It was only a dream.<\/p>\n
Yet, for an eternal moment I felt as if I were the only person in the universe, floating through a vast darkness \u2014 no light, anywhere.<\/p>\n
Then, off in the distance, I saw a blinding white light such as I\u2019d never seen before.<\/p>\n
As I approached the light, I became increasingly aware of all the sinful actions of my life.<\/p>\n
But it was more than that. I also became extremely aware of my attitudes, past thoughts and prejudices \u2014 so much so that I wanted to leave my body. I wanted to jump out of this dirty sinful self and into the bright Holy Light \u2026<\/p>\n
But I could not.<\/p>\n
Instead, I entered the brilliant unknown realm just as I was \u2026<\/p>\n
I was greeted by someone that I perceived to be an angel. Unlike the angels I\u2019d always imagined, this being had no wings, no harp, no baby face. He did not sit on a cloud of white.<\/p>\n
However, he was extremely beautiful.<\/p>\n
\u201cWelcome,\u201d said the angel.<\/p>\n
I could not tear my eyes away from the beautiful light that radiated from his face.<\/p>\n
Again, \u201cWelcome.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHello,\u201d I muttered, \u201cwhere am I?\u201d<\/p>\n
He smiled and said \u201cSurely you received and accepted our invitation, or you would not be here. You must know where you are.\u201d
\n
\u201cNo, no ..\u201d I said, \u201cplease tell me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the Kingdom of God. All is beauty, all is holy, all is love. Everything \u2014 including YOU (my dirty little man) is here because God wills it to be so.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I\u2019m not worthy,\u201d I sighed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. You are right, you\u2019re not,\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n
For the first time since my arrival, I was able to peel my eyes away from his radiant face and scan the holy land. I cannot describe for you this place \u2026 its beauty \u2026 the light.<\/p>\n
Then suddenly, my eyes glimpsed someone I knew \u2014 a sinner from earth! I said to the angel \u201cSurely you must be mistaken. I am not in heaven \u2014 for look there, that man is a sinner! I knew him. I doubt he believed in Jesus Christ \u2026 and, as far as I know, he never went to church a day in his life! What is he doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was invited,\u201d said the guide. \u201cHe came.\u201d<\/p>\n
For a brief horrifying moment, I saw my own reflection in his beautiful face.<\/p>\n
As we traveled along, I saw others that I knew \u2014 both sinners and saints. I was very confused \u2014 and yet, at the same time, quite overwhelmed. I asked my guide many questions. But his answers all had something to do with \u201cthey were invited,\u201d \u201caccepted our invitation,\u201d or, \u201cbecause God wills it to be so.\u201d<\/p>\n
Suddenly, I stopped dead in my tracks. There stood Jack Tyndall. I despised him! Oh, how I hated him!<\/p>\n
I turned to the light-filled being and said, \u201cI can\u2019t believe he is here! I cannot stand him!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, remember,\u201d said the angel, \u201cremember \u2026 once, twice \u2014 you prayed for him.\u201d<\/p>\n
[He\u2019s right. Although it almost killed me, I did make it a habit to pray for my enemies.]<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that why he\u2019s here?!\u201d I whined.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo \u2014 that\u2019s how you got in,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
My head began to swim with confusion. Sure, I\u2019d prayed for my enemies \u2014 but, I surely hadn\u2019t prayed that I\u2019d spend eternity with them!<\/p>\n
Then, almost like a staged parade, one by one, enemies and scoundrels alike all passed before me. I started yelling at my angelic guide.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut she\u2019s an adulteress! Everyone knew she slept around all over town. She had no morals.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGod invited her,\u201d he said. \u201cEverything changed when she accepted our invitation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHim! I can\u2019t believe this, surely I\u2019m in the wrong place. I mean, that guy cared for nothing but money! He had no faith!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn you maybe,\u201d replied the angel, \u201cbut, in his time he donated much money to the Church and to charitable causes allowing many to live a better life to the glory of God. You may not have recognized it on earth but, here, we look into one\u2019s heart \u2014 and his is as big as the moon and filled with the love of God.\u201d<\/p>\n
By now, I\u2019d started to cry. I saw nothing before me but people I\u2019d hated. Where were the folks that I loved. Where was my wife? My mother? My father? Grandmother? Where were all of my friends who\u2019d died?<\/p>\n
Almost on the brink of hysteria, I turned to the glowing creature and pleaded \u201cBut, where are my loved ones?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy should they be here?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me!\u201d I shouted. \u201cBecause I love them! They are my family! No, maybe they weren\u2019t all perfect \u2014 but they were good folks. Please, oh please, tell me where are my loved ones?\u201d<\/p>\n
He, too, shed a tear. The light subsided a bit, and he showed me his hands, his feet and side. In an instant, I recognized Him.<\/p>\n
In that same moment, I became white as snow \u2014 no longer feeling dirty and unworthy.<\/p>\n
He said to me, \u201cI, too, know love. And it is my love that has brought you, and these people, to this Kingdom. Many whom you love are here also, but you should know that they are no more loved than these whom you hate. For they are all My family. I am the Judge. My Father has given me the reign of His Kingdom. And as you know, I opened my heart for the love of the world \u2014 that those who love Me might inherit eternal life.\u201d<\/p>\n
He then vanished from my sight \u2026<\/p>\n
\u2026 and all those who were before me changed.<\/p>\n
No.<\/p>\n
I changed.<\/p>\n
I saw clearly, for the first time, that these were not my enemies. They were \u2026 my family.<\/p>\n
All things became clear \u2026 \u201cGod so loved the world \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJesus died for your sins.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGod\u2019s will \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGod\u2019s invitation \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGod.\u201d<\/p>\n
I became overwhelmed with joy! There was shouting, dancing, music and, spread before me \u2014 the family, and all the hosts of heaven \u2014 was a great feast surrounding the throne of Light!<\/p>\n
But, someone was missing. Where was the guide who\u2019d brought me to the banquet? \u2014 who\u2019d opened my eyes?<\/p>\n
Where was the Christ \u2014 Who\u2019d taught me so much? Where was He who loved me? Where was He that had died that I might live? He was with me just a moment ago \u2026<\/p>\n
Turning to my neighbor, I asked \u201cWhere is He? The Bridegroom?\u201d
\n
He nodded in the direction of the gate through which I had entered \u2014 and there stood the Lord Jesus, sadly waiting by the entrance to the Kingdom.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong? Why does he stand there so sullen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s waiting for Judas\u201d \u2014 came the reply.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s waiting for Judas.\u201d<\/p>\n
**<\/strong><\/p>\n God\u2019s wait by the gate may just as well be for me, for you, or anyone who is unrepentant. For God\u2019s Love is immeasurable, as is His forgiveness. Yet unless we turn unto Him, believe and repent, we may miss out on the Great Reward that He has prepared for us. Both Peter and Judas were called to follow Christ. The difference between these two disciples is repentance. It is only through repentance that we are granted, through the Holy Spirit, the freedom to enter into the Joy of the Father\u2019s Kingdom, through His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.<\/p>\n For as St. Paul\u2019s letter to Timothy tells us \u201cGod desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as ransom for all \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n ** Literary devices used are for the benefit of the reader and not intended to support the doctrine of apocatastisis (the doctrine that ALL shall be saved).<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It was only a dream. Yet, for an eternal moment I felt as if I were the only person in the universe, floating through a vast darkness \u2014 no light, anywhere. Then, off in the distance, I saw a blinding white light such as I\u2019d never seen before. As I approached the light, I became […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1691,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2350","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n