Heaven and Hell (8 page)

Jesus led Chris into the bright mists beyond the great pillars at the threshold of the outer court. For a moment, they seemed to be walking on air, yet it was neither scary nor confusing. After all, Chris was with Jesus.

They walked a few seconds before they materialized on the grounds of a great mansion. The mansion sat in the middle of a rolling grassy lawn, interspersed with flowers of a variety of colors. They lent a pleasant odor to the cool air. Beyond the wide lawn, a forest of tall trees in full summer foliage surrounded the estate.

The mansion itself was of two-story, Southern antebellum architecture, with four grand white pillars supporting a wide porch in front. Several wooden chairs were scattered about the wide wooden porch, and across the arm of one of them was draped a partially completed knitting project. A single strand of yellow yarn ran from the chair and across the porch, ending in a somewhat dismembered ball near the front door of the house. Not far from the ball, a sleeping black cat was curled up, its head facing the two visitors.

Jesus motioned for Chris to proceed toward the house, and they walked toward the four wide steps leading to the front porch. They were nearly there when the cat opened one eye, then two, to inspect the approaching visitors. The cat stood up and moved toward them.

“No, wait,” Chris said. A look of astonishment was on his face as he gazed intently at the yellow eyed cat. “This is incredible! Ebbie?”

The cat’s ears perked up, and she came running straight to Chris. She purred loudly as she moved around Chris’s legs, the way she always had in life. There were tears of joy in his eyes as he picked her up and held her close. Her purring grew louder.

“It’s a miracle,” whispered Chris, with his head next to Ebbie’s.

Chris remembered the last time he had held her, on that terrible spring evening. He had come home from a movie to find her lying along the road dying after being hit by a car. The cat that had brought him so much joy in his youth, the cat that had mourned with him at the passing of his mother, lay alone in the dark. Yet somehow that night, she had hung onto life, gripped it in her tiny paws until he had come home, if only to say good-bye one last time. She died in his arms that night.

The God who loved all of humanity had shown His loving mercy to a small ball of black fur, uniting them once more. Here, two good friends would never have to say good-bye again.

“Thank you,” Chris said, turning to Jesus.

“But, there is more,” Jesus said, motioning to the door.

Chris looked up to see a woman in a green print dress standing by the front door. “Mom?”

His mother, Jennifer, stood there in wide-eyed wonder. This was not the pale, weary woman he watched die in a hospital bed 12 years ago—she looked as she did when Chris was a child, young and full of life, no, even better than that, she looked positively angelic.

Jennifer came running across the porch, down the steps, and into a three-way embrace with her son and his cat. “Oh, Chris, I’ve missed you so much.”

Jesus stepped back to watch the happy reunion, a broad smile on His face. It was more than a minute before emotions subsided enough for words.

“Thank you, Lord,” Jennifer said. “Thank you for saving my son.”

“You taught him well, Jennifer,” replied Jesus. “I’m happy for the two of you.” Jesus turned to Chris. “Here is your starting point. I leave you with a beautiful mansion and wonderful company to share it with. I’m sure that the two of you have much to talk about.”

No, please stay for a while,” urged Jennifer. “I have a freshly baked apple pie cooling on the windowsill, all ready to eat. Please, Lord, join us.”

Jesus smiled broadly. “How could I possibly refuse an offer like that? One of your wonderful pies and such excellent company are not easily turned down.”

The three friends, and their feline companion, retreated to the house. Inside, Chris discovered a mixture of old Southern-style furniture and modern conveniences. It was magnificent.

“Having been born and raised in Alabama, I always dreamed of having a home such as this,” said Jennifer, setting out slices of pie on three plates on the kitchen table for her son and special guest. She placed her arm around her son. “It’s so wonderful to have you here, still, I expected that I would go many more years before seeing you again. I wanted you to have a long life.” There was a moment of hesitation. “And what is it with those clothes? Have fashions changed that much while I’ve been gone?”

