In 1965, The Impressions released a song written by Curtis Mayfield.

People get ready, there’s a train a comin’ 
You don’t need no baggage, you just get on board 
All you need is faith, to hear the diesels hummin’
Don’t need no ticket, you just thank the Lord

So people get ready, for the train to Jordan 
Picking up passengers coast to coast 
Faith is the key, open the doors and board ’em 
There’s hope for all, among those loved the most

There ain’t no room for the hopeless sinner 
Who would hurt all mankind, just to save his own, believe me now
Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner 
For there is no hiding place, against the kingdom’s throne

People get ready, there’s a train a comin’ 
You don’t need no baggage, you just get on board 
All you need is faith, to hear the diesels hummin’
Don’t need no ticket, you just thank the Lord

Christians, we’re on board that train—we hopped on board when we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Our destination is to reign and rule with Christ, which has always been God’s intention for humankind. Our poor choices and the resulting sin would have made that impossible if not for the “Jesus train.” When we get on board, we leave the baggage of our sin in Jesus’ hands, and we are renewed and transformed as the journey progresses.

Praise is the key to this progression. It is the ignition key that activates and grows our faith. As our faith grows and our connection with the Holy Spirit strengthens, we learn to pray powerful prayers to overcome evil. This chain reaction isn’t a one-time-through-and-done occurrence, but a loop that we reprise over and over again on our train ride, like the chorus of a song. And while going through the praise loop, we experience glimmers of our destination—reigning and ruling with Christ—along the journey.

Excerpt from upcoming book: P R O G R E S S