Dear Pacific Union Member:

My work requires regular air travel. But unlike a car where you just get in and go, air travel has some strict rules. There are certain things you may not do inside or bring onto an airplane. No one can board a flight unless all his or her baggage conforms to the rules.

I thought about these airline regulations as I was recently reading Revelation 21 and 22. It struck me once again that God will not allow everyone who wants into heaven through the pearly gates. Certain things that are not allowed in heaven-bound baggage, and if you hold onto them in your life on earth, entrance to heaven will be denied.

“All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. But cowards who turn away from me, and unbelievers, and the corrupt, and murderers, and the immoral, and those who practice witchcraft, and idol worshipers, and all liars — their doom is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death” (Rev. 21:7-8; TLB).

“Outside the city are those who have strayed away from God, and the sorcerers and the immoral and murderers and idolaters, and all who love to lie, and do so” (Rev. 22:15; TLB).

Repeated Twice

Notice how the restrictions are repeated twice in the final two chapters of the Bible. God does not want us to miss the fact that “once saved, always saved” is not the way God works. You may have given your life to Jesus at one time, received full forgiveness of sin, and joined the family of God — all because He is loving, forgiving and longsuffering. But if you then decided to wander and live on your own terms, you moved from being a believer to one who strayed away from God. If your faith is limited to only believing, without transformation of character, those prohibited things will keep you from passing through the gates.

“Jesus has given His life in order that transgressors may become transformed in character, and be made fit subjects for the kingdom of God, members of the royal family, children of the heavenly king. With the gross, sinful, corrupt transgressors that are named as outside the city, are the five foolish virgins, who took no oil (they had not the grace of God) in their vessels with their lamps. They had lamps — a knowledge of the truth — but no living connection with God. They were not vitalized by the Holy Spirit. They went out as those who were wise, but they were wise only in their own conceit; for they had no saving faith in Christ as their personal Saviour. They had not been growing in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (Ellen White, The Youth's Instructor, Jan. 4, 1894).

“Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as ‘Lord,’ but they still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven” (Matt 7:21; NLT).

God wants us in His kingdom and has supplied us every resource to enter. But no one who holds onto character traits God prohibits can clear the security screening. Now is the time to ask for God’s help in giving up sins in your life.

Sincerely your friend,

Tom Mostert, President

Pacific Union Conference