Nine Days in Heaven: A True Story (37 page)
She replied with solemn emphasis, “The cross is always in the minds of redeemed spirits. You see it in every aspect of this place. Every flower and every artistic work has the cross in it—as though an invisible hand has woven it throughout. It is the symbol of redeeming love, and all instruction given here is based on it.
“The guardian angels teach the infants about redemption through Jesus and His suffering on the cross. Each group is instructed so that the cross and the Sacrifice are firmly implanted on their minds. In this way the truth of the cross and Sacrifice becomes part of their lives.
“All redeemed spirits are treated in this way. When a soul is stamped with the cross, the resulting glow is obvious to every angel and redeemed person. Because of this, evil spirits or wicked beings cannot hide their real nature. Where the cross does not shine, there is no pure love and no peace with God. Marietta, in heaven there is no possibility of deceit.
“But what you have seen so far is only an introduction to these things. In due time they will be explained further.”
The story resumes at chapter six.
Support From
the Word of God
1.
Jesus said in Matthew 19:14, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
2.
See Genesis 3.
3.
See John 1:12–13; 3:1–17.
4.
See Psalm 139:14.
5.
See Revelation 1:15; 14:2; 19:6.
6.
In Revelation 19:6–9, the church, consisting of all believers, is pictured as the bride of Christ, made holy by His sacrifice. See also Ephesians 5:22–32.
7.
“Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” (Rev. 19:9).
8.
See Matthew 21:16; Psalm 8:2.
T
HIS STORY HAS RESURRECTED THE TIMELESS QUESTION
: “W
HAT
happens to us when we die?” Society taboos make us reluctant to ask it, but it is a question that will not go away.
We have read about remarkable scenes of heaven and hell that seem strange to our earthbound minds. As strange as they may seem, the recurring theme of how we can secure peace with God and eternal life with Him in heaven is solidly consistent with the timeless and oft-told gospel message.
Look again at some of these extracts from the story:
The old man:
“Look what redeeming grace has done!”
The angels’ reprimand of Marietta:
“I must warn you about the unbelief and lack of faith and dedication you showed on earth. For there is no other way apart from Christ, the Redeemer, to find an inheritance in this place.”
Marietta’s cry in hell:
“Oh! If I could have only one hour back on earth—for a time, just a brief time—to make myself fit for heaven.”
Jesus’s words:
“I came so that salvation might be given to the world and that everyone…might obtain forgiveness and eternal life through faith and repentance.”
Finally, from Justice:
“…the sinner will be restored. He will obtain this through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus.”
The story has done far more than awaken us to the world beyond—it has given us the priceless knowledge and opportunity to make peace with God, to have a life with Him on earth, and an eternal life in heaven.
Today can be the greatest day of your life, as you “
enter through the narrow gate
” to meet God and begin eternity with Him.
The Narrow Road
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
—J
ESUS
, M
ATTHEW
7:13–14
Two Destinies
There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, “Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.”
But Abraham replied, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.”
He answered, “Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.”
Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.”
“No, father Abraham,” he said, “but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.”
He said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”
—J
ESUS
, L
UKE
16:19–31
Do Not Ignore It
How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
—H
EBREWS
2:3–4
The Holy City
I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
—J
OHN
, R
EVELATION
21:22–27
Reigning With God
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
—J
OHN
, R
EVELATION
22:1–5
The way is simple, as described above. Repent of your past wrongdoings and, by faith, accept the forgiveness Jesus gained for you. You can do this by this simple prayer:
Lord God, I acknowledge that I have sinned against You. I am sorry for this, and I now choose to change my ways—please help me to do so. I gratefully accept Your forgiveness and Spirit in my life. I thank You that I am now Your child. I will serve You for the rest of my life and for eternity. In Jesus’s name, amen.
