It Was Too Late

 

Ashley! Ashley! Honey! Wake up. It's just a dream!"

Oh Daddy! It was horrible! Shhh. Shhh. Tell me what happened?" He asked gently.

I had just gotten my first car on my sixteenth birthday and was taking little Christy out for ice cream. I was stopped at a stop light and this car with 3 guys pulled beside me. We started racing and weren't paying attention to the road. Just as we were bumper to bumper we both slammed into several cars passing through an intersection. The last thing I remember was looking to my right, Ashley hesitated and continued in a voice of agony, and seeing my little sister's body hanging through the windshield!

There was blood all over the outside of it!  Before I could scream darkness closed on me.  I couldn't see. I couldn't breath, and then the scene was gone.Ashley paused to swallow. Suddenly I awoke. I didn't know where I was.  Frightened and alone I looked around and saw nothing, but then I heard a voice. 

'Scott Mitchel.'  It called out.  He was the guy driving the other car.  As he approached the bench I knew where I was, the Great White Throne Judgement.  'Are you God?' he asked.  'I've heard about you but I thought it was just some crazy religion.  I didn't think you were real.'  God's voice was silent. The angel was flipping pages in a book.  He shook his head as he ended his search and said, 'His name is not written.'  I looked back at Scott who wore a confused expression upon his face.

'Ok God.  What does that mean?  I've heard it means that...that your going to Hell.  But that isn't true right, because you are a loving God and you wouldn't create man just to destroy them would you? God...?'  My heart felt the tremor as God's voice thundered, 'Depart.  I never knew you.'  'No! No wait!' Scott cried.  'This isn't fair!  I do believe!  Please don't send me there!'  The gates of Hell were opened.

He was still screaming at God!  'You can't do this to me!  I don't want to go there! No!' and then his body was thrust into those flames! Ashley, it was only a dream sweetheart.  Everything is...Let me finish!" Ashley interrupted her father.God's voice spoke again.  'Michael Adams.'  The second boy approached the bench.  His face was pale.  Hi...his hands were trembling.  I could see the fear hidden behind his tear filled eyes!  The angel searched the book.  Michael hung his head low in shame. He couldn't say a word.

The angel looked up and said, 'His name is not written.'  Those horrifying words followed, 'Depart.  I never knew you.'  He looked up at the face of God and wept.  'I'm sorry.  I'm sorry!  I'm so sorry!  Oh God!  I'm sorry!'  He too was thrust into Hell!  My heart ached, because it was too late!  There was nothing I could do Paul Bearing.'  This boy was fearless, as though he had no idea Who he was talking to!  'Hi God!' he said so casually.  'I'm not like those other guys.  The...they never went to church.

Peh!  I never missed a service!  My name is there.  It's gotta be!  So ah...when do I get my halo and wings and all that? His name is not written.' 'What?  Not written?  No, you've got to check that book again!'No!  Wait a minute!  I've got to be there!  How can you do this to me?  Please check again!  Please God!  No!'  I couldn't bear to watch.  Had no one accepted Christ as their Saviour?!  'Helen Pierce.' God called out.   Helen?  Our next door neighbour? I thought, what is she doing here?  Then I remembered. 

She was crossing the road when I slammed on my brakes.  She was crushed in the collision.  Oh please!  My heart begged!  Please be saved!  'He...hello, Lord.'  She said choking back tears as she stood before God.  The angel searched the book.  My eyes didn't blink.  My heart pounded within my chest.  Suddenly I felt empty inside.  I thought of all the many times we spent chatting about work and the weather and every other meaningless subject in life.  I remembered all the mornings I saw her before leaving for church and never once invited her to go.  All those opportunities I had to share Christ with her haunted me until...

'Her name is not written.''Oh God please!  Not Helen!  Give us another chance!' Helen began crying.  'No Lord!  Please!  I love you!  I believe in you!  Just one more chance, please! I can't go to Hell! Please!  No!'  Her eyes met mine and seemed to say. 'Ashley, why didn't you tell me? 'Helen!'  I screamed out her name but it was too late! Her father grasped her into his arms.  Ashley, calm down honey. You're trembling. No daddy! She pushed away from her father and shouted more.  Please listen! You know what I heard next?  'Christy Smith.'  Fear and anguish pierced my heart like a knife.

My little sister was now standing before almighty God!  Again my mind went back.  All those nights she asked me questions about Jesus, but I was too busy talking to...she hung her head low and said,to my boyfriend to even notice.  Countless nights I slept in the very same room and couldn't even take five minutes to show my little sister how to be saved!  The angel began searching.  Frantically I tried to run to her and tell her about Jesus but...my feet wouldn't move. M...my voice wouldn't speak.  'Please don't send her to Hell!' I thought. 

'It's my fault! Don't send my sister...please!'  Christy stood there weeping.  She didn't know what to do or say.  She had no idea what was going on.  I felt sick.  All I could do was watch and listen.  I saw the angel shake his head.  My eyes swelled with tears.  'Her name is not written.'  Then those ghastly words followed, 'Depart.  I never knew you.'  As Christy's limp and helpless body was lifted off the ground she started screaming!  Her body was thrown into those flames! 

'Christy! No!'  She was gone. Just like that daddy! She way gone! Ashley's father sat silently by her side, crying as well. He wasn't quite sure what to say. Christy looked deep into his eyes and screamed, " I had the Gospel.  Every night I had the Gospel!  Why?  Why didn't I give it to her?  Now my little sister is forever suffering in Hell! Her father quickly embraced her and held her tightly.  "She's not in Hell, Ashley. Okay? She's not there! She's in her room sleeping! Christy took a deep breath and wiped away her tears. Her father let her continue. Then, God commanded me to look at him.

I approached Him speechless, heart broken, and very, very ashamed. God spoke to me firmly,  'The blood of your sister Christy, your friend Helen, your cousins, your workmates, I see it upon your hands.  Why didn't you tell them about my Son as I commanded you?  Ashley, I am not pleased.'  I began to cry.  Do you see?  I witnessed three foolish boys, my next-door neighbour and my own sister cast into the lake of eternal fire! 

I had to look into the face of God with blood on my hands and hear Him say He was not pleased with me.  All because I was too busy to share the Gospel...and it was too late!  I was able enter Heaven, but my sister wasn't going to be there.  Daddy! We have the Gospel. We need to spread it and share it!  We can't let it become too late.Christy walked into the room clutching her teddy bear.

She spoke in a small shaky voice, Ashley, what's wrong.  I heard you screaming and it scared me." Ashley and her father looked at each other and both ran to Christys side.  Oh sweetie! Ashley cried. I'm so sorry I scared you.  Everything is just fine. Honey, come sit down. There's something I'd like to share with you..