Heaven and Hell Read Online Free Page B

wife’s happiness.
    Those five wonderful years passed before her quickly—the sweet Serena lived once again. Her husband had become her whole world. His love had changed the course of her life. Yet somewhere along the road she had missed something crucial, her husband’s love for God. Now she feared that omission might separate them for all eternity. She hoped against hope that she was wrong. After all, she had changed so much during these past five years, did so much good.
    Surely, God would realize that, it was in the vision that played out before the courtroom for all to see. She wasn’t the woman she had been. Through her husband’s church she had clothed the poor, fed the hungry, and visited the sick. She had done all of these things cheerfully and without complaint. Didn’t Jesus say that whenever you did these things for even the least of God’s children, that you had done it for Him? Maybe, just maybe, it would be enough.
    It was difficult to say how much time had transpired when the images before her finally faded. She gazed up at the figure sitting on the throne; He seemed deep in thought. Then He turned His gaze toward the angel who stood behind the podium. “Does her name appear in the Lamb’s Book of Life?”
    The response was immediate and definitive. “No, Lord, her name does not appear in the book.”
    God’s eyes turned toward the woman kneeling before Him. “Then the time has come to pass judgment upon you, child. Serena Farnsworth, the books have been opened, your life’s deeds have been reviewed, and you have been found wanting. Do you have anything to say in your own behalf before judgment is cast?”
    Serena was shaking all over. Somehow she’d hoped that these proceedings would have gone a little better than they had. Chris had warned her about this day, he’d practically pleaded with her to utter those few simple words. Why hadn’t she been able to put her belief in that pagan goddess aside? The goddess wasn’t here to save her now. Only Jesus could have done that. How easy it would have been to avoid all this, to have said the prayer of faith with Chris, but now it was too late.
    But what about her husband? God had just addressed her by her maiden name, not her husband’s name. What could that mean? Her fate was sealed, she knew that. Her concern now was for Chris. She gathered up her courage.
    “My husband,” pleaded Serena, tears flowing down her cheeks. “What’s going to happen to him? Please, Lord, please tell me.”
    The mighty figure upon the throne gazed into the eyes of the distraught woman. There was compassion in His eyes.
    “Peace, be still, child. He of whom you speak is no longer your husband. That is why I call you by your maiden name. Years ago, he accepted the gift that I had offered him, the gift I offer to all humanity. My only Son was sent into your world to prove to all the reality of my love. He became the perfect sacrifice, paying the penalty for the sins of all humanity. Through His sacrifice, all people gained the right to be called my sons and daughters. Chris is now my son, through an act of faith. He dwells even now with a great multitude in Heaven. Let your heart not be troubled, he is in my hands now and forevermore. But you, child, you are no daughter of mine. Nor are you any longer the wife of my son.”
    The radiant figure rose slowly to his feet. All the while His eyes remained fixed upon the woman before Him.
    “Even as you go into outer darkness, know that My mercy endures. I know how dearly Chris loved you. To realize that you were in the hands of satan would burden him with grief for all eternity. Surely, you would not desire such a destiny for him. For this reason, I have removed all memory of your existence from his mind and from the minds of all of the saints. For them it will be as if you had never existed. You shall remember the love you shared, but he will not. It is best that things are this way, for his sake.”
    Serena’s despair