Three Brothers at the Pearly Gates . . .

May 1, 2022 . . .

Once upon a time, there were three brothers. The first brother didn’t believe in God and lived his life fast and loose, answering to no one and doing his own thing. This brother left home and his siblings didn’t see him for a very long time. The second brother was a pretty good guy, at least he told himself he was. After all, he didn’t lie or steal. He gave to some charities and tried to be a good husband to his wife even though he might cuss every so often, especially when his unreasonable boss got on his nerves. On those days his boss was especially difficult he would stop off at Joe’s Bar and have a beer or two. After all, he had earned them, hadn’t he? He might not be perfect, but at least he wasn’t as bad as his older brother. The third brother went to church every time the doors were open. He taught a Sunday school class and sang in the choir. He tithed regularly and served on several committees down at the church. All in all, he considered himself a very religious man. After all, he went to the same church his dear, departed mama attended. He never made a profession of faith and he never talked to Jesus. After all, even though he considered himself a religious person, he didn’t want folks to think he was one of those fanatical religious nuts. As the brothers got older, they found themselves at the funeral of a close friend. The preacher preached from the book of Romans and said to the audience that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. He also told them about Jesus who died to be the sacrificial lamb for their sins. Finally, he told them that you could never be so bad that you couldn’t get to Jesus. He also told them that you could never be so good that you didn’t need Jesus. At the end of the funeral message, the oldest brother who had never said grace, much less deserved grace with the lifestyle he lived, fell under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and gave his life to the Lord. His younger brothers looked at each other with amazement and confusion. The middle brother went home and thought about what he had heard. He opened his Bible for the first time in years and went back to the book of Romans and reread what the funeral preacher had preached. He read the first three chapters of Romans and realized he had lived his life comparing himself to his “bad” older brother and that he too, was lost. Right there on his sofa, He prayed for the Lord to save him. The church going brother went home, hung up his suit and got ready for church the next day. Before he went to bed that night, he prayed to God, “I thank you Lord that I am not like my older brothers. I do so much for you.” That night, in a coincidence that the neighbors talked about for weeks, all three brothers died. All three stood before the Lord at the pearly gates. Only two were able to proceed. In the end, when all is said and done, the only question that is important is what did you do with Jesus?

Be blessed and be a blessing . . . Bro. Andy