A.C. and Emily Craig left Chicago by train August 25, 1897, headed for the Klondike gold fields. The guide hired by their group promised to have them in Alaska in six weeks. Not much later, his rosy promise fading, he deserted. To make a long and interesting story short, the six-week trip turned into a two-year odyssey. By the time they arrived the Rush was over. The Craig’s nevertheless stayed on in Alaska. (A picture on page 50 of Klondike Women, Melanie Mayer, author, looks very much like the writer’s mother. Except that Mom was prettier.)
The story relates to us spiritually. Jesus promised to get us into Heaven, into God’s Very Presence, into eternal life. Not at the cut-rate prices so freely offered in many religions and not a few churches. But at the cost of self-denial, the scariest teaching in the Gospels since it takes aim at our jealously-guarded self-will. And not only at the cost of self-denial, but of relentless faithfulness till death Mark 13:12-13. Entering into God’s rest remains possible because it’s THERE, whether we enter or not. It’s available, whether we seek it or not Hebrews 4:9-11. But God warns us we can’t force our way in by the dint of human works and worth. Or by some specious religious experience that delights us but offends GOD. It’s guaranteed if we come to Jesus; confess our sins; are baptized, asking him to remove our sins. Then live faithfully in self-denial, aware that his GRACE compensates for our failures to obey, even when you try. Heaven can be achieved if we seek it through the WORTHY Christ of God. No one who trusts in him will ever fail to enter the Father’s HOUSE. Check out books for Virg Hurley at Amazon.com
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