She peaks in. She stands with just a toe inside the pearly gates. A booming voice from somewhere above announces “Here stands Rose Smith! She was wholly sinful, did no good before God, yet is wholly loved and adored by God and has been given all things in Christ Jesus! Rose, enter into your rest!”

In an instant, Saint Peter is just at her side, taking her by the arm, greeting her, “Welcome, friend! There are a few more yet to arrive, Jesus will be here in one hour to take us all Home to Heaven! Refreshments are over there, if you like….”

Peter meets resistance for though her eyes seem to linger on the punch bowl near by, she is clearly hesitant to take a step forward, she is trying to process something.

“What is it, friend?” Peter asks her.

Lifted from her thoughts she meets his eyes and pleads, “But, what about…. well, I hate to disagree with you, Peter, but what about all those good things I did for God? That big voice that announced my arrival didn’t mention them, and I’m just wondering if maybe there is an error on my account?”

“Oh, yes!” Peter replies, “The good stuff Christ Jesus did through you! It’s all here!” He motions to the tablet in hand, “Jesus will tell you about that Himself!”

“Ok cool!” Rose half smiles letting herself be lead along, hoping more than believing that he’s answered her question to her satisfaction. They stop by the punch bowl, Peter smiles and nods to Jonah then turns back to Rose who adds slowly, “Do you mean, like, the stuff Jesus helped me do? That I did in His strength? That stuff? When I obeyed, you know, for God’s glory?”

“Well everything you did was paid for by Jesus’s blood, Peter explains, with just a hint of compassionate understanding creeping into his eyes, “and all the good stuff was just stuff Jesus did that he let you observe up close and in-person!”

“Oh but surely not everything I did was paid for by Jesus’ blood?!” Rose says, half to herself, “No, that doesn’t make sense!”

“Oh yes, everything you did was surely paid for by the blood of Jesus.” Peter smiles hopefully.

“No, no! It can’t be! This is no good! Sorry, I mean, of course it is good, because here I am, I’m saved by Jesus blood. But also not good, because I did some really hard stuff! I sacrificed for Jesus, you see, and chose to glorify God! I ran the race, I fought the fight, I put on the armor of God and did battle with the forces of evil! Yet I get to heaven and you seem to have lost my entire file! Maybe if I tell you some of them, you can do a search? You must have me confused with someone else!”

“I think maybe you are confused about who you are. You see, Jesus did all those things –“

But Rose cuts in, her panic rising. “Yes, yes, of course, Jesus did all the things. I know, I know, I was a Christian for a long time, you know. I meant the stuff I. Did. For. God.
Like how I looked after that old neighbor lady for years. And that year I taught toddler Sunday school because no one else was willing. And, oh man, I worked really really hard to become a better wife! And all that stuff I did so for my kids that other parents didn’t do! And I made sure my husband didn’t work on Sundays when he thought it was ok! And those years that tithed to the church even while paying off student loans!
Is none of this on my file?! I can’t have done all that for nothing!!”

“Well hang on,” Peter interrupted, “I never said your deeds were for nothing! Let me ask you this, the elderly lady you tended to, was her life better because you kept an eye on her?”
“What?” Rose blinked, “Well yes! I mean especially that year with all the snow –“
“And the toddlers in the Sunday school class,” Peter interrupted, “did you hug them and talk to them them and tend to their needs and tell them about Jesus?”
“Of course, but –!”
“And would you say it was a blessing and a joy to your husband that you became a better wife?” Peter pressed on.
“Yes! I mean I think so! I sure hope so! I did try!”
“And did your kids gain benefit in their adult lives from the extra stuff you did for them?”
“Well, not from all of it —
“But from some of it?”
“Well, yes but –“
“And do you think your husband felt more rested by Monday when he had to go back to work, having rested on Sunday?”
“I… I don’t know, that’s not why we… huh?”
“And was your church able to use the money you gave them while you were paying off student loans to better care for it’s members and the community around them?”
“I mean, I guess so….”
“And did you receive satisfaction or pleasure or joy from any of those things?”
“Well, yes, many of them…”
“Then there you go! Not a waste! Not at all!”

“But… but… I did them for God!” Rose wailed, “I obeyed and everything! I ….. well, are you telling me you cannot find find any of that stuff on my account?!”

“Well, honestly, no, everything you did was done in your flesh and died with Jesus Christ, remember? We don’t keep records of those things since they have been paid in full! Here on your account, is a list that is so infinitely better than the one you think you should have. This one says that Jesus fulfilled the whole law for you, paid in full! You are as delightful and pleasing to God as you could ever be! Nothing you could ever do could make God happier with you! You are perfect, by the life and death of Jesus Christ!”

But at this Rose starts to cry, the poor thing. We can relate, can’t we?

Wrapping Rose in a big hug, Peter aims a sad smile and a nod at a man conversing nearby. The man pauses his conversation and hustles over.

“Here’s another one. ” Peter says, “I’m afraid this one will probably be disappointed and confused until Jesus Himself comes and wipes away her tears. But we shall do our best.”

“It is quite the shock for them, isn’t it? Poor weary souls.” The man replies, putting his arm around Roses shoulder, letting her tears fall onto his shirt.

Peter bends near to Rose’s tear covered face and explains over her sobs, ” “This is the man who died on the cross next to Jesus, he’s going to sit with you while you chat with Ezekiel, these explanations are his specialty. Perhaps he’ll be able to bring you more comfort. And don’t worry, Jesus will be here very soon to wipe away all your tears. I know you are so weary, have patience, my dear, Jesus is coming very soon.”