I once heard a story about the difference between Heaven and Hell.
A man dies; he’s met in a kind of divine foyer by an angel and taken to a huge room with a long table, covered with plates and bowls heaped with delicious food. There are people sitting all along both sides of the table, but they look angry, frustrated — and famished. Suddenly the man notices that none of the people have elbow joints.
They’re all desperately trying to feed themselves, and they can’t reach their mouths.
The angel says, “This is Hell.”
Then the man is whisked by the angel to another room that looks exactly the same –long table heaped with food; people down both sides, no elbow joints ... but these people look happy and well-nourished.
“This is Heaven,” the angel says.
Then the man looks closer, and sees that all the people are feeding each other across the table.
There are perhaps several points embedded in the story, but one that stands out to me is that much of life is about perspective. It has been said that life is not about the cards that you are dealt; rather it is how you play the cards that you have been dealt. God has placed you here on earth for a reason. And if you are reading this post, then you can assume that you still have one. I believe the best way to find that purpose is by helping others.
While reading, "Savior or Servant?" (Putting Government in its place) I came upon this quote from the book of Acts:
"No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had" (4:32). The author goes on to explain this verse by saying the following: "In this case, an extra ordinary enthusiastic community of Christians cared more for eternal values then for their own material assets." I John 3: 16-17 teaches, "But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."
“This is Heaven,” the angel says.
Then the man looks closer, and sees that all the people are feeding each other across the table.
There are perhaps several points embedded in the story, but one that stands out to me is that much of life is about perspective. It has been said that life is not about the cards that you are dealt; rather it is how you play the cards that you have been dealt. God has placed you here on earth for a reason. And if you are reading this post, then you can assume that you still have one. I believe the best way to find that purpose is by helping others.
While reading, "Savior or Servant?" (Putting Government in its place) I came upon this quote from the book of Acts:
"No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had" (4:32). The author goes on to explain this verse by saying the following: "In this case, an extra ordinary enthusiastic community of Christians cared more for eternal values then for their own material assets." I John 3: 16-17 teaches, "But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."
I admit that this is all very challenging so maybe something you can do is give someone a little glimpse of heaven right here on earth. My mentor told me that the best way to look like Jesus is by serving others. So go ahead and welcome people to heaven.
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