Don’t Climb the Escalator
Pastor Mark Cares
I have flown through Chicago’s O’Hare airport quite a few times. One thing I never tire of is walking through the 800-foot tunnel connecting two terminals. Music plays while you are surrounded by ever-changing lights. At both ends of the tunnel are sets of steep stairs and escalators taking you up to the terminals.
Over the years, I have taken note of the different ways people used the stairs or escalators. A minority took the stairs. I assume some did it for the exercise. It was obvious others ran up them because they were afraid of missing their flights. Most rode the escalators. But not all in the same way. A couple of times, when they were crowded, someone decided to jump off them onto the stairs so they could reach the terminal more quickly.
Most people stayed on the escalator. Some, however, weren’t content to let it do all the work. They climbed it like stairs.
All this reminds me of Jesus’ statement, “I am the way” (John 14:6). Although it’s familiar, many people haven’t it given much thought. Many picture Jesus, the way, like the yellow brick road in the Wizard of Oz. That is, Jesus is the road to heaven but you still must walk on it. This can be understood correctly. But it is also often misunderstood as people, consciously or unconsciously, equate walking the road with having to do something to get to heaven.
To avoid this, I like to picture Jesus as being the moving sidewalk or better yet as the escalator to heaven. This emphasizes that it’s all his doing - an idea strengthened when we add the thought that we don’t step on the escalator. Rather, the Holy Spirit placed us on it by bringing us to faith.
Now back to what I have observed at O’Hare. Many people don’t use Jesus the escalator. They take the stairs. They try to get to heaven by their own exertions. Then there are those who don’t stay on the escalator. Tragically, they lose their faith.
A much more common error is trying to climb up the escalator by adding something of their own to Jesus’ work. A blatant example is this verse from the Book of Mormon: “By grace are we saved after all we can do.” Countless Mormons have become bone weary and stressed-out because of this passage.
There is, however, a subtler way of trying to climb the escalator – a way we constantly have to be on our guard against. It’s adding an “and” to our reason for going to heaven. The “and” can be anything. “I believe in Jesus and”. “I try to be good”. Or “I’m a lifelong believer”. Fill in the blank. Adding an “and” negates our trust in Jesus. It’s like saying you trust a chair will hold you if you stand on it while insisting on keeping one foot on the ground.
When it comes to going to heaven, there are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. It’s all about letting Jesus take us to heaven. Period. Jesus emphasized that. In the very next chapter of John, Jesus repeatedly says to “remain” in him and his word. As one person said, “Progress for the Christian is standing beneath the cross.”
Don’t climb the escalator. Rather relax and enjoy the ride. Remain confident that you will spend eternity in heaven because Jesus did it all for you.
Guest writer: Pastor Mark Cares, founder of Truth In Love Ministry. Mark will begin a weekly podcast, Diving into God’s Word, in mid-September. You can find it wherever you listen to your podcasts or at his website, markjcares.com.