A Living Nightmare

Revelation 12:8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.

One of the worst nightmares that I have ever had was about being in heaven. That may sound strange, but let me explain. I dreamed that I was standing inside the Pearly Gates, looking out through golden railings, into the mist that surrounded heaven.

At first, everything was quiet and peaceful, heavenly even, but then I felt tense and uncomfortable. As my anxiety increased, people started walking out of the mist and came up to me, one by one. I recognized their faces - family, long time friends, people in the community, even one-time church members. And everyone of them wailed the same thing, over and over again, "Why didn't you make me listen? Why didn't you make me listen?"

I woke up, drenched in sweat. The dream terrified me, and ever since then, I've tried to preach the Gospel in straight-forward ways. It's not a popular thing to do, and some people get offended or feel uncomfortable at times, including myself, but it's the only way that I know to help people keep on the right path, the right path that will eventually lead them into heaven.

That's the passion for my life, to help people get into heaven. Nothing else is as important. Everything else is either just a delusion or a distraction. I know that most people don't think that way, but I don't have that luxury. If I don't believe enough in Christ, if my faith is not strong enough, then other people may lose their place in heaven. And that is a nightmare to me.

Please, whoever you are and wherever you are today, make and take time to reconnect with God. Pray for your loved ones to do the same, and help them, in every way you possibly can, to make them listen to the Gospel.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we all want to go to heaven and to live forever in Your company. To do this, we've got to listen to Your message and give You our hearts. Help us to stop putting this important act of faith off, and enable us to encourage all our loved ones to do the same. In Your Holy Name, we sincerely pray. Amen.