This was the Ageless One, the Ancient of Days, who is eternally young. He stepped forward and at His first move the crowd quickly and reverently made way for Him, as flimsy shacks make way for a hurricane. This was a good hurricane, but no one mistook goodness for weakness here. He who had spun the galaxies into being with a snap of His finger, He who could uncreate all that existed with no more than a thought, extended His hand to Finney, as if the hand He extended was that of a plain ordinary carpenter. Everyone knew He was anything but ordinary. His riveting Eyes commanded their full attention. All eyes were fixed on those Eyes. For the moment, it was impossible to look elsewhere, and no one in his right mind would have wanted to.
"Welcome, my son! Enter the Kingdom prepared for you, by virtue of a work done by Another, a work you could not do. Here you shall receive reward for those works you did in My Name, works you were created to do."
And then, with a smile that communicated more than any smile Finney had ever seen, the Great One looked into his eyes and said with obvious pride, "Well done My good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord!"
As the crowd broke out in cheers, Finney felt overwhelmed, and dropped to his knees, then flat on the ground, face down, as if the knees were still too lofty a position before the Lord of Heaven. Out of the corner of his eye he saw everyone else follow his lead and fall flat. Mostly this was out of respect for th One before Whom they bowed, but Finney also sensed the emulation of his form of worship was one of respect for him, perhaps as the new arrival, the party's guest of honor.
"Rise, my son. You bowed your knee to me in the other world, where it was much harder to do so. I know your devotion, and I treasure it. Stand now before Me. You have made your exodus from mortality to life. This is a new world, which I've made for you to enjoy." Finney rose up and the welcoming committee rose too, a half step behind him.
Finney gazed in those Eyes that could have killed him with a look, but which instead conveyed unmistakable approval. But he could also sense something more in those Great Eyes, something different than he would have expected. And then Finney's gaze moved to those Carpenter's Hands that had been placed on his shoulders. On them he saw deep and ugly scars. Flinching at the sight, he looked down at the Feet. They too were torn in a ghastly disfigurement. How could this be? All was to be perfect here, was it not? The first of many surprises.
In a flash of inslight, Finney knew what every child understands about Heaven, that every body there would be perfect, unblemished, and unscarred. But now he saw that the scars of earth were not pretend or imaginary, but very real, and could only be gone here because Someone esle had chosen to take them on Himself. The Carpender's scars would remain forever. The only One who would appear less than perfect in eternity would be the Eternally Perfect One Himself.
Finney looked into the Eyes again, knowing they saw every thought within him. The Perfect and Scarred One said simply, "For you, my son, for you."
fr : Randy Alcorn's novel, "Deadline" (ch 4)
Dearest Carpenter,
I had read this book before my Grandfather H had enter Heaven's gates back in June 2003. This bookfriend opened my eyes to see how Grandfather could see his first great grandson enter this world. They surely passed each other.
Thank You for my Grandmother. Memories are coming ... smells, colors, stories, ... She was ready. I can't help but shed tears. It's only because I am still on the dark shores. There is a Marriage Feast prepared tonight. A reunion. A great celebration. What Joy breaks out on Golden Shores!
~always Your tearful lamb
taken
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