Maggie Lieu is like many 24 year-olds with dreams and aspirations. She wants to complete her PhD; she wants to work with people; she wants to occasionally visit her mom; and…she wants to live on Earth.
For most of us, that last one might seem pretty obvious at first, but not so for Maggie. It was a careful, difficult decision that came after significant consideration. You see, Maggie was one of one hundred finalists who had been selected for consideration to go on the Mars One Mission to colonize Mars.
I imagine that, for many, being a part of colonizing another planet is a cool idea – intellectually. But in practical reality, the potential cost was too high for at least 6 candidates who have dropped out, including Maggie. Why is it so tough? Because it is a 1-way trip!
The very idea of a 1-way trip is unnerving for many. You can’t come back! People can’t fathom the idea of not returning to the point of their departure. If you’ve ever bought a 1-way ticket before, you’ve probably sensed an uncomfortable silence and felt the need to explain your trip to the person who checked your luggage! It isn’t “normal.”
Perhaps that is why so many people have a difficult time accepting the idea of heaven and hell. Intellectually, we get it. You go to one place and you can never return. But in practice, the idea is a bit unnerving – it requires “counting the cost” before making a decision about our final destination.
Jesus tells His disciples to count the cost before making the decision to follow Him:
“For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’” (Luke 14:28-30).
But did you know that everyone is on a 1-way trip already? Every one of us will experience death and face the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Finishing the journey well was important to Jesus, and He warned His disciples to choose wisely.
Because of our sins, we are headed for eternal separation from God2 Thessalonians 1:9). But we can change our destination to heaven…a 1-way ticket to be in the presence of the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
Count the costs. It might be difficult to leave the lifestyle you know and enjoy; it might be unimaginable to spend eternity away from loved ones or family; it might be painful to leave the known for the unknown.
I don’t know if a trip to Mars is worth the cost, but I hope you will see that heaven is definitely worth the journey! Want to learn more about how to get there? Get in touch and let’s talk…
