Going Through the Back Gate

Last weekend we took the girls to Ormond Beach. We wanted to stop at Peggy’s Wholefoods (Which is one of the best places on the planet for Health food/ supplements and vitamin items. I’ve done book signings there. They are amazing! www.peggyswholefoods.co) We even had lunch there. The plan was to go there and then go to the beach for a little while. We weren’t sure where we were going, and as we drove near a park we saw they were having some kind of Native American Festival.

On a whim we decided to find a parking spot and go check it out. After negotiating a small parking lot Dan was able to get us a spot and we walked to go make our way to the entrance. We didn’t know where we were going so we found ourselves walking around a gate and dropping down into the festival a few feet. Honestly I didn’t think a thing of it.

“You can’t do that!” We saw a guard yelling at us.

“We can’t do what?” We didn’t know what he was talking to us.

“You have to pay to get in. You can’t sneak in here!” The guy looked a little less than happy with us. Honestly we didn’t mean to sneak into the event. We were just trying to get onto the grounds. I looked down at my girls feeling like an idiot. We managed to find the front entrance and then they only took cash. Dan and I never carry cash, and nowhere in sight was an ATM machine. We finally opted to keep driving and we’d figure we’d either find an ATM machine or find the beach. We found the beach first and had a very enjoyable afternoon. The Indian Fair was forgotten and the family was happy. It worked out better this way, and we never did make it back to the festival.

While my story is a minor funny moment now, and the kids may tell stories about the time we got kicked out of a festival for trying to sneak in…Many people in life think they can live their lives this way when it comes to heaven. They think that at the last minute they can just squeeze their way in, and all will be well. Maybe they think they will just shrug their shoulders and pretend like they didn’t know any better.

John 10:7 (ESV)
7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.

John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Hosea 4:6a (ESV)
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;



On that day when you get to the entrance of Heaven, you can’t sneak in the back. You can’t claim you didn’t know any better. And I assure you the alternative isn’t a day at the beach. The good news is that Jesus already paid your entrance fee, so cash isn’t required. If you accepted Him in your life, He is already expecting you and your name is already in His book.

Remember He has awesome plans for your life. Get excited!