Tara's Heartbeat

What have you done with Jesus? What have you brought to My Son, God's voice booms like the sound of thunder?

He waits for me to respond. His words echo through my mind as I humbly bow at His Throne. The Glorious brightness of His countenance is so overwhelming that my eyes cannot behold Him. Everything within me cries out for mercy, yet I know that I am hopelessly wretched and spiritually blind. I am guilty and ashamed.

"Look up, child," His mighty but loving voice insists.

" I raised my head and looked into His face. His piercing eyes penetrate my heart and soul, as He searches for any evidence of Truth within me. I cannot look at Him any longer. All I can do is bow before Him, lowly and ashamed, and still unable to answer Him."

A minute passed, yet it seemed as though a million years has gone by. Then suddenly He spoke.
"Did you take Jesus with you throughout each day, or did you push Him aside for the maddening world instead? Were you able to take him into all of the places you went, or did you conveniently leave Him outside the doors?"

"My guilty heart displayed my shame and regrets, and again I bowed my head without an answer."

"Was Jesus the center of your home? Was He the unseen guest who silently listened for you to call on Him? Or did you push him into the darkened closet of the recesses of your mind, and hide Him there until an urgent need arose?" God asked, as He watched for her reaction.

"Hot stinging tears coursed down my cheeks, as His words tore deeply into my heart. I wanted to cry out for Him to stop, but I knew that He still had much to say."

"Did you listen for His still small voice, as He beckoned you to do His Will, God asked? Did you purposely disregard the times that He asked you to serve Him? Perhaps other people and other things were more important to you? Very soon, you will stand before My Son, and tell me if you can, what rewards will you have to lie at His feet? What sorrow you will experience, if you come before Him empty -handed, guilty and ashamed!"

"His words caused my betraying memories to remember all the times I had told Him, No! I knew all of the things He did for me; even things He did for me when I did not deserve His protection and help. But, my life was mine, I thought. I knew that at some point, I would drag myself out of the complacency and selfishness to which I was accustomed. And now that day has come. So I stood up, with the intention to never look back but just to ran as fast as I could until I reached Heaven's door. I ran and searched for an exit until I could run no longer."

His mighty voice echoed through the corridors, "Wait! There is no escape!"

"In defeat, I stopped and turned to look at God. "I am guilty of all the things you have mentioned. I am not worthy to bow at His feet. I have wasted my life doing things I thought important. I wanted my ways, my things, my wishes, and only now do I realize errors of my selfishness."

Silence whispered through the Throne Room. God stood looking at her with tears in His eyes. She was sobbing, her hands covering her face. Suddenly she stopped crying, and moved closer to where God was standing. Then she took a deep breath and spoke.

"Several years ago, I willingly received His gift of Salvation. I am sure You remember. For a while, I served Your Son faithfully. But one day, I ran into an old friend and she invited me to go to a meeting with her. I knew nothing about the New Age Cult, but it did not take long before I was steeped in their religion. I fell out of love with Jesus and slipped quietly back into the world. My friends from church kept calling me, but I ignored their warnings. I often thought about Him, and I knew the things that they taught were not right. I became confused and finally in desperation I left the New Age crowd, but still I no longer wanted to serve Him.

Last night, right before the accident that brought me here, I was thinking about Jesus and how awful I had been and how messed up my life had become. Just seconds before I died, I told Him that I was sorry. Still yet, I know that I deserve to go Hell, because of my disobedience and lack of good works! I am guilty; God, and I know there is no time left now for repentance. So call for an angel to come and take me to Hell!"

God sat down on His throne, then he motioned for her to come and stand by Him, and she obeyed.

"Listen to Me, child. Your name has been written in the Lamb's Book of Life since the day you accepted Jesus as your Savior. His blood set you free from Hell's reach. My Grace and Mercy, not your works, has brought you here, and here you will stay! Your eternal rewards are lost because of your disobedience and lack of service, and you will have no crowns to lie at His feet. But His love is sufficient and this is now your new home. Welcome Home!" -

Tara Hart © 2004 All rights reserved.

This story will one day become reality and we all will face God. The question is will you stand before Him like the girl in the story did? Will you go empty handed and ashamed and with no crowns to lie at His feet? Right now Jesus is preparing the mansions in Heaven for His children's homecoming. Will you go there to live in a poor man's cottage, or will you have a mansion with riches untold? The choice is completely up to you. The treasures you lay up in Heaven while on earth will be tried by fire. The precious souls and the good deeds and your service to Him, will determine your rewards.

All about us our signs of His coming, so dare we slumber when so many souls are still lost?

It is now Harvest Time, and the reapers are few. We must diligently work for the night is far spent and time is of the essence. Will you stand before Him with tear filled eyes, or will you be one of those who will be rejoicing?

What will you do with Jesus? What will the Great Judge see in your eyes? The answer to that question is entirely up to you. Choose wisely.