| Constance Continued: �It is easier for him to use against Christians now because they do not believe in sexual sins anymore. He tried to get Christians to disbelieve in God in ages past, now he just gets them to disbelieve in sin.� �Yes, I see that now.� I said. �If Christians do not believe it is wrong to have sex before marriage, or with others outside of marriage, or if some believe it is wrong, but nothing to be punished for�it has the same ultimate effect. They disbelieve God cares or will hold them accountable, or will ever punish them for their wrongs,� she thought for a minute, then said as if to herself, �Yes that will work.� Beginning again she said: �Not five of your earth years ago a Christian entered heaven�s gate. He came expecting great cheering. He came expecting a warm welcome. But only I was sent to greet him. He asked where all his family was, those who had gone on before him. He wanted to see the wife who preceded him in death. �I have been given this message to give unto you,� I told him. �These many years your wife has been watching over you, and your parents and many relatives�all have kept an eye on your progress. They all sent me to tell you that they are very glad you put your trust in Christ because there is certainly no other way you would be here now considering how back-sliding your last years on earth were. Your wife prayed for you daily while you went to bed each night with that young woman you were not married to. Your mother prayed each time that you uncorked your assortment of hard liquor. Your father prayed God�s mercy every time you took that Holy name in vain. Finally they told me to tell you that they will visit you on occasion, even though you live in the lower quarters and they are living nearer to the Mercy Seat of God. They would have come to greet you despite all that you have done, except there was a party this evening. It seems there was this old fellow Christian who just died, and came to heaven. He had few friends and no family while living on earth, particularly in his last years. He lived in poverty and suffered with various untreated ailments just before crossing over. Well they have him in a wonderful place near the Mercy Seat, and such a celebration you have never seen before. Indeed they said they felt so much closer to this brother in Christ, that he was actually a nearer spiritual relative than yourself. Well, this is my message for you.� Constance the Angel then related: �This fellow looked so sad at my words I could almost pity him. He realized then, at the last, that this life you mortals live down here matters. It is not about sex, money, luxury, or becoming famous. It is about being pure, good, and living a Holy life. All the pleasures added together and multiplied by ten thousand cannot equal the joy of a single hour in Heaven. I am not sure child of God that I can explain it any better than that.� I thought then awhile about my many concerns. I considered the hedonistic age that I was living in, and the foolish way so many Christians chase after the pleasures of the world. In light of what Constance had just related to me I began to understand at last. Even though it seems the sinner will go on sinning forever�death will come to them and change all that. As for Christians living in sin: they can surely lose so much reward and honor in heaven, even though that is much better than being cast into hell, they certainly can still suffer loss. They can still shame their relatives and friends who have gone on to heaven before them, as well as those who come after. I could see that now, but I could no longer see Constance�she had disappeared. Karlton Douglas � 2001 Now lest you think this story so much hyperbole, and be tempted to dismiss it out of hand, consider the following verses: Heb:12:1: Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 1Co:3:13: Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 1Co:3:14: If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 1Co:3:15: If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (KJV) YET SO AS BY FIRE! (Is that how you wish to be saved? Barely getting through the gate, empty-handed, and with shameful acts on your record from a back-sliding lifestyle? God Forbid that any of us should acquit ourselves as anything less than the children of our Father, to His Holy and Precious name be Glory Forevermore. Amen.) USE BACK BUTTON ON YOUR INTERNET EXPLORER TO RETURN TO FIRST PAGE. |