand.
“No way!” Jana held her purse tightly.
“Well, give me my ticket and passport,” Ted insisted.
Jana opened her purse and took them out. “Oh no!”
Dad took his foot off the accelerator. “What’s wrong?”
“I have Mom’s passport instead of mine,” wailed Jana.
“It’s a good thing you discovered it!” Dad looked for a place to turn around.
Mom looked thoughtful. “Hmmmm,” she mused. “I’m going to have to tell Mrs. Lewis about this experience. I’ve had a couple of opportunities to witness to her, and whenever I ask if she has accepted Christ, she tells me about the wonderful Christian parents she had. She seems to think that makes her a Christian too.”
“I see what your mom is getting at,” said Dad as he headed back home. “Maybe when Mrs. Lewis hears about this, she’ll see that just as your mother’s passport won’t get Jana into England, the salvation of her parents won’t get her into heaven.”
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have your “passport” to heaven? Your own righteousness—your fine family, your Christian parents, your own good works—will not get you to heaven. You must receive God’s righteousness by accepting Jesus as your Savior. It’s a decision you must make for yourself.
TO MEMORIZE:
I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ.
Philippians 3:9
SALVATION IS A PERSONAL CHOICE.
From the book
