At Heaven's Gate Poem by bobby beddoe

At Heaven's Gate

The twelve ‘Pearly Gates', there in Heaven,
Is just an image of imagination,
Where St. Peter has the authority
For people to spend their eternity
With God the Father and His amities.
The vile shall never enter, heard tell,
Instead, they'll be re-routed to Hell.
For only those who are written
In the Lamb's Book of Life will it open.
ST. Peter, the keeper of the key,
Guards the gates. He's never absentee.
He wouldn't let just anyone in
Even though good men they've been!
To illustrate - one lost creature's babble,
As he laid his cards out on the table:
"Sooo, when can I get IN? When? "
"Not so fast, Sir", said St. Peter then.
"First, for starters, what is your name? "
"Bubba."
"Well Bubba, are you here at my gate
Wanting me for you to accommodate? "
St. Peter asked, as he ran a finger
Down his list of names in a slow linger.
"Humm…You've never accepted the
Holly Spirit to enter into your life,
Neither has, your kids, nor your wife.
Although It, you'll often heard
Along with Reading the Word!
Name won't be there if only believing
Things about Jesus, and not going
With [who] Jesus says He be.
Just so you to live In His Adobe.
Listen, man, you've been banned,
What part don't you understand? "
"Please, St. Pete, show me some slack,
I've tried to stay on the right-track.
Kept God's tablets of stone's - ten,
And for me, that was no burden."
"I guess my question, then Is this:
From what you've said, it's my analysis,
Seems you've sang a different tune;
‘Tis remarkable that you chose so soon
Excuses you are expounding to speak,
All of which, are quite weak."
"Really! Well, does He know that I taught
Sunday school like, for my kids, I ought?
Had them memorize Psalm 23
‘The Lord's their shepherd'; and, He leads me.
Told them about Noah and his boat
That saved his family when began float
For forty days until Noah's raven
Returned with twig on fresh pollen?
Talked about Abie's pros and cons
When God made, Hagar and Sarah, moms.
Yes, all my friends congratulated me
For teaching kids about Jesus for free.
But some, just focused on the floor,
Bored, couldn't wait to hit the door.
Got their attention when read about
Sodom, and why men wanted Lot.
There, God told Lot's all, ‘Run, don't halt
To look back - else will become salt.'
Also the story about Joseph's coat;
Dad made of many colors, for Jo's tote.
Thence, more Bible tales after those three:
Was for Moses and Pharaoh to agree
To let Egypt's' brick makers go free.
‘Till plague after plague King finally gave in
And Moses let his people to Canaan.
I'll tell you the truth. Those children
Were the source of my enjoyment the ten
Months that I learned them about God"
"Hearing that from you sounds quite odd.
Like, did your kids see Him in you
Since they got attached to you like glue? "
"Bought them a Bible coloring book,
And to that; my two girls really took,
Had pics of Mary, Joseph - and their Son
Called Jesus - said was God in Person.
Other pics: Jesus walking on water,
That one filled my two with laughter.
Helped them color Jesus and cousin, John
When He got baptized in River Jordan.
One of Jesus' spiel from a high hill,
Giving a sermon as per God's will,
And Him talking to the woman at the well,
Next page of Jonah and the whale.
The last page was Jesus on the cross
Which appeared to represent a great loss.
And told kids, "Only three days did He die.
Then rose from a stone tomb nearby ! "
Because sooner or later, "
He said, "I want Here, not the other."
"Of all the proofs to this meeting
That you're presenting - It's my feeling
That you're quite skilled in double-dealing;
Fending no proof - just defensive ducking.
I need more proof you're a saved Christian? "
"Uh… not wanting to end up in Hell
I voted Republican for a spell."
Well, now Bubba, that's not a bad thing
What else to the table can you bring? "
"Did to the Lord, praises I sang,
Even louder than the choir gang."
Gave a lot on nice stuff to church bazaar
A lot more than others did by far."
Put my tithe folding money in the till,
So as nosey folks won't count each bill."
"That's all well and good - anything else"
"Yes, sent up prayers for others and myself,
Especially for friends on Facebook
When, they for some reason, got shook.
And, for your information, by the way,
We watched Joel on TV every Sunday."
"Yeah, his mega-church is always packed
With good people, in fact!
And they leave there happy and secure
Not necessarily from hearing scripture
Or by inspiration of the Holy Spirit
Which could mean, for them, bottomless pit! "
"Anyway, right Here is my mom and dad
Because they've been good, not bad.
Now, may I at least see my mom and dad?
They're the only real friends I've ever had."
"Don't know if this you can construe, 8
But, pa and ma don't remember you!
"Like, when you arrive on Hell's shore
You'll be remembered Here no more.
They're Here because their faith in the Lord
Developed and grew by reading His word
Wherefore, out of God's goodness and grace
He reserved for them their personal space
He's reserved space for one of your three kids,
And two of your eight grandkids
Their specially prepared spaces as well.
Upon accepting Him - skipping trip to hell
For they placed their trust in Him alone.
While, eirht siblings decided Him to postpone;
But, one son, Junior, and his girl and son
Will be Raptured from hither and yon! "
"Oh, man, I have so horribly failed
My offspring - with only three selected !
Can you double-check to see
If JC prepared a place Here for me? "
It's now became quite clear,
As St. Peter drew near…
"By rejection, Sir Bubba,
You passed up His Heavenly Hacienda
Partly for the simple reason from birth,
You began added wealth to your girth;
Thence greed caused you to get the big-head.
When the downtrodden begged for bread,
You gave them not a crumb instead.
Having said that, here's the bottom line,
Your fate's God's decision - not mine.
My job is not to judge you
Or any other ‘John Doe hitherto,
Rather, it's for me to check and see
If your name is here written - not just maybe.
Now - since you've died,
And waited too long to decide,
Even though your obit mentioned
That you were called home to
To be with your Father. Yes you.
Doesn't mean you accepted true Deity,
Nor spend eternity with the Trinity.
The reason earlier, I had to ask you
Your name is because you
Weren't on my list for Heaven,

That raised a red flag,
Which signaled a snag.
That was because you were missing
A key ingredient which you never
Received.The Holy Spirit as dweller."
Am sorry, ol' Sunday school teacher! "
"As of right now, I'm asking for
Mercy from Jesus, my Lord."
"You've waited too long- it's too late;8
Your fate is no longer up for debate,9
For you have left your dead body. 8
As of now you'll be in the custody
Of the Devil, antichrist and false prophet
In the lake of fire. That's what you get
Like the rest of Satan's heinous horde,
For not putting your faith in The Lord."
"Bummer! ",
Bubba groaned in a whisper.
"But, hold on, there's a slim caveat,
That I think you'll like a lot,
That is - refuse to take the [mark],
Then you'll be able there to embark,
Although it will cost you your head.
But that you should not dread
For it's your only ticket out of there
So you can land back up Here! "