The Saddest Place in Heaven
 

Last night was a night that I will never forget. It started out like any
other night. I did my usual duties, watched some TV, got ready for bed, and
began to say my prayers. As I prayed, I sensed an unusually beautiful
presence of the Holy Spirit. My prayer entered a period of worship and while
worshiping the Lord, I fell off to sleep.

In my sleep, I dreamed I was visited by an angel. He entered into my room
and said he was sent to escort me on a tour of Heaven. I felt so privileged
to be offered a tour and asked the angel what I had done to get such an
honor He stated that he was sent at the Father's bidding, that maybe I
shouldn't assume I was being honored, and that he could tell me no more.
Soon we were on our way.

In an instant we were at the pearly gates of Heaven. Contrary to popular
belief, we were not greeted by Peter. I stood in awe as I looked at the Holy
City. It was huge, much larger than I could have ever imagined. The whole
city shined like a new piece of jewelry. The foundations and walls were
built of countless precious jewels. The gates were constructed of giant
pearls. Each gate was carved out of a single pearl. There were no flaws in
anything. I kept running back and forth, trying to take in all of the
splendor. It was useless, as it was unending. Finally, the angel said,
"Come, it's time to go inside."

Immediately we were inside. I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the place.
Everything was perfect and in its proper place. Although the city was
gigantic, there were none of the characteristics of a large city. There were
many people, but there was no big city frustration and there was no strife.
There was, however, brotherhood, peace, joy, love, health, and prosperity.
There was no sun, but there was a light in the city that not only lit up
everything, it filled everything with the very presence of God. I was so
overwhelmed with everything that the angel had to grab my arm and pull me
along. At this point, I would have followed anyone anywhere.

He led me down the golden streets and pointed out all the wondrous sights
mentioned in the Bible. I saw the tree of life and the river of living
water. As we traveled along, I observed countless angels and what seemed to
be the whole Host of Heaven. They all seemed to be intent on serving the
king of the city. Everywhere, I could hear praises being offered up to
Jesus. There was no problem knowing who was in charge in Heaven. Our tour
now turned and led us to the residential section of the city. I saw mansions
beyond anything I had ever seen on Earth. These were not flats or
apartments; these were all luxury mansions. I asked, 'Who could all these
mansions be for? I knew they had to be for some very special saints. "These
are just average homes here. Didn't Jesus tell you He was preparing a
mansion for you? Well here they are." The angel's reply seemed to be so
matter of fact. Next he pointed to a big, beautiful mansion on a new street
and said, "Look at the title on this house." I looked and was dumfounded
when I saw my name over the door. The angel then said that it would be
finished by the time I needed it. We traveled down the street and I noticed
a few blocks with empty lots. The angel just smiled and said, "There is
always room for a few more I was so happy that I just wanted to die and stay
there when the angel turned a more somber face and said, "Come, I must now
show you the thing I brought you here to see."

We turned and there it was, a huge building, large enough to be a city in
itself. It had a giant central corridor with several wings coming off either
side. It lacked the splendor of all the other buildings in Heaven and had a
feeling of something wrong about it. I was about to ask what this place
could be, when the angel pointed to a sign above the huge doorway. The sign
read: "HALL OF UNCLAIMED PROMISES".

I asked what this place was all about, but all the angel would say was,
"Follow me." We entered and there seemed to be a strange silence in this
place like I hadn't felt since entering Heaven. As we entered the central
corridor the angel began to explain. He told me that this was where the
Heavenly Host sorted all the promises that God's children never claim. The
corridor seemed endless, but it wasn't long until we entered the first wing.

The sign above the door read, "Provisions". Inside I could see acres of
every kind of material need. I didn't see any Cadillacs, but there were
plenty of new cars. There were also new homes, clothes, and every kind of
item imaginable. There was also a pile of food so large it could have fed
the world for ten years. Next to the food was a stack of money that was
greater than the sum of all the money in all the banks of the world. The
angel said, "All they would have had to do is ask the Father for it. All
this was already provided for."

Next we entered the room entitled, "Relationships". Inside I saw marriages,
children, brothers and sisters,friends, neighbors, and nations. All these
were sitting unclaimed for the same reasons. Nobody had laid claim on them.
The feeling of loss in the room was more than I could bare. I asked if we
could move on. The angel agreed and took me to the next wing of the
building. Here the sign read, "Spiritual Blessings". Inside I saw
containers labeled Holy Spirit, anointing, healing, freedom, renewed mind,
spiritual fruit, spiritual gifts, victory, power and on and on they went.
"Why?" I asked. "Why were all these unclaimed? "Deception." The angel
answered. "The people were lied to. They were told that these blessings were
no longer available. The devil has managed to steal the blessings from many
of the believers." In anger and frustration I asked the angel if we could go
on. He agreed and led me forward. We passed wings and titles like "Wisdom
and Knowledge". I was shocked when we passed a sign that read, "The Truth".
It seemed there would be no end to the wings and their foreboding signs of
promises lost. Just when I thought I could stand no more, the angel said,
"I've two more wings to show you and then you can go."

He took me into a room simply marked, "Constructions". Inside I could see
every imaginable kind of building material. I didn't understand what all
this was about and was about to ask when the angel stared me straight in the
eyes and said, This is the materials set aside for all the mansions that
will never be built because people never asked Jesus to save them We both
wept. Composing himself, the angel pointed across the hallway and said,
"Just one more room". I didn't notice the sign, but once we were inside I
could see acres of books. "These are the words of eternal life that never
reached the ears of the multitudes," was all the angel could say.

I cried out, "Why? Surely the people didn't leave these words unclaimed.
What kept the people from receiving them? I don't understand." The angel
lovingly sat me down and explained that there were many reasons the words
were unclaimed. He said that some were never heard, while others were
ignored. Some were lost in the hustle of everyday life. He said that while
it was inevitable that some of the words would be lost, many were never
delivered. Some were lost because nobody had been faithful to deliver them.
I was overwhelmed with grief and asked to leave. The angel said, "OK, but
one more quick stop first." I didn't want to see any more, but followed
obediently.

We entered a room at the end of the corridor. It was simply marked, Claims
Inside were dozens of workers processing claims and shipping out promises
that believers were calling in and asking for. Apparently it wasn't too late
for many of these promises to be claimed. I was filled with joy and cried
out, "Praise God, there is still hope."

"Yes!" the angel smiled and said, "But only if you will go back and spread
the word. Will you do that?" Then he handed me a handful of claim checks and
said that they were some that I have never gotten around to claiming for my
own life. I was embarrassed, but gratefully took the claim checks and put
them in my pocket. Together we left the building and headed for the gates of
Heaven. My tour was apparently over.

I woke up with a feeling of anticipation. The dream had been so real and all
the images were so vivid. It was only a dream, but one I would never forget.
I got up and could hardly wait to share my dream with somebody. I knew I had
been called to get the word out. I couldn't let any more of God's word go
unclaimed. As I put on my pants, I noticed something in the back pocket. I
reached in and pulled out a handful of claim checks. Each one was printed
with the same inscription, "Whosoever will. All charges have been paid for
with the blood of Jesus."

By Steven Skaggs
Arizona State Prison