No Do Overs!

Last year, a passage in scripture that I had read many times through the years, seem to jump out at me differently. I wondered how may this same story be written in todays style of language. I am no author, but here is my attempt.

He had a crippled leg. It hurt sometimes and the pain could get unbearable, but Jack kept going. He had no choice. He had been homeless for sometime and decent medical care wasn't available to him. There were open sores that ran the risk of infection. He had to live with getting just enough medical aid to get by. He had no home to go to, nowhere to lay his head. If he was lucky he could find an old box to keep the wind off but most times he just got cold. Tonight was no different than most nights. The streets were dark and cold and there were a few folk moving about. Most were like him.

He sat down, next to an old brick wall in a dark alley trying to remember some of his past. Hard as he tried, he couldn't remember what his children's faces looked like, but he had been gone so long. His wife, oh how he loved and missed her, but he just couldn't take the pressure of his old life anymore and then one day he just left. As far as he knew no one from his old life knew where he was or if he was even alive. "Just as well", Jack thought, "I am really not worth it anyway". "In the morning, oh if I could just make it to morning" was his last thought just before drifting off to sleep.

As the sun began to rise Jack woke to dogs licking at his sores and after pushing them away, he gathered the few belongings he had acquired and moved on. Chances are that tonight he would be in a different alley off a different street. The first task of the day was to find something to eat. A lot of mornings he would dumpster dive behind a restaurant, but not today. Today he found himself on the backside of a very large estate. His thought is that this dumpster would have primo scraps. There might even be a pretty good size piece of meat in there. He just hoped that he wasn't discovered before he had a chance to get some prime stuff. This wasn't his first visit to this plush neighborhood or, for that matter, this particular dumpster.

Today, Jack didn't go unnoticed. Looking out the office window of his home, Ted, the owner of this property, saw this ragged old man digging through his dumpster. He could only imagine what he could be looking for and it became clear as Jack began putting the scraps into his mouth and into his bag. Repulsed by the whole thing he turned back to his work leaving the old tattered man alone for now.

The weather report for tonight was not good. It was supposed to get cold, dangerously cold. Jack hoped he could find a warmer place to sleep tonight. Maybe the shelter? There he could get a hot meal, maybe even take a shower. If they just have room. He would have to hurry to get there.

Jack arrived at the shelter only to find that he arrived too late. The helpful folks there offered him a hot meal of soup and bread, which he accepted and thanked them for. After finishing this meal, he left to find the warmest place he could to hole up for the night. On into the morning it got real cold and Jack like some others didn't make it this time. It was just too cold for someone to be outside without the proper protection. This time when Jack awoke, there were no dogs licking his sores, there was no hunger and that old gimpy leg was like new. You see Jack was in heaven. Sometime back at one of the shelters, Jack had heard the gospel. He heard about Jesus' sacrifice for all of us so that we would no longer have to suffer in eternity as we had with our time on earth. He believed and trusted Jesus.

That same night Ted and his family was entertaining guest at their home. They moved to the family room after a delicious meal of lobster tail and all the trimmings. They moved closer to the fireplace. A roaring fire separated them from the cold night just outside their door. A little later Ted and his wife told their guest good night and prepared to lie down for a nights rest. Ted's bedroom was posh; big screen TV, king size poster bed, his and her walk in closets and bath areas. It is the good life. He has been rewarded for his hard work and long hours. He is at the top of his game and as he closes his eyes he is satisfied.

When Ted wakes up he finds himself in a different place. During the night Ted had massive stroke and died in his sleep. Ted had gone to church regularly most of his life. He heard the sacrifice that Jesus made over and over, but decided that it was OK for others but not for him. Not now anyway, maybe later. He was busy making the good life for himself and his family. Now Ted looks around, and to his horror sees only hideous evil and fire, all around. He cries out to God only to hear nothing but the wailing going on around him.

Out of desperation, Ted looks up and can't believe his eyes. He sees that tattered old homeless guy that would dig through the garbage behind his house. He seemed content and happy and at home where he was. Not Ted, he is being tormented. He remembers all those times that he sat through sermons and invitations to accept Jesus as his savior. He remembers what God's clear message had been about eternal and irreversible separation from him. He remembers saying no not now. He thinks almost out loud, "If I only knew then what I know now, this would be different." He then remembers. NO DO OVERS! His thoughts turn to his family. Are they going to join him in this God forsaken place? He shouts up to heaven, "please let Jack go back and tell my family where I am and how horrible this place is."

Ted knows that is not how this works. They, like Jack and himself, have all the evidence they need. They hear the sermons and the Sunday school lessons. It is repeated over and over. They, we, make this decision on our own. We won't get a do over, so we better get it right the first time.

Adapted from Luke 16:23-25