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Dear All,
PLEASE ENSURE YOU
READ THIS TO THE END, PREFERABLY WHEN YOU ARE LESS
BUSY.
I can only imagine...
Heaven
as written by a 17 Year Old Boy
This is excellent
and really gets you thinking about what will happen
in Heaven.
17-year-old Brian
Moore had only a short time to write something for
a class. The subject was what Heaven was like.
"I wowed 'em," he later told his father,
Bruce. It's a killer. It's the bomb. It's the best
thing I ever wrote." It also was the last.
Brian's parents had
forgotten about the essay when a cousin found it
while cleaning out the teenager's locker at Teays
Valley High School in Pickaway County
Brian had been dead only hours, but his parents
desperately wanted every piece of his life near
them, notes from classmates and teachers, and his
homework. Only two months before, he had
handwritten the essay about encountering Jesus in a
file room full of cards detailing every moment of
the teen's life. But it was only after Brian's
death that Beth and Bruce Moore realized that their
son had described his view of heaven.
It makes such an
impact that people want to share it. "You feel
like you are there," Mr. Moore said. Brian
Moore died May 27, 1997, the day after Memorial
Day. He was driving home from a friend's house when
his car went off
Bulen-Pierce Road
in Pickaway
County
and struck a utility pole. He emerged from the
wreck unharmed but stepped on a downed power line
and was electrocuted.
The Moore
's framed a copy of Brian's essay and hung it among
the family portraits in the living room. "I
think God used him to make a point. I think we were
meant to find it and make something out of
it," Mrs. Moore said of the essay. She and her
husband want to share their son's vision of life
after death. "I'm happy for Brian. I know he's
in heaven. I know I'll see him.
Here is Brian's essay entitled:
"The Room."
In that place
between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in
the room. There were no distinguishing features
except for the one wall covered with small index
card files. They were like the ones in libraries
that list titles by author or subject in
alphabetical order. But these files, which
stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly
endless in either direction, had very different
headings.
As I drew near the
wall of files, the first to catch my attention was
one that read "Girls I have liked." I
opened it and began flipping through the cards. I
quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I
recognized the names written on each one. And then
without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This
lifeless room with its small files was a crude
catalog system for my life. Here were written the
actions of my every moment, big and small, in a
detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder
and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within
me as I began randomly opening files and exploring
their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories;
others a sense of shame and regret so intense that
I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was
watching.
A file named "Friends" was next to one
marked "Friends I have betrayed." The
titles ranged from the mundane to the outright
weird. "Books I Have Read," "Lies I
Have Told," "Comfort I have Given,"
"Jokes I Have Laughed at."
Some were almost hilarious in their exactness:
"Things I've yelled at my brothers."
Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I Have
Done in My Anger", "Things I Have
Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents." I
never ceased to be surprised by the contents Often
there were many more cards than expected. Sometimes
fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer
volume of the life I had lived.
Could it be possible that I had the time in my
years to fill each of these thousands or even
millions of cards? But each card confirmed this
truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each
signed with my signature.
When I pulled out the file marked "TV Shows I
have watched," I realized the files grew to
contain their contents. The cards were packed
tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't
found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not
so much by the quality of shows but more by the
vast time I knew that file represented.
When I came to a file marked "Lustful
Thoughts," I felt a chill run through my body.
I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to
test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at
its detailed content. I felt sick to think that
such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal
rage broke on me.
One thought dominated my mind: No one must ever see
these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have
to destroy them!" In insane frenzy I yanked
the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to
empty it and burn the cards...
But as I took it at
one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could
not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and
pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as
steel when I tried to tear it. Defeated and utterly
helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning
my forehead against the wall, I let out a long,
self-pitying sigh.
And then I saw it. The title bore "People I
Have Shared the Gospel With." The handle was
brighter than those around it, newer, almost
unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not
more than three inches long fell into my hands. I
could count the cards it contained on one hand.
And then the tears
came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt.
They started in my stomach and shook through me. I
fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame,
from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of
file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one
must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it
up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the
tears, I saw Him.
No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus.
I watched helplessly as He began to open the files
and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His
response. And in the moments I could bring myself
to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my
own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst
boxes.
Why did He have to
read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from
across the room. He looked at me with pity in His
eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I
dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and
began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm
around me. He could have said so many things. But
He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.
Then He got up and walked back to the wall of
files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out
a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over
mine on each card. "No!" I shouted
rushing to Him. All I could find to say was
"No, no," as I pulled the card from Him..
His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it
was, written in red so rich, so dark, and so alive.
The name of Jesus
covered mine. It was written with His blood. He
gently took the card back He smiled a sad smile and
began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever
understand how He did it so quickly, but the next
instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file
and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my
shoulder and said, "It is finished."
I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There
was no lock on its door. There were still cards to
be written.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His
only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not
perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
If you feel the same way forward it to as many
people as you can so the love of Jesus will touch
their lives also. My "People I shared the
gospel with" file just got bigger, how about
yours?
IF THERE IS ONE EMAIL THAT I HAVE READ THAT NEEDS
TO GO AROUND THE WORLD, IT IS THIS ONE, PLEASE PASS
THIS TO EVERY ONE YOU KNOW, CHRISTIAN OR NOT!
"LET'S FILL OUR OWN FILE CARD" AND MAY
GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
You don't have to share this with anybody, no one
will know whether you did or not, but you will know
and so will He.
 "Love the Lord your God with all your
heart and with all your soul and with all your
mind. This is the first and the greatest
commandment. And the second is like it" 'Love
your neighbour as yourself.' All the Law and
the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Have you invested in
God's Kingdom today?
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