Chris laughed. “No, I joined an organization, a club. One of the things we do is help present renaissance fairs. We have a lot of dress-up events. I’d been at a banquet before, well, before I ended up here.”

Jennifer smiled. “My, your interests sure have changed. I seem to remember that you were not all that thrilled with the renaissance festival your dad and I took you to when you were growing up. You were bored. About the only thing that caught your interest was the food, especially that big turkey leg, and that Galileo tent show. Why the big change?”

“Oh,” said Chris. “I’m still not all that interested in it; but, you see, I met this special friend, who….”

“Yes, go on,” urged Jennifer.

The smile vanished from Chris’s face. “I don’t remember. I really don’t. It all seems so distant now, my life on Earth, that is. I know it was only just a few hours ago, but, right now, it seems like forever ago and a billion miles away. There is so much I don’t remember. That bothers me.” Chris turned to Jesus.

“Don’t be concerned, Chris, it is normal. It is part of our Father’s plan. You see, there are parts of your life on Earth, memories that could cause you pain here, things that you had no control over. Until you have the inner strength, the spiritual maturity, to face them, you will not remember them. Some things will come back to you over time, others will not.”

Chris had to think about that one for a moment. “I’m sorry, Lord, I don’t know that I totally understand.”

Jesus took Chris’s hand in His. “When I walked upon your Earth, I spoke to all who would hear my voice. I spoke to people around the dinner table, at the temple, even on the road. Many times, I addressed thousands, bringing to them the good news that there was hope of eternal life. They didn’t have to be separated from God anymore. They could come directly into His presence, commune with Him, even as I did. My heart went out to every one of them. I loved each and every one of them. I died for all of them, anyone who would accept and believe what I had to say. I showed all the way out of their sins, the way out of Hell. Do you understand?”

“Sure,” Chris said. “I heard and believed.”

“Yes,” confirmed Jesus, “you did, but many more did not. I knew the content of their hearts from the moment I saw them. I knew that many would not accept the good news, but I had to give it to them anyway. They had hardened their hearts. Even as I spoke to them, I knew what they would do. I loved them so much, but knew that they were on the road to eternal separation from our Father. Can you understand what that feels like?”

Chris nodded.

“I cannot tell you how many times I wept over that very thing. I didn’t desire for them to die in their sins, but even I, the Son of Man, was powerless to prevent it. What the Father has done for you is to spare you from this pain.”

“I think I understand now,” said Chris. “I’m not going to remember loved ones who are not coming here to Heaven, those sentenced to Hell.”

“That is true,” said Jesus. “Still, the time may come when you desire to know all that transpired during your life on Earth, that you might profit from the experience. That is a big step, and it can be painful. Most people never come to that point. They decide that they don’t really want to know. If that day does come for you, the knowledge is yours; our Father will not forbid it. You will know of those lost ones, but that knowledge will not stir within you the feelings that you had for them on Earth. You will be spared that pain. You will know of them without truly knowing them. Even still; that knowledge carries with it a burden. Do not enter into such a decision lightly. I believe that your mother has sought some of that knowledge in her short time here.”

“I have,” Jennifer said, “but only a little bit, and not for years. I had to know what was going on with my family, my son, back on Earth. But it can be painful; I found that out really quickly. Chris, honey, once you get to feeling just a bit more comfortable here, I’ll show you how. But get settled in here first. It’s an entirely different world; you need some guidance at first. My own grandparents were my guide, I will be yours.”

Chris was starting to feel a bit uncomfortable with this subject. He realized that there were many adjustments to make. “You know, I was just thinking, I didn’t realize that people ate food in Heaven. I didn’t think they needed to.”

“We really don’t,” Jennifer said. “But I suppose old habits are hard to break.”

