The Judgment Day And A Quilt Full Of Holes

    “As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with many other souls. Before each of us was laid our lives, like the squares of a quilt in separate piles. An angel sat before each of us, sewing our quilt squares together in a tapestry of our lives.
    As the angel took each piece of cloth off my stack, I notices how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been very difficult, the challenges and the temptations I had faced in everyday life. I saw hardships that I endured which were the largest holes of all.
    I glanced around me. Few others had such squares other than tiny holes here and there. The other tapestries were filled with rich color, bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my life and I was disheartened. My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together – like binding air. There was little there to sew.
    Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light and the scrutiny of truth. I had love in my life and laughter but there had been times of trial and wealth and false accusations that took from me my world as I knew it. I had to start over time after time. I often struggled with the temptation to quit only somehow to muster the strength and pick up life again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my shattered life.
    I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully. Each time I offered up to the Father the hope that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgment gaze of those who unfairly judged me. And now I had to face the truth for what it was and accept it for what it was. I rose and lifted the combined squares to the light. An awesome gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me wild-eyed in amazement.
    Then I looked at the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, each creating an image of the face of Christ. Then the Lord stood before me with warmth and love in his eyes. He said, “every time you gave over your life to me, it became my life, my hardships and my struggles.
    Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let me shine through until there was more of me than there was of you.”
    When there is nothing there but God, that is when you find out that God is all you need. God determines who walks into your life and it is up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay and who you refuse to let go.” Thanks to the author who wrote this one day.
    The richest man in town had a dream – no, a nightmare. An angel appeared and spoke these words, “The richest man in town will die tonight.” He took this to be reality and immediately called his doctor and lawyer and close friends. He relayed to them the horrific story and admitted to all who knew that he was the richest man in town. He begged them all to stay with him and the doctor repeatedly took his blood pressure and pulse. “A little high but nothing to be overly concerned about,” was the ongoing report.
    The night wore on and finally he could see the grey fissures of the coming dawn. About that time he heard a resounding knock at the door. This scared him half out of his wit. He sent a servant to answer. The bedroom door opened and standing with the servant was a small black boy. He was from the slave quarters and he stood waiting for someone to give him audience to speak. “Well, speak up, boy, what do you want?” The boy hesitated and with a tear willing in his eye he said, “My ma sent me to tell you, that old grandpa just died.” Who was old grandpa Sam? Why he was the one who always served willingly, gave his life to picking cotton for his master and the one who loved the Lord the most. “The richest man in town done died tonight”.
    The apostle Paul who admitted to be the “Chief of sinners” wrote: “I have not yet reached my goal and I am not yet perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize. I don’t feel that I have already arrived, but I forget what is behind and I struggle for what is ahead. I run toward the goal so I can win the prize of being called to heaven” (Philippians 3:12-14) (CEV).
    I remember as just a little boy singing with the congregation, “Will there be any stars any stars in my crown?” I sang it but I didn’t understand it. Then we sang one of Fanny Crosby’s songs and the blind woman wrote, “Then I shall see him face to face and tell the story saved by grace; then I shall see him face to face, and tell the story saved by grace.” “O for a quilt full of holes”.

 

Share Button

Leave a Reply