Heaven
I have died. His judgment has passed; I have entered through the gates and stepped into heaven. I have received my salvation, and now sit in a chamber with thousands of others. Never having been as joyful in my entire life, this moment is the pinnacle of all I have struggled for. I am living life at its zenith, and have received my prize.Thank the Lord Almighty.
As if on cue, Christ entered the room and the crowd hushed, awaiting the words of our Savior. As we all sat, He stood, taking a commanding presence at the head of the hall we resided in. As He opened His mouth, the truest voice I have ever known or heard came forth and penetrated my soul, pounding against it until my soul relented and allowed it entrance.
The Messiah welcomed us, saying, “You have been born anew today. This morning you were dead, yet this evening you live for I have saved you. You stood at the gates of my home and I judged you, but forgave all and allowed you passage. Now you sit before me listeningto my words, for much can happen in but a single day.
”
I sat listening intently, but still conscious of those around me. We all leaned forward, occupying only the edges of our seats as we earnestly consumed all that He spoke.
He continued on, “In the life that has passed you read and listened to my Gospel, and some of you brought it to others. Yet I ask you this: have you not understood that which you learned? Was my intent lost on you when I said to love one another? You have all failed me. You have all allowed in sin and spread it about like a plague to all those you meet. You have cursed men, cursed God, defiled your bodies, and failed to shroud yourselves in my Holiness. What justice is there in you being here?
”
As He spoke, tears welled up in the corners of His eyes and His voice, though choked and broken now; I knew must contain a hint of anger within that He did not fully express. As the tears began to stream down the Messiah's face I was stricken, and began to feel a knot form in my chest that cramped me, for I knew He spoke truth.
I prayed His address to us would end soon, but it went on. “Why? Why did you betray me? Why did you let it end like this? I was crucified for all of you! Three nails pierced my skin, one for the Father, one for the Son, and one for the Holy Spirit. That day you were saved while I was sacrificed!
”
All of us were wailing our apologies and sobbing our pleas for grace by now, yet our welcome had not ended.
He ripped his shirt and turned his back to us. “Look at the marks on my back. Look how they bleed. You've all held the whip of sin, and you've all let it kill me. You put these lashes on my back.
”
Then Christ turned again and held out his arms for us to see. “These wounds are from the nails you drove through me when you sinned. Their pain never passes, yet I bear it for you despite all.
”
My Lord pointed to his side, where a gash had sealed over to become a scar. “This is from the spear driven into my abdomen as I died. As if crucifixion had not been enough, this final insult marks me even now, even here.
”
The scenery changed suddenly, and I stood among a crowd of Jews at the crucifixion. His voice thundered as He shouted with tremendous volume “It is finished!
” The curtain of the temple was torn in two and the crowds were silenced as all of Calvary shook. The Savior's body hung crucified and destroyed, shaking as earthquakes pounded against and ruptured the ground. Blood ran from his forehead to his palms to his feet to the wet grass below, and I knew it was my sin that had crucified him. The vision faded, and I found myself in the hall again.
The Lord spoke again. “You also have felt the tragedy of sin. Look at yourselves, and know that each of you carries an unnecessary burden, for sin kept you from passing your concerns onto me. You held the nails that crucified me, but they left marks upon you as well.
”
I wept as the Savior told me what I had never known on earth. Tears ran down my face and into my hands, yet I knew the Lord had already cried much more than I had. I had betrayed Him.
His words continued on. “You have seen and felt my death. It is because of that death that you stand here now, and it is because of that death that I can forgive you. I forgive you. You failed me, but you have my grace because I forgive you. You are here not because of your works or your sins against me, but because of your faith. On account of the faith you had in me, I forgive you.
”
The Savior stepped down and walked among us, healing the wounds our sins had created. He came towards me, and saw my tears. Raising his wounded hands and leaning close, he wiped my face and whispered in my ear, “I love you, and I forgave you long ago. Let me wipe your tears, and let me make your burdens mine.
”
I looked into His eyes and He healed me. My tears became His, and my sins were forgotten. Thank the Lord Almighty.
Courtesy of Reverend fun
Random Scripture
Psalms 63:1 - 2: O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.