11/10/26

Recently, at the airport, I stood at security, waiting for my bag to come out of the X-ray machine. When it finally did, it came to what, for lack of a better name, I will call the platform of eternity. On this platform, it pauses while they look at the X-ray image. People wait with bated breath. Will they send the bag to you, or off to the side where you are required to go to it? I stood there waiting as time slowed down. I know there is nothing in my bag to cause it to go the wrong way. I am not a smuggler. I have just been on vacation visiting my family. Clothes and necessities are all that are packed. What is taking so long? I have a plane to catch. If I don't make that plane, there is no telling how long I will have to wait to get on the next one. Will I have to get a hotel room for the night? That costs more money. I have already spent so much to take this trip. Would they just hurry up? All of this is going through my mind as I wait for the 10 seconds that feel like an hour. Then suddenly the rollers start to turn. Nooooooooooo, there must be some mistake. Why would they send my bag for more inspection? I don't have time for this. I know there is nothing in my bag to cause this, but wait! It suddenly dawned on me that my wife packed my bag. She had earlier on the flight going on vacation, had her bag go the wrong way because she had too big a bottle of hairspray. Surely she didn't put something like that in my bag. Did she? Great, now I realize I don't have a clue what is in my bag, and they are calling me over. Here it comes, the dreaded question. The security officer asks me, Do you have anything in your bag that you shouldn't have? Uh, uh, uh. I don't think so. Is there anything in your bag that might hurt me? Um, uh, ummmm. No. (At..), (at...), at least I don't think so. Then she looks at me. Sir, is this not your bag? (Yes..), Yes, it is mine. I think to myself. I sure hope my wife loves me as much as I think she does. They open the bag, pull out my bathroom bag, pull out my shaving cream. Check the size, put it back in, close my bag, and say, " Thank you.

Seriously, your machine can see inside to tell I have a container but not to tell if it is the right size. Are you kidding me? I am thinking I am going to be stuck in a foreign country for days over a weak X-Ray machine.

Through this process, I realized two things. 1st. Next time I come home from vacation, I will look like Grizzly Adams. Second, I am glad I have Jesus, so I don't have to go through this to get to heaven.

Our text today says. John 2:25 NASB95: and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.

Scripture says Jesus doesn't need to look in my bag to see for sure what is inside. He sees and knows clearly what is in every single nook and cranny of our being. There is no chance we will sneak anything past God. Every single thing, whether it is .5 ounces too big or just the right size, God knows. There is no question: if a sin is small or large, no sin is allowed.

I don't have to wonder whether my wife packs sin in my bag. I have put enough of my own in there. Scripture teaches me that only one sin is too much. So what will I do?

The answer is simple: be the bride of Christ by accepting Jesus as your Lord, and He will save you by taking all your sin and putting it on Himself. Jesus makes sure your bag has not a speck of sin. The house has been swept clean, and no leaven is found. When God looks at your luggage, He says I see that my Son packed this one. Welcome home! There is no need for you to stay a minute longer in that foreign land.

You know all the sin you packed away. Don't think you can hide it. Jesus KNOWS what is in man. Instead, ask Him with a sincere heart Jesus will you be my Lord and save me from the platform of eternal hell. Will you clean out my bag and pack it with your righteousness? He will do it.

One last thing I know. That bag full of sin is heavy and hard to roll, but the bag of Jesus' righteousness almost feels like it is carrying you.

John 2:25 and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.

There is no inspection to get into heaven; God sees what is in the bag all the time. When you breathe your last, He already knows. So give it to Jesus NOW!

Heavenly Father, today I pray that everyone who reads this devotional will give their life to you and allow you to prepare them for their trip home. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Love, Brother Scott