Once upon a time there was a little boy walking down the street. As he walked down the street he saw a man coming the other direction. The man was yelling something and as he got closer he began to hear what the man was saying.
The man was saying, "Tickets to Heaven, tickets to Heaven, get your ticket to Heaven."
Well the little boy wanted a ticket to Heaven just like anyone would, so he went up to the man and asked for his ticket to Heaven. He said, "How much does it cost?"
The man explained that you cannot buy a ticket to Heaven. The only way to get a ticket to Heaven is to have someone else purchase the ticket for you. So the boy went looking for someone to purchase a ticket for him.
Who do you suppose was the first person he ran into?
If you guessed the devil, you are right. The little boy said, "Would you buy me a ticket to Heaven?" And the devil told him all you have to do to get a ticket to Heaven is be a good boy. So the boy tried to be as good as he could be for many days.
Then again he saw the man coming down the street selling tickets to Heaven. He went up to the man in he said, "I have been a good boy for several weeks."
But the man selling tickets said, "I told you already, being good will not get you a ticket to Heaven, someone must purchase your ticket to Heaven." So the little boy went looking again for someone to buy him a ticket to Heaven.
Guess who showed up again, dressed in different clothes? If you guessed the devil, you are right again. The little boy asked him again, "Would you buy me a ticket to Heaven?" And the devil said, "You don't have to buy a ticket to Heaven, you just have to go to church every Sunday." So the little boy went to church every Sunday for several weeks.
Then, one day he saw the man again coming down the street hollering, "Get your tickets to Heaven." The little boy ran up to the man and said, "I have gone to church every Sunday for several weeks. Can I please have a ticket to Heaven?"
The man repeated himself one more time for the little boy, "You do not get to Heaven by going to church every Sunday. You get to Heaven when someone else purchases your ticket."
So the little boy went looking one more time for someone to purchase him a ticket to Heaven. And guess what happened again? If you guessed that he met up with the devil who was dressed in a different disguise than before, you are right again. He asked the devil, "Would you please buy me a ticket to Heaven?" The devil answered, "You can get your own ticket to Heaven if you just obey your parents and be good."
So the little boy went home and tried his very best to obey his parents. After several days he was walking down the street again, and once again he met the man selling tickets to Heaven. He ran up to the man and said, "I have obeyed my parents as good as I can for many days. May I have a ticket to Heaven?"
Again the man explained that the boy could not get a ticket to Heaven on his own. By now the poor boy was confused. The devil had done his job well. And the boy began to cry.
Just then Jesus showed up. Jesus likes to show up when we cry. He asked the little boy why was he crying. The little boy explained that he didn't think he would ever be able to go to Heaven because he could not buy a ticket.
Then Jesus wrapped his arms around little boy and wiped his tears away, and said, "I have already bought your ticket. All you need to do is ask me for it."
Boys and girls, your ticket to Heaven has already been purchased by Jesus. Being good, obeying your parents, and going to church are things that Jesus likes to see you do, but they will not get you into Heaven. The only way for you to go to Heaven is to ask Jesus to forgive you for your sins, come into your heart, and be your savior. That's your ticket to Heaven.