Previous Clearance

I was riding with retired Air Force officer Wally Hall. We were approaching the guard house at the entrance to Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Michigan. Wally was about to give me my first tour of a military base. I wondered how I would get in. Would they ask me a lot of questions and make me wait while they did a security check'

When we arrived at the gate, a burly sergeant waved us through without hesitation, “How did we get in so quickly?” I asked Wally, “This sticker,” he said, pointing to a decal in the corner of the car’s windshield. “It lets me and my guests onto the base.” Because I was with Wally, who had previous clearance, I could get through the gate with no difficulty.

This made me think about getting into heaven. On my own, I wouldn’t stand a chance. I do not deserve the right, and I could never earn it. But when I trusted Jesus as my Savior, I became identified with Him. Because I am “in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6), I have free access to God’s favor in this life and a sure hope of entering heaven’s glory. (v. 7).

Our Daily Bread, September 8, 1992