Has Your Ticket Been Punched?

Hebrews 4:3-11

As a little boy, most of the trains I saw were diesel powered. However, in a trip to visit some of my relatives, we went to Las Vegas, New Mexico, where we saw a coal-fired steam engine coming into town. I was entranced. Later on the trip we saw steam engines in Chama, New Mexico and in Durango, Colorado. Today, the Cumbres and Toltec railroad, running between Antonito Colorado and Chama, and the D&SFNG between Durango and Silverton, Colorado are almost the last operating coal-fired trains in the United States, other than some in amusement parks. People travel thousands of miles to experience riding the trains, and it is sometimes difficult to get reservations.

Suppose some one was to rent entire trains, and then offer free tickets to anyone who wished to ride. You could decide to accept and use the ticket, believing that the offer was valid, or refuse because you suspected it wasn’t. If you accepted and used it, you would enjoy the sights and experiences of the journey, at no cost to yourself beyond the expense of getting there. Refusing to accept or use the ticket would mean you would have to pay your own way, on a different train or not take the trip at all.

Two men board the train, having obtained tickets, and one has his ticket validated and relaxes to enjoy the ride. The other sneaks around avoiding the conductor to prevent having his ticket validated. At the halfway point there is a stop where passengers can obtain food and shop for gifts before the train returns. The man who has not had his ticket validated will not be permitted to reboard and will have to find another way.

Our salvation is much the same. The arrangements and reservations were made before the world was created, and final payment was made when Christ was crucified. Everyone with tickets is allowed to board, but the tickets must be validated to complete the trip. Those who leave without validated tickets may not get back on. Those who have validated tickets will be able to complete the journey, even enjoying the rest stop along the way. Further more, the trip costs them nothing. The old-fashioned seat and drafty car may be less than perfectly comfortable, but they can enjoy their trip to the fullest, knowing there is no question about their right to be there.

Those who have placed their faith in God’s promise freely allow him to validate their tickets, and their salvation is secure. They are assured of reaching their destination. The previous passage was focused on those who didn’t believe and thus didn’t get their tickets validated. We will return to their situation again later. The present passage is about those who have believed.


“For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” (Hebrews 4:3-11)

Those who have placed their faith in him do enter in. Their salvation is as sure as God’s word because they are kept by the power of God as I Peter 1:3-5 tells us. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” They are eternally secure.

On the other hand, there are those who have gone through the motions, appearing to be saved, but have not. Mark 16:15-16 refers to this situation. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” A person can be baptized, pray the sinners prayer, join the church, witness, and do all kinds of good works, they will still be damned or sentenced to hell if they do not believe, if they do not come to the point of depending totally upon Christ, and giving up everything they held dear. We need to make sure of our faith while there is time, lest we delay and neglect to believe, and find that we have turned away ourselves.