Neighbors...
If you've been like me, you almost never talk to your neighbors. I could make a long list of excuses of why I don't communicate with them. But that doesn't make me right.
Imagine with me as best you can, the sight of heaven.
Yes, that place so glorious and rich, the "cobblestones" are made of gold. The gates are made of one single pearl. Precious stones are masoned into the wall like concrete is around here. Blinding light streaming in every crook and cranny (if there are even those in heaven) from God's presence.
Yep, now imagine you're in front of this whole magnificent sight... along with EVERYONE you know. Every person you've ever laid your eyes on. Every person you've ever spoken with. Each one of them is lined up to get to see if they're going to enter this breath-taking haven. God's at one of those gates, sitting with scrolls, clay tablets, books, iPads, whatever he's using, laying all around Him. Those are the records of who gets to go in.
Well, you're a child of God. You're confident of your entrance into your final destination. You've prayed "the prayer" and believe Christ came down to die for your sins and rose up again on the 3rd day that you might have eternal life (a life with Christ forever). You've lived a fairly good life, no huge sins unaccounted for or "unconfessed". You loved your family, attended church, faithfully giving tithes.
God checks for your name, finds it in the book of life and says, "Child, I love you. Welcome."
You joyously leap across the threshold into your everlasting home. You get chills down your back from the exhilaration of arrival. But you turn around to see who else is going to join the party.
Unfortunately, you didn't reach out to those around you much, while you were still on earth. Sure, you went on a couple missions trips or donated to several charitable organizations. But you didn't touch everyone around you.
Things are not looking too good for those acquaintances of yours. God searches over and over again for their names in His records, hoping to give a similar welcome as He gave you, but to no avail.
These are the people working at the stores and restaurants, the kids you see on your way to school or work, the people at transportation junctions. These are your neighbors, the ones living RIGHT next to you. And gazillions more...
One of them has been looking over the wall and saw your face. He recognizes you. He points angrily at you and starts talking about you to those still waiting in line.
They begin to shout,
"Hey!! What is [insert your name] doing in heaven? Why didn't [your name] tell us how to get in?"
What will you say when they blame you for their eternity in hell?
How can you even hold your head up, when you know - you had the key to heaven and you didn't let them know? You bore the good news in your mind, the very Gospel of Life. You kept your mouth shut, whether from fear of rejection or laziness or apathy. YOU were their only chance to life and life eternal after death. What will you do then? How can you explain your lack of love for humanity to your Heavenly Father? How can you erase the shame of disobedience to Him?
You can't. It's a huge responsibility, but it's one God has laid on his children.
~CJ
If you've been like me, you almost never talk to your neighbors. I could make a long list of excuses of why I don't communicate with them. But that doesn't make me right.
Imagine with me as best you can, the sight of heaven.
Yes, that place so glorious and rich, the "cobblestones" are made of gold. The gates are made of one single pearl. Precious stones are masoned into the wall like concrete is around here. Blinding light streaming in every crook and cranny (if there are even those in heaven) from God's presence.
Yep, now imagine you're in front of this whole magnificent sight... along with EVERYONE you know. Every person you've ever laid your eyes on. Every person you've ever spoken with. Each one of them is lined up to get to see if they're going to enter this breath-taking haven. God's at one of those gates, sitting with scrolls, clay tablets, books, iPads, whatever he's using, laying all around Him. Those are the records of who gets to go in.
Well, you're a child of God. You're confident of your entrance into your final destination. You've prayed "the prayer" and believe Christ came down to die for your sins and rose up again on the 3rd day that you might have eternal life (a life with Christ forever). You've lived a fairly good life, no huge sins unaccounted for or "unconfessed". You loved your family, attended church, faithfully giving tithes.
God checks for your name, finds it in the book of life and says, "Child, I love you. Welcome."
You joyously leap across the threshold into your everlasting home. You get chills down your back from the exhilaration of arrival. But you turn around to see who else is going to join the party.
Unfortunately, you didn't reach out to those around you much, while you were still on earth. Sure, you went on a couple missions trips or donated to several charitable organizations. But you didn't touch everyone around you.
Things are not looking too good for those acquaintances of yours. God searches over and over again for their names in His records, hoping to give a similar welcome as He gave you, but to no avail.
These are the people working at the stores and restaurants, the kids you see on your way to school or work, the people at transportation junctions. These are your neighbors, the ones living RIGHT next to you. And gazillions more...
One of them has been looking over the wall and saw your face. He recognizes you. He points angrily at you and starts talking about you to those still waiting in line.
They begin to shout,
"Hey!! What is [insert your name] doing in heaven? Why didn't [your name] tell us how to get in?"
What will you say when they blame you for their eternity in hell?
How can you even hold your head up, when you know - you had the key to heaven and you didn't let them know? You bore the good news in your mind, the very Gospel of Life. You kept your mouth shut, whether from fear of rejection or laziness or apathy. YOU were their only chance to life and life eternal after death. What will you do then? How can you explain your lack of love for humanity to your Heavenly Father? How can you erase the shame of disobedience to Him?
You can't. It's a huge responsibility, but it's one God has laid on his children.
~CJ
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