But After This the Judgment

[irishman]

But After This the Judgment
(Fiction--Based on Heb. 9:27)

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

Here am I in this lonely grave, tormented by flames of fire, (Lk. 16:24). Darkness surrounds me as a cloud (Mt. 25:30), and the agony of my sin is upon me. “What will happen now” I wonder, “Is this torment my eternal destiny”? Oh, I remember those fanatics in the factory witnessing to me of the love of Jesus, perhaps I should have listened! It just seemed so foolish at the time though. I hope this is only a temporary suffering, until some sort of debt is paid, I can hardly bear the torment. I guess I should have taken time to go to church, but I can’t help it if I had to work, I had to provide for my family, didn’t I? Surely God understands that! I was a good person, always helping my friends, God must know I was a good person. There must be some sort of a mistake, me being here in this …this…hell.
What am I doing here? What have I done that was so bad? Maybe it was just my time to go, and just as I was beginning to have fun too! Yeah, I remember those fanatics at work, always talking about the “wages of sin” and all that--that seems to be all they know how to talk about—death! I’ll prOBably go to heaven after I suffer awhile, maybe I’ll make plans for a beer party with all my friends! That would really bother those fanatics. Oh, many of my friends cheated on their wives, they prOBably won’t be there when I get there. I am glad I never did that, (that one time up north while deer hunting doesn’t count because I was drunk and not responsible for my actions). Ah, those fanatics prOBably won’t even be there, I always thought I would get there before they did! Those “Holy Joes” took their religion too far, and everyone laughed at them. I’m quite sure that God would not be please with the way they made Him look. They made Him look like a mean God, and not a loving God. How could a loving God send someone to hell anyway?
Something is happening! The grave has opened! Wow, I can get out of here now! Ha! I knew it wouldn’t last long! If only those fanatics could see me now! I wonder what Heaven will look like? This will be great! There are two men waiting for me, they look kind of funny in those white rOBes! That must be my escort. Yeah, we are going up, they are taking me to Heaven! I see a huge white throne, and there is a beautiful rainbow around it. The light is so bright though, I can’t see anyone on it, someone is there, but He shines so brightly I can hardly look on Him. My eyes are not focusing well, prOBably because of being in that dark place for so long. A man has approached from the right, and speaks in a soft, gentle voice, “Come”, that’s all he says, “Come”. He is taking me before the throne. I see many men sitting around in a forum type setting, with large books opened in front of them, they look like a jury panel with their stern looks and all.
There is a very large book in front of the throne, and a man turning the pages slowly. I look around for angels, but I don’t see any flying around, oh well, I’ll go sight-seeing later. A voice like thunder boomed from the throne, and everyone stopped to listen to Him. The brightness faded a little and I could see the image on the throne. The men began searching frantically for something in the books they were reading, and finally, the books were closed. Several of them slowly, and sadly shook their heads, and then there was a moment of silence. Then said the King on the throne to the servants “bind him hand and foot and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Mt. 22:13). I was shocked! “Wait, there must be some mistake. Please, I went to church occasionally, but I was busy.” Somehow I knew that that wasn’t enough, so I shouted “I even prayed at my brother’s funeral, don’t you remember?” “I didn’t even curse you for taking him!” A voice off to the right boomed out, “It is written, ‘and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire’” (Rev. 20:15). “Please” I begged, “You must be mistaken, please check the books again, I’m not a bad person, really.” They began searching the books diligently, half hoping that they had made a mistake, but they must have known that they didn’t. The voice began again, “It is written, ‘but we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness’s are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.’” (Isa. 64: 6). Then I realized that it was more than going to church, and praying, getting baptized, or any of those things people do, there was something yet that must be done, but I wasn’t sure now exactly what it was. I recalled those men at work again, I remembered that they said that no man could see God except through Jesus. (Jn. 14:6). That’s it! That is what was missing in my life—Jesus! He makes the difference between Heaven and hell for us. I blurted out in a panic, “It isn’t fair Lord, I’ve never read those things before, how was I supposed to know them?” That same voice to my right said “It is written again, ‘search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me.’” (Jn. 5:39). I could see clearly now, as if my eyes were opened, but too late. I saw the One who spoke at my right, and noticed the scars in His hands as he gestured to the men to take me away. This was none other than Jesus Himself! I thought he was a myth all this time too!
I realized now that the Bible was there for me all those years of my life, but I considered it nothing more than a fairy tale, and not worthy of my time; and to think that that one Book could have made a difference between eternal life and eternal damnation. Oh, how I wish now that I would have accepted Christ as my savior way back when I was young; now it is eternally too late. I knew I was a sinner, but I always measured myself by others, and how bad they were instead of the Word of God, and how Holy God is. All I had to do was ask Jesus to come into my heart and save me, so easy, yet I failed to do so.
Two men have come and are carrying me away now, to pay the price for my sin (Rom. 6:23a), I struggle to get free, but it is no use, I am doomed forever.

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire…(rev. 20:15)

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched…(Mk. (9:44)

there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth…(Mt. 25:30)

and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever…(Rev. 20:10)

And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever…

and they have no rest day nor night. (Rev. 14:11)


--Gypsy Martindale