The Day of The Lord had come. The sheep were separated from the goats. Heaven and earth and all of us who were written in the Book of Life were together with King Jesus worshiping YHWY in great bliss and rapturous power with all kinds of praises on our lips...it was the most spectacular thing you could ever imagine and all the wicked were off burning in hell where they deserved to be, out of sight and out of mind. Everything was exactly as I understood it.
I was really getting my groove on and then suddenly King Jesus came and tapped me on the shoulder (He knew me by name) and said, "Hey, me and some of the crew are gonna sneak down to hell and take some water to those folks, wanna come?"
A bit taken back, I asked, "What do you mean? They are getting what they deserve. They did not believe in your name before the deadline (I laughed a little since the pun was intended), they did not confess you as Lord...They crucified you for cryin' out loud, some of them twice!...the scriptures say it is impossible for them to be redeemed, they are wicked and deserve to be destroyed! Don't you remember what they did to me?"
"Actually, I said all things are possible with God", said King Jesus
"That's not the point," I said. "What are you saying? That God has redemptive purposes for vessels of destruction and mercy? Where's the justice in that? What are you some sort of damned universalist?"
King Jesus said calmly, "Well, apparently my Father is and I can only do what I see my Father doing...he is ridiculously patient, not wanting any to perish. Turns out we are going to be doing this until all things are made new, from beginning to end, from height to depth, length to width."
"This is complete RUBBISH!" I declared with furious vengeance. "Don't you have any sense or knowledge of good and evil?"
Just about that time, a voice came from the throne...the Father had been listening the whole time...as thunder cracked and lightening flashed, I heard, "From where have you come?"
I approached the throne boldly and said with a big smile, "In the power of Jesus name, I have been going to and fro on the earth, and walking up and down on it. Making many converts, casting out demons and doing all sorts of wonderful works in your name Lord."
"You travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourself. I ask you again friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment? The dress code was clear...compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as I have forgiven you, so you must also forgive. And above all these you were to put on self-giving, self-sacrificing, unconditional love, which binds EVERYTHING together in perfect harmony."
And just then, to my horror, as I remembered the parable...I was speechless.
Then the wise King Jesus said to the attendants, "Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen."
Then in one final attempt to save myself I screamed out in the assembly, "I claim the body and blood of Jesus!"
King Jesus became stone faced looked right into my soul and spoke..."Will you never learn! Do you not remember when you betrayed me? I dipped the bread in the cup and gave myself to you and immediately you ran off to accuse me and deliver me to the flames. Truly, truly it is better to not take the name, than to take it in vain."
And then He turned his face from me.
