In our days of world-wide travel, the passport is invaluable to us. In foreign countries we guard it more carefully than money, counting it above price…the passport. You can buy a passport at special places, but Heaven’s Passport is obtained from only one location: Calvary. In Romans 5:8,9, we find Christ died for our Passport: God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him [our Passport]. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you (Exodus 12:13). Just as the blood of the passover lamb spared the firstborn of Israel from certain death, the blood of Christ spares us from eternal death in hell. His blood shed on the Cross is our Passport. Without shedding of blood is no remission [of sins] (Hebrews 9:22). Without Calvary, you’ll never have your Passport to Heaven.

Many have decided they don’t need a Passport. Had I decided I didn’t need a passport, I never would have been allowed to enter India, Africa, Europe. Just as I couldn’t have entered those countries without my passport, you’ll not be allowed to enter Heaven without your Passport.

This Passport is in one form and one form only…in any other form it’s a counterfeit, no good. What form is it? The form of the Cross. Jesus spoke of the saving power of the Cross, our Passport, when he said, I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me (John 12:32). All need the Passport. Look to the Cross of Calvary; look to your Passport.

When traveling in foreign lands, I clutch my passport to me from the time I leave America until I return. I feel for it more than I feel for my billfold. I did learn that a safety pin could help my peace of mind. As long as that safety pin is closed, I know the passport is all right; but it pays to check. It pays to check Heaven’s Passport, too. Perhaps you had it yesterday, but do you have it today?

The Lost Passport

Have you been in another country and suddenly lost track of your passport? It brings a terrible sinking feeling until you locate it again. I want my passport to be in a secure place—like the safe deposit box in the hotel—but when I keep it, it has a guard.

I’m not careless with my passport into other countries, and I’m not careless with my Passport into Heaven. Without that Passport I wouldn’t get through the gates of Heaven. How horrible to reach those gates and be unable to produce the Passport! “Where’s your Passport?” the gatekeeper asks. There isn’t any…and no place to get one. The office is closed to you. “Calvary isn’t up here,” the gatekeeper tells you. “The only place you can pick up your Passport is Calvary, and Calvary was made for people on planet Earth.”

The Prodigal Son lost his Passport. He enjoyed a great life in the world—for a season—but through suffering he realized just how important that Passport was, and he returned to his father. The Prodigal Son in the Bible represents the backslider today.

Oh, Backslider, you don’t know the danger you’re in! I’d dare not sleep one wink in your condition. I wouldn’t even venture down the road—you could be killed in a crash before you realize what is happening…killed without your Passport.

When death takes you, you’re out of reach of the Passport; the Passport door closes, sealed for all time and eternity to you. Imagine how you would feel, Backslider, if you knew you could never reclaim the Passport, if you could never find Calvary again!

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man (Luke 21:36). Only with the Passport will you be counted worthy to escape the tribulation coming on the earth.

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). Those not written in the Book of Life are those with no Passport.

Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish (Luke 13:3). Just as the chaff is burned in the fire, without your Passport to Heaven the flaming torment of hell will be your destiny.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord [our Passport] (Romans 6:23).

Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). You must be born again to get the Passport. Marvel not that I said unto you, Ye must be born again (verse 7).

Jesus is calling you to come on home! Come on home and find the Passport! Calvary is the only place you can find it. The Passport office is always open. Come home, oh Wandering One, come on home!

The Passport of Security

You who have never acquired your Passport: you don’t know what it means to own it. I feel secure with my Passport; it helps me rest at night in peace and happiness. It gives my peaceful heart a wonderfully joyful feeling; it lifts my spirit.

When struggling with the battles of life I let my spirit touch the Passport—in much the same way that my hand goes to that passport man has given me for travel—and I’m all right. No matter the battles of life, with my Passport I overcome them all. Journeying through this land, we know we won’t be here long. We’re almost to Heaven, almost home.

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed (John 8:36). Jesus, your Passport to real freedom, the freedom of everlasting life, is available to whosoever will, to all that call on the name of Jesus.

Would you dare exist one moment without the Passport? That might be the very moment you need it for Heaven. Just one time will that gate to Heaven open for you, one time and one time only. Why will it open that one time? Because of Calvary.

