The Fool's View of Heaven

A Parable

A Fool died and went to heaven. He stood outside the gates, waiting his turn. Everyone in line chattered happily, so excited to get inside. He didn't know what all the fuss was about. He'd heard of heaven, of course, and hell, but he didn't see that it mattered much.

Finally it was his turn. He stood before St. Peter. St. Peter said, "Why should I let you in?"

The Fool had heard other people answer the question so he knew what to say. "Because Jesus died for my sins."

St. Peter raised an eyebrow, as if to say, "Is that so?" But he opened the gate and motioned the Fool through.

On the other side, the place was teeming. Everyone in white. So bright! The Fool didn't know where to look or where to go. Someone came up to his elbow.

"Welcome. I'm Paul. I'll show you around."

The Fool followed Paul. They were walking along a street. The Fool had grown up in Northeast Pennsylvania and was used to navigating potholes, but this street was smooth and glossy.

"What's this made of?" he asked.

"The street? It's gold."

"Gold?! Are you kidding me?" Being a thrifty Republican, he couldn't fathom a government spending so much money on streets. Come to that, he couldn't fathom a government with that kind of cash. "That's so extravagant," he said disgustedly.

Paul looked over his shoulder toward the gate, as if in confusion. "Well, yes, it is extravagant. God is extravagant."

"What kind of God would be so foolish as to pave streets with gold."

Paul said softly, "The same God who would send His Son to die for our sins. For your sins."

"Yes, I suppose."

They continued walking. The place was crowded. Everyone was hugging and singing and greeting people they hadn't seen in so long. They were all dressed in white and looked pretty much the same.

"Hey!" the Fool suddenly exclaimed. "I know her! I used to see her under the bridge. She was a drug addict and probably a hooker, too. How'd she get in here?"

"Jesus died for her sins, just like He did for you. She is welcome."

"Well, you know, I heard some of those stories in the Bible," the Fool admitted, "but I never really believed they were true. That Jesus sat down with sinners. It's scandalous!"

"Scandalous? Yes, yes, it is. God's love is scandalous. No one deserves to be here," Paul said. "We all have sinned and fall short of God's perfect holiness but He made it possible for us to be forgiven, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ." But as he talked, Paul looked sadder and sadder, and the Fool realized they were walking back toward the gate. They stopped just steps away and watched the happy new arrivals. "There is room enough for everyone. There is room enough for you, if you only believe."

The Fool shook his head. "I don't know. I thought this would be a place where God recognized all the good stuff I did, but now you're telling me He'll let anyone in, as long as they say the right words. It's scandalous, I tell you!"

Paul shook his head sadly. "It's not about saying the right words. It's about believing in your heart you are a sinner in need of salvation. That's all it takes, but it takes all you've got."

"It takes everything I've got? All my possessions and stuff? God has all this and He wants all I've got, too?"

"He wants all your brokenness and sin and shame. And in return, He will give you all this!"

"Again, extravagance!" said the Fool.

There was a flurry at the gate. Peter, on the other side, was motioning people back, and the gate was opening. Outward.

Suddenly the Fool was being propelled forward, toward the gate, toward the outside. "Wait! Wait! What's happening?"

"You must go. You don't believe."

The Fool was on the other side looking in, but he didn't stay long. It was pointless. And anyway, who wanted to spend all of their time with such happy people? No one was ever truly that happy.

As he made his was toward Hell, along a wide road with many people, he remembered Paul's words: Extravagant? Yes, yes it is. And there is room enough for you.

But as he chatted with others on their way to hell, talking about all they'd accomplished on Earth, the Fool didn't know enough to be truly sad.

Until he saw the gates of Hell.