By Jason Fisher
By the time he was forty he had seen even more endings in his own life. His marriage, his alcohol and drug abuse, his depression, his obsession with the end, his adiction to cigarettes, his days of being able to write poems, and his right leg. He lost his leg in a car accident at the age of 31, but had a "peg leg" implanted so he could get around. The rest however ended in his twenties.
At the age of 41, he recieved the worse news in his life. The doctors discovered he had developed cancer in his lungs. They couldn't do anything about it, because it had already spread around quite a bit. They told him that he could prolong his life by getting chemotherapy and taking four different types of drugs. The chemotherapy and drugs would give him an extra 3 years. He was told that he would not live to see his 42nd birthday unless he did that. He decided that God had a date set for him to die, and no drugs or chemotherapy could change that date. So he told them no. He decided he would take advantage of the days he had left.
So he started doing everything he wanted to do before his time was up. He went snowboarding, skydiving, bungee jumping, cliff jumping, hiking, and visited many places. After he had accomplished all of that he went to the grave yard. He went to all of the tombstones that belonged to his family members, and told him that they would soon be reunited. As the days passed by, he started becoming more sick. He decided that he needed to go to church, for he wanted to go to Heaven and not Hell. He talked to the preacher on a daily basis. He read the bible all the time.
Three days before his 42nd birthday he was more sick then he had ever been. He knew his days were numbered. On his deathbed, his last words were: "Now I am going to sleep. If I do not wake give my love to everyone." He passed away in his sleep. As departed on his journey, he had no pain. He was full of joy.
He arrived at Heaven's Gates, and saw Saint Peter. It was a pretty long line. So he watched the routine. Saint Peter would ask the people to rewatch their lives. Then, he would ask them if God thinks they are worthy. Then, he would ask them if they were worthy. Mike thought that it was easy, because all he would have to say was yes to both questions and he was in. Well, as he watched he saw people answer the questions, and then Saint Peter would either say "farewell" or "welcome home." If he said "farewell" then the person would fall, if he said "welcome home" they could enter Heaven.
As it came his time Saint Peter asked him to watch his life. As he watched, he saw everything the little tricks he played on his teachers, the phone call pranks he had made, the egging he did, the "TP-ing" of his neighbors trees, and every other bad thing he had done. When he was done watching, Saint Peter asked if he felt the God thought he was worthy. Mike said "no, I didn't follow in Jesus's foot steps like I was supposed to."
Saint Peter then asked "do you feel worthy enough to enter Heaven." "No I do not, Saint Peter," Mike replied. Saint Peter looked at him and said "welcome home." Mike looked at him surprised that he was able to enter, and asked "How am I worthy enough to enter the gates of Heaven."
Saint Peter said "Your family is waiting for you inside, so I will not keep you. Humbleness is something God wanted from everyone. Plus, as the bible said you believed in Jesus, and asked for forgiveness of your sins. Therefore, you are forgiven and may enter."Mike was so stunned, yet felt so happy. He said "thank you sir." Saint Peter replied "You are welcome. Oh, and by the way, the end is only the beginning. The end starts your new life, with your heavenly Father. Those who take the time to get to know him on Earth, get to be with him in Heaven. Have fun." And with that, Mike was in Heaven with his family, and watching down on the rest of us, cheering us on.
