Each year the world gets a little bit more crazy. And Halloween is one of the craziest times of year. I look around at all the weirdness and I have to shake My head. Look at how many people make themselves look as ugly as possible, dressing up as ghouls or the worst of villains. You've got to wonder, don't you?
Some say it is all in good fun. It's a tradition that goes way back, and no real harm has come from it. Everyone is just cutting up and having a good time and acting out some of their wicked fantasies in a harmless way. Oh, and of course, it boosts sales!
Well, I've got to ask: Why the desire for turning Earth into Hell for a night? I don't see as much enthusiasm for trying to turn it into Heaven. Why not? And the bigger question: Why all the violence and hurt that goes on in the world the rest of the year? Where does that come from?
You might know that Halloween comes from the term "All Hallow's Eve." It is traditionally an event held the night before the old Feast of All Saints is celebrated. That is the day when all those who lived and died for Me over the years, many of them not remembered by name, are honored. So why is it that people take to dressing up the night before like the same evil ones who tried to make these dear ones' lives miserable? Why the greater focus on evil than on good? You have to think that maybe someone with ulterior motives is behind it. Who could that be? Got any ideas? I bet I don't have to play 20 questions with you for you to get the answer. So why do people fall for it? Don't you get the feeling that you're being duped?
By now you've probably figured out Who's talking to you here. Yes, it's Me, Jesus! Now you might be thinking I'm a spoilsport for bringing all this up, but I'm really not. See, I want you to have all the fun in the world. I want you to be as happy as a little kid at Christmas. I was in on the design for humanity right from the start. I wrote the book, you could say, on what really makes you happy and what doesn't, and I can tell you with certainty that celebrating by dressing up as something sinister doesn't move the joy meter much. It's a long ways away from what I have to offer you.
You might get a cheap thrill out of scaring the next guy silly, but I have a much better alternative. I am talking about real happiness here, the kind that leaves you feeling good not just for a night, but for a week-and a whole lot longer if you let it. And you don't have to wait till you get to Heaven before you start living it.
Oh, you aren't sure if you are going there? Let Me give you a gilt-edged invitation right now. I hereby invite you to come and live in Heaven forever! Want to come? I mean, you might have to wait awhile to get into the actual place, because you've got to die to do that, and you don't want to do that right now, I'm pretty sure; but you can start living in Heaven on Earth right now. Then, when you die, you can move in permanently for the real deal.
So, want to give it a shot? All you have to do to get into Heaven is walk through Me. Got you puzzled? Well, believe it or not, I am the door to Heaven. All you have to do is accept Me as the way in, and you're in.
You see, I died a long time ago to pay your way. Now your entry is free. All you have to do is believe on Me as your God, and by doing that you accept the invitation and are guaranteed a spot in the most beautiful and happening place in the universe. Some people like to make things sound very formal and "religious" and they have all sorts of words for it like "redemption" and "salvation" and "atonement" and the like, but to put it simply, all you have to do is believe in Me and you're in-no "religion" necessary. And for good, I might add!
If you're concerned that by believing in Me and letting Me into your life you're going to miss out on a lot of fun, then you have got a lot to learn. Do we ever know how to party in Heaven! Until Heaven, you can have a lot of fun on Earth too. I like to see you happy and enjoying life and its pleasures, and I like to join in on the fun, too. But the key to having real satisfying fun is being loving to others.
So, do we have a deal? Will you believe in Me, and accept My invitation to the greatest happiness in this life and the one to come? Let's start making a Heaven out of Earth now!
-Jesus.