Crown |
| Posted by Mark (mark) on Mar 31 2008 at 8:25 PM |
A crowd of witnesses stirred with emotion as two new entrants made their way toward the front. A crown lay before them upon a regal throne, adorned with precious gems and draped with purple linens. Murmurs and garbled conversations flowed; ebbing from one end of the mighty hall to the other. The balconies overflowed with Angelic beings, all straining to afford their neighbor a better view. A new angel, born that day, turned to his companion and asked, “Why is there only one crown?”
“These two men lived very different lives on earth.” Pointing to the first he said, “Samuel lived a good life. He’s a good man. Raised a healthy family and was mindful of God.” Now looking to the second man, who’s head hung low and was trailing behind the first, he said, “James did not live a good life. He was a liar and a cheat, and his sensual desires got the best of him. He does not believe he should be here. That’s why he hangs his head.”
A silence pressed itself upon the crowd now as God entered, picked up the crown and sat upon the throne. “Come forward Samuel and James,” said he, that mysterious voice washing the crowd. The two of them hesitated, wading through an unctuous wonderment, with James still lagging behind, slinking slowly, fearfully to the front. “Welcome to my home Samuel. All I am is yours.” Samuel was enveloped in those eternal arms, finally whole and complete. Arriving at the front, James would not look up. “James, stop hanging your head, your crown will not sit atop it like that.”
“James gets the crown?” asked the new Angel once more.
“Yes. For all the wounding in his life, he expended every ounce of his will, not to descend further into sin.”
“And Samuel doesn’t get a crown?”
“Samuel was fortunate enough to have love worked very thoroughly into his life, all throughout it. But he often resisted it, not satiating the hunger of generosity and mercy that rumbled in his belly.”
