A month ago, we were stunned and shocked by the disintegration of the Space Shuttle Columbia as it roared through the atmosphere. After becoming rather nonchalant about routine shuttle flights to the heavens and back, we were reminded once again of the true danger of space travel and the death-defying courage of our astronauts. With the pieces of Columbia still being picked up across the United States, it now seems almost surreal to think of space travel as being a pleasant diversion for the super-rich.

But that's exactly what it was, just a few months ago. Remember Lance Bass? He's the boy-band singer who wanted to go from 'N Sync to 'N Space. But when he couldn't pull together $20 million for the ticket on a Russian rocket, Bass was bumped.

"No Dough, No Go," reported The Washington Post.

Russia soared into the space tourism business two years ago when California investment banker Dennis Tito plopped down $20 mil and became the first person to bankroll his own ride into orbit. South African millionaire Mark Shuttleworth soon followed in his footsteps.

Lance Bass wanted to be next, but not with his own cash. He wanted to fly to heaven using OPM -- Other People's Money. After approaching Radio Shack and Pepsi for sponsorship, Bass spent several months in Russia, modeling spacesuits and undergoing training.

Problem was, nobody paid. It's really not a difficulty these days to book a seat on a heavenly ride, but make no mistake about it: The Russians want their $20 million. (Peter Baker, "No Dough, No Go, Moscow Tells Pop Star: 'N Sync's Lance Bass Booted From Space Shot," The Washington Post, September 4, 2002, C1)

The prophet Elijah ascended to heaven in a whirlwind, not a rocket -- but his lift-off was every bit as spectacular as the launches we watch today on CNN. His blast-off included a chariot of fire and horses of fire, a sight so overwhelming that it caused his assistant Elisha to cry out in amazement until Elijah disappeared into the heavens (2 Kings 2:11-12).

Like a roaring rocket that causes us to stand slack-jawed until it becomes a tiny speck and then disappears into space, Elijah exited the earth with a blaze of glory.

But what does this say to us about getting to heaven?

Certainly God does not expect us to scrape together $20 million and book passage on a Russian rocket. Nor does he promise that we'll escape our earthly existence in a whirlwind, surrounded by the chariots of Israel and its horsemen. But the Lord does desire us to join him in his heavenly kingdom, and he gives us a way to satisfy our deep-seated longing for another world, one that has been felt by people throughout human history, from Elijah the prophet to Lance Bass the pop star.

If you want to make the trip, here are some tips for the savvy space-age traveler. But first, some warnings:

Your passage to heaven is not going to be gained through money, not a contribution of $20, and not an offering of $20 million either. Generous giving is one of the marks of a good Christian, for sure, but no dollars in the offering plate are going to purchase your ticket to paradise.

In the Book of Acts, a magician named Simon becomes a Christian and tries to use his money to purchase the power of the Holy Spirit. But Peter says to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God's gift with money! You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not right before God. Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you" (Acts 8:18-22). God's gifts cannot be purchased for any price, because God does not need our money. Whether you are talking about the power of the Holy Spirit or the gift of eternal life, all that really matters is a heart that is right before God.

Your ticket to a better world is not going to be gained by good church attendance either. Now this is a tricky one, because it is certainly commendable to gather as a community of faith, as we have this morning, and offer God our praise. I am thrilled that you are all here, especially our new members. But showing up does not ensure that we'll be "going up."

"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector," says Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: "God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income." But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" (Luke 18:10-14).

Jesus concludes that it is the tax collector who ends up in a right relationship with God. Being in church accomplishes nothing for the Pharisee, because he exalts himself instead of exalting God. Simply being present for worship does nothing to guarantee your salvation, because being present doesn't necessarily change your heart -- it doesn't automatically turn you from a person who is self-reliant to a person who is God-reliant. It's been said that "going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to McDonald's makes you a hamburger." Finally, your trip to everlasting life cannot be earned through good works. This is another tricky point, because "good works" are certainly good, and Jesus clearly calls us to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and visit those in prison (Matthew 25:34-36). No Christian is going to argue that this kind of ministry is misguided, in any way.

But good works don't punch your ticket to paradise. "For by grace you have been saved through faith," says Paul to the Ephesians, "and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God -- not the result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). Our salvation comes by grace, which means that it is entirely a gift of God. We receive it through our faith in Jesus Christ, but still it comes to us as a completely free present from a generous and loving God.

And why is this? "So that no one may boast," insists Paul. If we somehow earned our trip to heaven, we might end up like the Pharisee, feeling more confidence in ourselves than in God. If we somehow purchased the passage, we might end up like Simon the magician, wanting to manipulate and control the power of God.

Turning from negatives to positives, here is the first and most important tip for the savvy heaven-bound traveler: Accept that you are saved by the grace of God, through faith in Jesus Christ. The Lord desires each of you to spend eternity with him, and to make this trip he asks you simply to trust in his Son Jesus. You do not have to achieve some kind of moral purity or perfection before you take this step, since it was while we were sinners that Jesus Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). All you need to do is trust in Jesus -- trust that he died to pay the penalty for your sins, trust that he died to bring you back into a right relationship with God. Your way is paid not by OPM, but by JCL -- Jesus Christ's Life.

The price of this heavenly trip is faith in Christ. Nothing more, nothing less. Our ticket is punched when we trust that Jesus paid our passage through his death on the cross.

Another tip for travelers is to pack light for the journey. This means laying aside "every weight and the sin that clings so closely," and running with perseverance the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1). Since we are heading for an eternal home more glorious than anything we can possibly experience here, why get bogged down with sinful indulgences and earthly possessions that are going to be of no value in the life to come? Does getting even with a business rival, or acquiring a more expensive tennis bracelet, really have any everlasting significance?

The trip to heaven also requires training, a program as rigorous as the one Lance Bass had to undergo in Russia. The difference is that he had to condition himself for the challenges of outer space, while we have to prepare ourselves for a new environment dominated by "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23). Since this will be our way of life in God's heavenly kingdom, we should prepare ourselves by behaving in this way now. If we do, we'll leave a powerfully positive example behind, like the "double share" of Elijah's spirit that Elisha was so anxious to inherit (2 Kings 2:9).

Finally, traveling to heaven is a journey to a world more wonderful than our wildest dreams. Heaven is a place where God and people will reside together, where "God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away" (Revelation 21:3-4). Paradise is a state where there is no distance at all between the Lord and his people, and where all the suffering of this present time is replaced by joy.

It's an out-of-this-world destination. One that costs a bundle. Much more than $20 million.

Fortunately, Jesus Christ has already paid the price. Amen.

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