Most people love travelling, and they will have a destination as to where they plan to go. A common way to travel is by railroad. When you come to the railway station, the trains go in two directions. You have to decide which direction you want to go. Sister White saw a vision of people travelling in a train. Almost the whole world was in that train; it continued with great speed, and the conductor of that train was Satan.

“I saw the rapidity with which this delusion was spreading. A train of cars was shown me, going with the speed of lightning. The angel bade me look carefully. I fixed my eyes upon the train. It seemed that the whole world was on board, that there could not be one left. Said the angel, ‘They are binding in bundles ready to burn.’ Then he showed me the conductor, who appeared like a stately, fair person, whom all the passengers looked up to and reverenced. I was perplexed and asked my attending angel who it was. He said, ‘It is Satan. He is the conductor in the form of an angel of light. He has taken the world captive. They are given over to strong delusions, to believe a lie, that they may be damned. This agent, the next highest in order to him, is the engineer, and other of his agents are employed in different offices as he may need them, and they are all going with lightning speed to perdition.

“I asked the angel if there were none left. He bade me look in an opposite direction, and I saw a little company traveling a narrow pathway. All seemed to be firmly united, bound together by the truth, in bundles, or companies. Said the angel, ‘The third angel is binding, or sealing, them in bundles for the heavenly garner.’ This little company looked careworn, as if they had passed through severe trials and conflicts. And it appeared as if the sun had just risen from behind a cloud and shone upon their countenances, causing them to look triumphant, as if their victories were nearly won.” –Early Writings, p. 88–89

Most of the people choose the train that goes to perdition; even millions of professing Christians are on this train.

Moses pointed out two directions to the people in which they could choose to travel. “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to keep His commandments and statutes and His judgments; that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, wither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” Deuteronomy 30:15–19

Moses pointed the attention of the people to two trains, and asked them to choose one of them. Of the 600,000 men (20 years old and older) who left Egypt, two of them chose the right train and entered the Promised Land. They were Joshua and Caleb. All the others perished in the wilderness, although many repented and will be in heaven—as we know Moses is in heaven now.

Sister White travelled often in trains, and she did not waste her travelling time. She said, “Let the literature be distributed judiciously on the trains.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 123

Also she sang and preached on the train. “Experience With Song Service on the Cars. On Sabbath we had a song service. Brother Lawrence who is a musician, led the singing. All the passengers in the car seemed to enjoy the service greatly, many of them joining in the singing.

“On Sunday we had another song service, after which Elder Corliss gave a short talk, taking as his text the words, ‘Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.’ The passengers listened attentively and seemed to enjoy what was said.” –Evangelism, p. 503

Let us look into a religious train, 900 years before Christ. Elijah chose the train that went in the right direction. “And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken Thy covenant, thrown down Thine altars, and slain Thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” 1 Kings 19:10. He thought he was alone, but the Lord told him there were others who also chose the correct train. “Yet I have left Me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal.” 1 Kings 19:18

Elijah also asked the people to choose in which direction they wanted to travel. “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.” 1 Kings 18:21

Several prophets called the people to choose the right way. For exmple, John the Baptist called the people to change their travelling direction and to produce good fruit. “And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” Matthew 3:10

By their fruits we shall know which direction they are going, and in which train they travel. Jesus invited the people, “Come unto Me.” Matthew 11:28. But, very few decided to go to Jesus and follow Him.

Paul and the other disciples invited people to enter into the train of God, and travel to heaven. But, what did Paul experience? He writes, “This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.” 2 Timothy 1:15

One more invitation we find in the Bible, to come into the train of God. “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17

Why does almost the whole world enter the train of Satan, and so few enter the train of God? Maybe the price is too high to buy a ticket into God’s train.

Jesus said, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field: the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Matthew 13:44–46

“Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus unto His disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:21–23

Very few people are willing to pay the price for heaven. It is too high for them. Noah paid a high price; he spent 120 years building the ark. To Abraham it cost him his son, Isaac. To millions of martyrs in the Middle Ages, it cost them their lives.

My friend, which train are you travelling on? Are you going towards heaven, in the train where Jesus is the conductor? Today, we can still change trains, but soon it will be too late. Then the travellers on Satan’s train will cry out a bitter lamentation, “we are lost, forever lost.” Only 144,000 will be saved of those who believe in the Three Angel’s Messages because they are choosing the train of Jesus.

Are you willing to pay the price to enter the train of God and travel to heaven, to the New Jerusalem? Let us pay the price, whatever it is, and make sure that our direction is heaven, New Jerusalem. Amen.

Timo Martin