It seems that luxury liner Viking Cruises now aims to set a world record for sailing around the world in 245 days – the longest continuous passenger excursion at sea. The article, citing Forbes magazine, states:
The massive 930-passenger Viking Sun set sail from Greenwich cruise terminal in London on Aug. 31, embarking on its eight-month trip through 51 countries across six continents stopping in 111 ports and making overnight stops in 23 cities, Forbes reported. Trips that cruise around the world typically last up to 120 days.
Passengers will cruise through Scandinavia, the Caribbean and through South America. Viking Sun will continue on to the coast of Australia, and breeze through Asia before it returns to the Mediterranean and Europe next year.
Sailing the world comes with a steep price tag. The Ultimate World Cruise package onboard the Viking Sun costs $92,990 per passenger including meals, beer and wine with lunch and dinner, room service, free Wi-Fi, business class air travel and complimentary excursions at each port. Passengers must be 18 years or older…
The 245-day journey could be unrealistic for most Americans, considering the average person only gets 15 days of paid vacation and holiday time off per year. And those who get it aren’t even using all of it. Around 54 percent of Americans used all of their vacation time, according to a report from Glassdoor from 2018.
As I read this article, I thought about another fantastic trip. Only this one will be much, much longer and cost infinitely more than mere trip around this world. The trip I am referring to is described in the Bible; and it has to do with going to Heaven. It is, of course, a one way trip. And it will last for all eternity.
The Bible also tells us that it will be a trip with a wonderful endpoint. The destination is the most beautiful place imaginable- so much so that the pleasures there are simply indescribable. In the New Testament Book of Second Corinthians, chapter 2, verse 9, we read: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” What is more, these blessings will go on for all eternity! They will never end!
Of course, it goes without saying that the cost of such a trip must be quite expensive. It is - so much so that no human being could ever afford to get to Heaven on his or her own accord. No amount of money, no amount of effort, and no amount of merit can ever qualify any of us for this trip. But praise God, we can still go on this trip!
The reason is because the way has already been paid for us. It was paid for by the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself as a ransom for us in order that we might be made whole and restored to a proper relationship with Almighty God!
All one needs to do to have a home in Heaven is to embrace the forgiveness of God made possible through the grace of Jesus Christ. As Jesus Himself put it:
1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
I hope you have made plans to go to Heaven. If not, I hope you soon will! I’ve made my plans to go and I’d love to spend eternity with you there!
STORY SOURCE: https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/this-could-be-the-longest-cruise-in-the-world-for-nearly-100000.
SCRIPTURE SOURCES:
https://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/2-9.htm;
https://biblehub.com/niv/john/14.htm.