“Especially when we are talking about your mother’s wonderful apple pies,” said Jesus. “During my time on Earth, the Pharisees often criticized Me because I loved a good meal, a good glass of wine, and the pleasant company that went along with it. Some called Me a glutton and a drunkard. There will always be those who will find fault with what we do. Many saints here in Heaven have abandoned eating because it is no longer necessary to sustain life. They wish to spend that extra time seeking a closer relationship with the Father. I understand their reasoning, but I have not given up the partaking of food. I have found that conversations held over a dinner table tend to be among the most sincere. That is when people are the most likely to open up to you.”

“My son will be well fed and well looked after here,” said Jennifer, a broad smile on her face. “I’ll see to that.”

Jesus glanced over at Jennifer. He laughed openly. “I’m quite certain of that.” Then he returned his gaze to Chris. “Your mother will take good care of you, now that you are here. She loves you very much. Listen to her Chris, consider all that she tells you, I know that her council will be sound. She has much to teach you.” There was a brief pause.

“But understand this; Heaven is not a final destination for humankind. In your modern era, you have places for the older members of your society, some call them rest homes, others rehabilitation centers. Heaven is not a place such as this. It is not simply a place of rest. As I told you before, your spiritual growth has just begun. Here, with a closer, more intimate relationship with the Father, you will grow greatly in knowledge and wisdom. You will develop God-given gifts that you cannot yet imagine. Many are called, but few are chosen. Chris, you are one of the chosen; that is why you are here. One day you and the other children of God living here, shall be called to God’s highest purposes.”

Now, Chris was really intrigued. “Which is?”

“One of my dearest servants, the one I personally called on the road to Damascus, told you a little bit about it in his letter to the Corinthians. He told you that you would judge the angels. It is a responsibility handed to you directly from the Father. You were created a little lower than the angels, but, in time, your wisdom and authority will far exceed theirs. For many here in Heaven, that is already true. Do you now see why satan and his minions hate you so much?”

“Yes,” replied Chris, “but I don’t think I ever really grasped it like I do now.”

“And as time passes, you will understand still more,” Jesus said. “Another thing, and this is very important; God needs from you your love and devotion. Some people feel that the Father literally feeds on your adoration and worship. Your generation might say that He is on a power trip. Let me assure you that this is not the case, far from it. Understand how much the Father loves you. Most of you can not even comprehend the depth of that love. He needs you to love Him just as much as you possibly can, as He loves you. It is not so much for His benefit as it is for yours. Coming into an intimate relationship with the Father is critical if you are to grow in mind, wisdom, and power. You need to one day become as I am now, and you will, if you come to know the Father as I do.”

Chris was, to say the least, astonished. “Become like you?”

Jesus laughed openly. “Don’t be so surprised that I tell you this. It happens to be true. I have no doubt you will succeed. It takes much work and perseverance, but the results are well worth the effort. You will see.” Jesus rose from His chair, having finished the pie. “Thank you, Jennifer, that was wonderful. As I said, I have had many a pleasant and meaningful conversation over a good meal. I have enjoyed this one, but I must be on my way. Keep asking questions, Chris, don’t hesitate. That is how we grow spiritually.”

Jennifer and Chris accompanied Jesus to the door. It was then when Chris worked up the nerve to ask his last question.

“Lord, I suspect that there is something else, something that you are not telling us. What happens when we finally become like you? God has a plan for us, doesn’t He?”

Jesus turned to Chris. The twinkle in His eye, His broad smile was almost magical. “Yes.”

There was a moment of silence. It was Jennifer who pursued her son’s question. “And that would be what? I don’t know either.”

“Along the way to that goal, you will be given growing responsibilities. Some of you will reign with me over Earth for a thousand years. You will gain valuable experience.”

“And after that?” asked Chris.

Jesus walked about half way across the porch before turning once more. “That is a conversation for a later time. You are not as yet ready for that answer. But I will tell you this much; it will be challenging, yet glorious beyond your comprehension. When the time comes, you will be ready. My blessings on you both. We will speak again, many times, I promise you.”