Had it not been for Calvary, that door, that gate would have remained tightly closed; but because of Calvary the door will open. If you have the Passport, you will go through that door, that gate into a land fabulous beyond the imagination, a land where eye hath not seen nor ear heard all that is in store for the children of God.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). The Passport to everlasting life is Jesus.

Take one look down that great avenue of gold: you only need one thing, just one. I’m making you nervous? You should be nervous if you don’t have your Passport—or if you haven’t checked it recently. When traveling I become nervous if I realize I haven’t checked on my passport. I must know it’s really secure.

The Passport…do you have the Passport? You’re looking beyond the present, past the gatekeeper who’s saying, “Passport, please”; and your eyes are beholding the heavenly city. You can hardly wait to get inside; you’re eager, caught up with so much joy and happiness that your heart leaps within and your spirit is dancing. “I’ve made it! I’m really here!”

Some of you will be able to say, “I’ve had my Passport a long, long time. I’ve always kept it close.” Others will confide, “I was careless with mine at times, but I’m glad I finally recognized how priceless it is! One day I mislaid it, but that will never happen again!”

What Can Steal Your Passport?

What if you don’t hold it? No Passport, no crossing Heaven’s threshold. Those who reached the gates of Heaven with no Passport…imagine…what was it that robbed them? What can rob you? What has such value that people consider it greater than their souls? What can turn them away from the Passport? It’s unreal and yet it happens.

For the preaching of the cross [the Passport] is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God (I Corinthians 1:18). Yes, the Passport is foolishness to the unsaved, but all must travel one day to either Heaven or hell. Without the Passport it’s a one-way trip to eternal damnation.

Many have been closed out of Heaven. They reached the gate, but no Passport. Once they had it. Now they regret more bitterly than the mind can conceive: “What a fool I was! I thought the pleasures of the moment to be more important than my Passport!” Yes, it seems that way to the flesh. The way of the world just must come first…what a fool. All the grace needed was furnished; all the blood to wash away every sin was provided, all the help…and they didn’t use it. They didn’t use it. They gambled and lost. Life is simply a gamble without the Passport. Only in Jesus lies security. Some Christians play around with their souls just the way Eve did in the Garden.

“Eve, what are you doing here under the forbidden tree?”

“Oh, just looking at the fruit, just looking.”

“But Eve, other places equally as lovely are all around. Why do you want to come to the place God has forbidden?”

“Oh, I’m just looking, that’s all.” Just a look has cost many their Passport. It all started with a look. Had they not looked at the forbidden fruit, had they not stayed around it, inspected it, their Passport would be safe today. God didn’t intend you to be an inspector of forbidden fruit, but an inspector of righteousness and holiness, an inspector of the fruits of the Spirit. Recognize God’s fruits.

No Passport. You’ve come to the end of the journey. On Earth, you had what the world called a big time; you sowed your wild oats. The enemy said, “You just live once; make the most of it! Live it up today; you might die tomorrow.” You thought you were living, but it was a life without the Passport. There is no real life without the Passport, no real life. Don’t forget: No life without the Passport no matter how moral a person may be. What a terrible mixture of forbidden fruit some have partaken of and called it living. They found it meant death to their souls.

Just One Thing Needed

Jesus gave Himself so we would have our Passport. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works (Titus 2:14). Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). No other name can give us the Passport.

And that he [the Passport] might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him [the Passport] we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father (Ephesians 2:16-18). Because of Jesus, our Passport, we have access into God. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God (verse 19). We have taken out citizenship papers in Heaven, but to enter Heaven we need an additional document—the Passport.

Just one thing needed. Will you have it? Do you have it? If you’re not sure, if you’re not positive, admit it. The Passport office is open now; you’re close by.

I want everybody to have a Passport. You who have failed God, if there is any sin in your life at all, come to Calvary. It’s for you to decide: do you have the Passport? If you don’t, it may still be missing when you experience that one chance to go through the gate. One chance and one chance only will be yours.

Come for the Passport; the office is open. The sign says Calvary: Whosoever will can get the Passport now. Come without money; come without price—the Passport is paid for. Come and secure your Passport. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, you can have your Passport. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6). I am the way, Jesus is saying; I am the Passport.

