St Peter's Gate



The Triple Bypass first day finish line was in Avon. My volunteer position was to secure the Rec Center parking lot, so that only patrons going to swim or workout could park there. I thought it was going to be a lazy afternoon, but I was mistaken. Children, cars, bikers were a constant stream as I moved the cones to allow cars entrance, answered questions and gave directions to people visiting the area.

My experience showed me many facets of the people I was assisting. Some were caught up in the excitement of the afternoon's experience. Others were frustrated by their lack of preparation for their pick up positions. Still others simply wanted a good parking spot in order to please their participant.

Everyone was hoping to gain entrance to the lot which was just steps away from the finish line. They expected to be let in by hoping, pleading, telling a good story or by showing the magic card. You see each of the participants was given a card for their crew allowing them special parking privileges. The mistake that many had made was not reading the directions that were printed on the back of the card telling them where their lot was located. Truth is their lot was about a half mile away. Some politely turned away. Others sighed. Some began making up excuses. But the worst were the one who got angry at me. It wasn't my fault that they hadn't read the directions and that they were in the wrong place, but it was easier to blame me than to be responsible for their actions.

I felt a bit like St Peter guarding the gate to heaven, because there were a select few who got to enter the area. They could flash their Rec Center passes, or mention working out or going swimming and the cones were moved and they were allowed in. To an outsider it might not have looked fair, but that was the requirement.

Someday it will be the same way when people are trying to get in to heaven. They will flash their card of good deeds, or explain their earthly wealth or they will blame someone else or use their position of authority, but they will be turned away because they didn't meet God's standard which is belief in Jesus, choosing to have His blood as the payment for their sin and having personal fellowship with Him.


Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

www.hearthope.org

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bavarian Cream Pie

Image
2 eggs 1/8 t salt 3/4 c scalded milk 1 c whipping cream 1 T gelatin 1/4 c cold water 1/2 c sugar 1 t vanilla Chocolate crumb crust Beat sugar and egg yolks. Then add milk and scald until it sticks to the spoon, stirring constantly. Let gelatin and cold water soak until dissolved, then add to milk and let cool. Whip cream and egg whites separately and then mix together. Mix cream and egg mixture to the milk that has been cooled. Add vanilla to mixture. When this begins to congeal, pour into chocolate crumb crust. Put into refrigerator for at least 4 hours. Sprinkle crushed crumbs over the top before serving. www.hearthope.org
Read more

Mount of the Holy Cross

Image
For years people have enjoyed the awe of Mount of the Holy Cross which is a 14,000 foot mountain in the Sawatch Range of Colorado. It is named for the distinctive snow-filled cross at the top of the mountain and was proclaimed a national monument by Herbert Hoover in 1929. Painters have painted it; photographers have photographed it and hikers have hiked it, because of its special beauty. When my children were young and visiting the area, we would take the gondola up the mountain to the observation deck at Eagle’s Nest for the perfect view of the majestic Mount of the Holy Cross.  So when my grandchildren were visiting this summer, it seemed natural to take them to the same spot for old times’ sake.  The mountain had not changed and the view was still inspiring, but something was terribly wrong. The name on the sign at Eagle’s Nest had been changed. It was no longer labeled Mount of the Holy Cross, but instead has been replaced with the designation Cross of Snow. Why would that be do
Read more

My Latest Award!

Image
This is my niece Allison Bullock who wins triathlons! I won an award today, but before you go getting all excited for me or want to see how you can win one too, you might want to read more. This honor might not be one you want to receive, because you see it is not an accolade that I really want either.  I went for my annual mammogram this morning and while there the doctor found some suspicious areas and wanted to have an ultrasound performed. While laying on the sterile bed, with my pretty pink robe opened and covered with goo used for the transducer, the hand-held device that sends out the waves which produce the picture, the technician declared that I had won the prize for the most cysts she had ever seen in a patient. How do you like that one! I guess the good part is that cysts are not usually dangerous, but still…. I have received other awards in my life that are much more prestigious than the one today, but there is a future award that I hope to obtain that will be more
Read more