Aug 21 - Psalm 84:10b

I would rather be a gatekeeper

in the house of my God

than live the good life in

the homes of the wicked.

Psalm 84:10b

The story is told about three men who died and went to heaven. 

St. Peter said to the first man, "You've lived an extraordinary life, worshipping God and serving your neighbor. Therefore, in heaven you get a gold-plated Rolls Royce to drive throughout eternity."

St. Peter said to the second man, "You've lived an exceptional life, worshipping God and serving your neighbor. Therefore, in heaven you get a silver-plated Mercedes to drive throughout eternity."

St. Peter said to the third man, "You've lived an mediocre life. You compromised in your worship of God. You often cheated your neighbor. You believed ... but barely. Therefore, to drive throughout eternity, you get a used Yugo, covered in bondo and held together with duct tape."

Three days later, the man in the gold-plated Rolls Royce saw the man in the Yugo. He was pulled over to the side of the road, laughing hysterically. "What do you have to be so happy about?" said the man in the golden car. 

The man in the Yugo said, "I just saw my pastor go by on roller skates!"

Now ... that's not how God, St. Peter, the pearly gates, or heaven really work! We've saved by grace ... effective through faith ... apart from our works. (See Romans 3.)

Nevertheless, look at how Scripture tries to explain the majesty of heaven! (I once heard someone say that trying to describe heaven to a human is like trying to explain DisneyLand to your dog!)

How does today's Psalm try to give us terriers a glimpse of heaven? It says that living in a mansion here is a fraction as wonderful as having a very boring job on the furthest outskirts of heaven. (Boring job -- gatekeeper. Furthest outskirts -- the outermost gate.) 

It says, essentially, that having roller skates in heaven is better than having a Rolls Royce on earth. 

It says, essentially, "Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ Store your treasures in heaven ... [for] wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be." (Actually, that's precisely what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 6:19-21.)

In Christ's Love,

a guy who'd gladly accept

roller skates in heaven

(sinful and falling short,

I deserve nothing more)

... nevertheless ...

I hope St. Peter can

teach me to skate