The Passport must be as real to you as the Bible itself, a living reality in your life. Although feeling it will be a long time until you use your Passport, you may need it before tomorrow. Many in the early evening thought they wouldn’t put the Passport to use for years, but it became a matter of eternal life or death in the night. This may be the last time the Passport office will be open for you. You’re taking an awful chance by refusing your Passport; for remember, you will have only one chance at the gate. The call is for the Passport…and you don’t have it. Oh, God, you don’t have it! You had plenty of time. How many years have you been on Earth without seeking the Passport? The child has had time to get the Passport, the teenager; everyone has had time. Have they taken advantage of this marvelous opportunity? Maybe not, but the Passport door has been open to each one. Although it will close one day, now it’s open; and you’re the one who must make sure you have your Passport.

You’re Responsible for Your Passport

If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus [the Passport], and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved [you will receive the Passport] (Romans 10:9). You must reach for it yourself; no one else can get it for you.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him [the Passport] might be saved (John 3:17). Only if you choose to accept that Passport of salvation, only if you keep it safe in your heart can you travel on into God. When I’m on tour, I don’t search others to see if they brought their passports; I search for mine. I’m not responsible for the passports of others; I can’t keep up with them. You’re responsible for your own. My duty is the message: “Get your Passport!” I’m a devout messenger of the Passport. I love whosoever will.

Many from other countries would like to have an American passport; they treasure it. How sad that so often people fail to treasure Heaven’s Passport! I have it. I sleep with it, live with it, talk with it, dream with it, joy with it; and I am full of assurance with it.

Although many ignore it, a great number of applications are coming in for the Passport. Some want to renew it, update it. Aren’t you glad you needn’t stand before the open gate without your Passport, that you have time to sign up? Aren’t you glad that the Passport door is wide open so you can obtain yours now?

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8,9). The Passport cannot be obtained by works. Salvation is the only channel.

All Passports Must Have a Seal

Christ [our Passport] …in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:12,13). And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30). The Holy Spirit has sealed our Passport until our day of redemption with the blood of Jesus.

You’re standing now at spiritual Calvary. The blood is flowing freely. Death, hell and the grave have been conquered by the Cross; now let it conquer in your heart. Let the Passport, sealed with the blood of Jesus by the Holy Spirit, be yours. You still don’t think it’s necessary? We are commanded to get the Passport. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent (Acts 17:30). How can you ignore a command of God?

Pray this prayer with me now: feel the refreshing in the power of the blood of Jesus. Look at the seal of the Holy Spirit shining brightly with the blood of Jesus and say, Oh, God: I have come for the Passport. Oh, God, I don’t have it. I don’t have it! I don’t have it, but I want it! I’ll give my life for it. I’ll give anything, everything for it. I do mean it, Lord. My life is on the line. I want the Passport! I confess that Jesus Christ is the very Son of God, that He died for me; and I will live for Him. I believe there’s power in the blood of Jesus to wash away all of my sins, to make me a new creation in Christ Jesus, a fit citizen not just for Earth, but for Heaven itself. I know there’s power in the blood, and I have come to Calvary now. I believe the blood of Jesus washes away all my sins, all of my sins! Come in Jesus! Come in Jesus! Come in Jesus! Now praise the Lord that He has come.

You who are renewing the Passport say simply: I’ve come to be renewed. I’ve come to be renewed in the power of Calvary. I want the refreshing of the blood. I want the strength of the blood to flow for me now. I want to feel the living reality of it like I felt the first time I came to Calvary. I renew the Passport; I renew the Passport. I’m going to be very careful with it. The Passport is my life. I will treasure that moment in the future when the gates open into God’s Heaven and the call comes for the Passport. With all the pride that a heart can hold for Calvary, I will produce my Passport—in the form of the Old Rugged Cross—and I will pass through the gate into eternal life. I will move among the angels, sing with them. I’ll walk around the throne of grace—no matter how long it takes me—rejoicing because God gave Jesus, the Passport, so I could enter Heaven. I love you Jesus! I love your blood! The power of the blood of Jesus is in my Passport, wonder-working power that will take me through all time and eternity, wrapped in the Master’s great arms.

Do you have the Passport?