All Aboard:
“Are you Coming?”
Scripture:
Hebrews 11:6
Introduction:
In the movie The Polar Express, we have the main character whose name is never revealed. In the credits they refer to him as the boy. He is struggling with believing. He is found in the earlier part of the movie lying in his bed.
Just as soon as he falls asleep he hears the rumbling and the vibration from a train that literally parks in his front yard. The boy runs outside to see this massive train and a few carts down stands the conductor.
The conductor yells “all aboard…” He continues and he asked the boy “Are you coming?” Due to the boy struggling to believe, the conductor said that it was his crucial year.
It reminds me of an invitation that was given to a group of fishermen in Lukes gospel. “Follow me and I’ll make you fishers of men.”
The conductor asked the boy “are you coming?” But in Luke, Jesus gives the command “Follow me…” but in that command he leaves room for you and I to make the decision to do so.
Neither group of people were expecting an invitation. There were no railroad tracks int he boys front yard. He was not expecting a locomotive to park in his driveway.
The fishermen were cleaning their nets from a night of emptiness. They were not expecting or even looking for the messiah.
Both were going about ordinary routines when the invitation arrived out of no where..
Jesus breaks into ordinary moments with extraordinary invitations.
For the next few weeks I am going to be ministering in a series titled “All Aboard” that focuses on reigniting your childlike faith. Jesus said in Matthew 18:3 “unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Children believe before needing proof.
Think about it. When they are little, they believe in the Easter bunny. They believe in Santa. They believe in Auburn….. Without ever needing proof to do so.
Anyone can believe when proof is lying on the table but if you have to see something to believe it then it isn’t faith at all.
Jesus told Thomas in John 20:29 “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.
Like many in the room today, the boys childlike faith had began depleting. Some of you come to church and yet you are still skeptical. Am i really saved? Am i really filled with the Holy Ghost? Do miracles really happen?
You have heard preaching, so you have a knowledge of the word. You have a knowledge of how things should be…but listen to the preacher..
Knowledge alone does not give faith to the depleted.
Faith grows when we act on what little faith we have left. Let me preach right here for a second. This boy didn’t have a made up mind before he stepped on the train. He had a mind that was full of questions. But he made a decision in the moment…I will not let this train pass me by!
There is a train who was born in a lowly manger in the town of Bethlehem. He is not a way to heaven but he is the only way to Heaven. He said in John 14 that he is the way, the truth, and the life.
The boy didn’t schedule the train or call for the rain. It simply came to him. Jesus came to us when we could not come to him.
Heaven initiated and grace arrived at our doorstep.
I came to ask you a simple question today… “Are you coming?”
I am not talking about a trip on a train. I am talking about a heavenly experience. Are you coming? When gravity releases its hold after the trump of God sounds….are you coming?
Is your faith strong enough to get your feet off of the ground. Are you coming? Will you secure your ticket through Calvary and get on board…ARE YOU COMING? I wish I had 10 people who knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were going who would shout because you have Your ticket!
- The Journey of Faith is Personal
- The Train only came to those who needed it. The boy was struggling to believe.
- He was struggling with doubt. (Heal my unbelief - Mark 9:23-25)
- He was confused about what is real. (Nicodemus - John 3)
- He was afraid of being disappointed (Thomas - John 20:29)
When faced with the decision to get on board or to let the opportunity pass him by, he was faced with facts. He was shown a picture of himself by the conductor and then he was told the actions that he had done to support his unbelief.
His sister, could not say yes for him. His mother and father could not believe for him. It was a decision that he had to make on his own.
This is why Jesus asked the disciples in Matthew 16:15 “Who do you say that I am?”
It was not a question that could be answered based on The desires or the responses of other people. It was a question asked directly to their hearts.
Faith is personal because the choice must come from your own heart.
Just as the boy had to step on the train, Just like peter had to step out of the boat, just as Abraham had to leave his hometown…
Nobody can obey for you.
Nobody can trust for you.
Nobody can take your step of faith except you!
2. The Invitation is Personal
- The entire family was not invited. He was. This signifies that no one could make the decision for him.
Salvation is a personal decision.
It is not something that is inherited.
It is not something that is automatic.
It is not even based on your family background or reputation.
Jesus said in Mark 8:34 “whoever desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.”
Only you can choose Christ for yourself!
The train arrived.
The door opened.
The conductor extended a hand.
Jesus came.
Jesus died.
Jesus rose.
Because of this, we now have access to the father. Jesus came to a world who’s sin separated us from God and became the mediator. The bridge. The way. The Train. The Door. And the extended hand.
The boy in the movie was faced with a decision.
Do I stay where I am OR Do I step on the train?
Jesus did not die to forcefully gain your worship…he died to give you the choice. But the choice requires a response.
No response…is a response.
3. The Destination was Personal
Everyone on the train went to the North Pole…but each experience was different.
The boy was chosen by Santa to open the first gift of Christmas after he is found holding a bell and saying “I Believe…”
That moment didn’t happen on the train.
That moment didn't happen in his bed room.
It happened at the destination.
Destination is where truth becomes clear and where the journey’s purpose comes into focus.
For some of you, you will arrive at your destination today. Your journey has been long, the road has been hard. You have been derailed. Been through things that it still hurts to talk about but you are about to arrive.
Even though the breath has been knocked out of you and what you have been through has robbed you of your joy…
David sinned with Bathsheba and it crushed his joy but still he prayed “Restore to me the joy of your salvation…”
The destination becomes personal when he meets the exact need of your heart.
I came to tell some people in the building today “you are about to arrive!” The moment you begin to believe again, joy is coming back! Faith is rekindling! Trust is returning!
Destination becomes personal because it’s where clarity arrives!
When the train dropped him off:
- He believed again.
- His doubt was healed.
- His faith was awakened.
- His heart was softened.
- His wonder was restored.
The North Pole was not the end of the journey. It was the point of transformation.
The altar is not the end of the journey, it’s the point of transformation.
Transformation is always personal….
Conclusion:
At the North Pole, the boy finally sees what he has been doubting. It was a turning point for him. It allowed him to believe again.
Our turning point happens when we encounter Christ for ourselves.
Not living off of someone else’s experience, someone else’s breakthrough, someone else’s revelation…but from a personal encounter.
Not just hearing about him.
Not just knowing facts.
Not just attending church.
But an encounter like Paul had with him on the road to Damascu. Like the disciples after the ressurection in John 20.
A true encounter…changes everything.
Not only is the Journey personal. Not only is the Invitation personal. Not only is the destination personal….
Belief is personal….
That boy finally says “I believe…”
Not because someone told him to but because he chose to embrace it.
Faith isn’t real until it becomes your own.
Our turning point comes when we decide:
- I believe Jesus is who he says he is.
- I Trust him
- I surrender my life to him..
It is when borrowed faith becomes personal faith.
When you came in today, you received a ticket.
The ticket requires a response.
You can:
- Bring it to the altar for a turnaround.
- Keep it as a reminder.
- Drop it in the box as an act of surrender
- Or even punch a hole in your ticket symbolizing an act of faith.
Every ticket costs something, but Jesus already paid the fare.
The ticket is the personal invitation.
The Journey is personal - so everyone’s ticket is punched differently.
The destination is personal - Each ticket leads to a different story.
Belief is personal - Each ticket means nothing unless you use it.
