Preparing for Take-off!

    Ward Seeley has logged over 15,000 hours in many types of aircraft, but of all his flights, he looks back with much thought to his solo flight.  Years ago he taxied the Piper J-3 Cub out to the little grass strip.  All of his study and work was soon to be rewarded.  He was ready to fly! Gently he let the little plane lift itself off the ground.

    But very early into his first flight, something went very wrong!  At only 400 feet off the ground, the strong smell of gasoline filled the cabin!  Fearing an in-flight fire, he quickly shut the engine down.  "OK", he thought, "Gently push the nose over so I don't stall this thing, find a nice place to put it down, and don't burn up in the process."

    Soon after, Ward put the Cub down safely in a field and the plane's owner came running.  "What happened?" he asked.  "I think that the gas tank sprung a leak!"  Ward replied.  Upon closer examination, Ward was proven right: the tank had a half-inch hole.  After seeing the hole and his plane safe in one piece, the owner said, "Good job, son.  That's just what I would have done."

    Since then Ward has had many landings, but he always remembers his first solo landing.  You see, Ward was prepared for take-off because he was well schooled in emergency procedures.  But that's not the only preparation he has made for his life!  If you were to ask Ward, he would tell you that the most important thing a person needs to prepare for is eternity - and being in the presence of God!

    Are you prepared to meet God?  Would you take a moment and read this tract?  God has provided in His Word, the Bible, a design whereby mankind can receive eternal life.  To be prepared for your final flight, you must believe and obey God on some very important things:

To Prepare for Take-Off:

    1.  You must recognize and believe that you are a sinner:

    "...all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."  Romans 3:23

    Yes, you have fallen short of Heaven because of your sin.  You may be better than many others, but you are still guilty of sin.  The Bible calls this condition being "lost."

    2.  You must recognize that as a sinner, you are under the sentence of death:

    "...the wages of sin is death."  Romans 6:23

    God's penalty for sin is death, but there are two kinds of death, phisical and spiritual.  We inherited both types of death from Adam.  Adam's sin brought physical and spiritual death to all.  Because of our sin we must die a second death, eternally in Hell, unless another way can be found to pay for our sin.  Revelation 21:8 tells of "...the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: wich is the second death."

    3.  The good news of the Gospel is that, even though you are a sinner, God loves you and He sent His Son to die in your place:

    "...God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  Romans 5:8

   "...Christ died for our sins..." I Corinthians 15:3

   God is just and holy, and His justice has to be satisfied.  No sinner, including yourself, could ever offer an acceptable sacrifice for sins.  God Himself paid the price for your sin in the person of Christ.  Jesus paid the entire penalty for your sins by His death on the cross.  In love, He shed His blood and died in your place.

    4.  You can have the forgiveness of God and eternal life:

   "...the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  Romans 6:23

    By His death and resurrection, Jesus has conquered death and overcome sin.  He offers to ever person the free gift of salvation.  The only requirements are that you must agree with God regarding your lost condition, believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay your sins, and then accept by faith the free gift of salvation and forgiveness that He offers.  This is what repentance is -- turning from your sin to His free gift of salvation.

    5.  You must receive God's gift of salvation:

   "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."  Romans 10:9-10

   "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."  Romans 10:13

    This is a promise!  The word "whosoever" means you!  You can know for certain that you have salvaiton.  God does not say "whosoever is a church member," or "whosoever is baptized," or "whosoever is confirmed," or "whosoever takes communion," but "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."  He died, was buried and rose again so that you maight be saved!  Place your faith in Christ today and believe what John 1:12 says, but as many as recieved him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."

    If you are sincere about your need, you can pray a prayer similar to this and call upon the Lord to save you:

   "Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and that I deserve to go to Hell.  But I believe that Jesus died for me, and that He rose again, and that He alone can save my soul.  Lord Jesus, I call on You this day to come into my heart and save me form the penalty of my sins.  I believe and claim your promise of forgiveness.  Thank you for saving me.  Amen"

    If you have received Jesus Christ today, please write me by clicking below and let me know the joyful news that you are Prepared for Take-off!

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