Cruise Ship

Ever go on a cruise destined to some exotic port of call. Remember how thrilled you were when you booked your cruise. You began mental preparations immediately for that day; the calendar was marked. As the actual day of departure drew closer, your excitment was picking up momentum. You were more than ready to go. Finally, the last week before leaving arrived, the need for a vacation became a need for salvation. Stress overload was keeping pace with your unbridled excitement. Preparation was in full swing, you were finalizing plans, getting ready for the voyage. Barring any unforeseen event, you would soon be cruising. Life as you know it was about to change and would be left behind on the shore, for a little while anyway, as you made sail.

 For all genuine believers in Christ, we are heaven-bound. Our passage has been paid in full by the shedding of Jesus' blood upon that wicked wood. Through faith in Christ's atoning work our names were entered in the manifest of life as a passenger on the vessel called Eternity, bound for Glory. On the passage to Glory there will be nothing preventing us from making our sailing date. We may not know the precise date of our departure, but with the passing of time, we grow increasingly joyful as that day approaches. One day we will leave the cares of terra firma behind, not for a while but forever! And life as we know it will be no more. Upon arrival in heaven, we will disembark and step onto celestial shores. Drawing in a deep breath of angelic atmosphere and slowly releasing it as we call heaven our home, forever to be with Jesus.

Since we don't know the sailing day or hour, we must begin making preparations now for the journey! In John 14:3 Jesus consoled His disciples by saying, And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you be also. If we truly believe Christ is returning as He said, then we need to begin getting ready for our maiden voyage home, if we hadn't done so already.

 Paul comforted the Thessalonians concerning the Lord's return. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up (Greek, harpazo) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).


The verb "caught up" comes from the Latin word rapturo, from whence we get our English word "rapture." Harpazo means to snatch away or to seize, to carry off by force. Paul was referring to the rapture of the church when believers are caught up to meet Christ in the clouds. Paul told the Corinthians that when the trumpet heralds the end of the church age, there will be a sudden transformation of raptured believers in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:52). Our bodies will be changed into an incorruptible and immortal state.

Why do we need to prepare now for our cruise on Eternity? Read what John said in his epistle, 1 John 2:28. And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. All our bags are packed; everything is in order; and we're ready to go unashamedly. John stressed again the importance of getting ready to set sail. Beloved, now we are the children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure (1 John 3:2-3). Why prepare? Because we love Him so much we want to be like Him and not be a disappointment at His coming.

 This will be the ultimate cruise with the ultimate itinerary on the greatest ship of all times, Eternity. The price of the passage was already paid by the Darling of Heaven, Jesus' death on the cruel cross. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him (1 John 4:9). Such sacrifice "demands our soul, our life, our all" in anticipation of that day we embark for Glory.


Jesus is preparing a place for us (John 14:2) because He loves us with an everlasting love; we are to prepare ourselves for the voyage with Him back to Heaven because we love Him with all of our heart. Such preparation will make for our confidence that we will not be ashamed when He comes for us to take us on His cruise to Heaven.

 Just as we get excited about the reality of going on an earthly pleasure cruise, how much more joy and excitement should be evident in our lives because we live in the reality that we are going to heaven one day! <><


When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died;
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ, my God;
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.

Isaac Watts, 1674 - 1748