“The Grace Game”

Scripture: John 14:2

“In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you” KJV

Oscar dies and goes to heaven --- St. Peter meets him at the Pearly Gates and lays out the rules for entry in the form of “The Grace Game.”

Grace Game Rule 1: It takes 1,000 points to get into heaven

Grace Game Rule 2: You tell me why I should let in heaven and I’ll apply points

Grace Game Rule 3: When you reach 1,000 points you are in

Oscar loved games and was more than up for the challenge.

"Okay, let’s do it," Oscar says, "I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, even in my heart." "Absolutely wonderful," says St. Peter, "that's worth 50 points --- one for each year!"

"Only fifty points?" Oscar says in disbelief. "Well, I attended church all my life and supported it with my tithes, offerings, alms and service." "That’s terrific!" says St. Peter.  "Let’s see --- you are 72 years old --- that's also worth a point a year."

"Only one point a year --- I can’t believe it! Those are my best Christian attributes and it is only 122 points --- I have 878 points to go!

Oscar anxiously searches his past and blurts out, “I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for the homeless --- those lasted 15 years each."

"Wow - fantastic, that's good for 30 more points," said Saint Peter.

"Thirty points!" Oscar cries, "At this rate the only way I will get into heaven is by the grace of God.

St. Peter grabs his hand and gives him a huge hug! "That’s it --- the Grace of God is worth 848 points, you win! --- Come on in."

Oscar is escorted into heaven by St. Peter to a Huge Mansion with his name on it. “Is this for me?” asks Oscar. “Yes, you’ve earned it with your faithfulness to your wife, church and neighbors,” says St. Peter. 

It is a good story and the truth is according to the scripture John 14:2 there are many mansions in my Fathers house. The question that comes to my mind is “how close will my mansion be to my Fathers throne?”

Often I watch the churches I attend fill up from the back to the front, it seems as if few want to have a seat on the front row. Many seem content to get as close to the doors as they can, I guess so they can hurry out the door when the service ends. Some may want to get out the door before the pastor can get to them. Then it could be they just want dollar seats, like at the ballgame. A seat way up there where they can take in everything, no up close and personal with the players, no hundred dollar seat where they can see the expression on the faces of the players. It could be their relationship with God is the same way, not so personal, just believing, only drawing close when tragedy and heartache comes to their life.

Could it be that this is how they will be once in heaven? I don’t think so, I think everyone will want to be as close to God as they can get. One never knows though, it may be that God will figure that if you didn’t want to be close to Him on earth, so your mansion may be way out in the burbs of heaven where you'll feel at home. Maybe some of us need to improve our faithfulness to your wife, church and neighbors, and don’t forget the widows, orphans, soup kitchen and helping the homeless.

Aah, the question, “how close will my mansion be to my Fathers throne?”

Clyde  

Need Jesus Here's How To Get Him

Back to Top

Home

Site Hosted by

Copyright 1999-2006 © All rights reserved