The Only Ones

There’s an old joke about a guy who dies and goes to Heaven. Have you heard it? I suppose you have, but I’ll write a quick synopsis for any who’ve missed it. Saint Peter meets him at the gate and offers a quick tour.

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The guy takes him up on it and begins to
follow him around. Peter points out the neighborhood in which the guy (let’s
call him Earl) will be residing. Then Earl gets to see the golf course he’ll be
playing and the ocean in which he’ll be swimming.

Be Very Quiet

Then they approach a block with a long, high
wall extending for quite a distance. Peter puts his finger to his lips and whispers
to Earl to be very quiet as they walk along the wall. They stealthily tiptoe to
the other end of the structure and when they reach the far corner, Peter takes
a deep breath and tells Earl it’s okay to resume their vocalizing.

Earl got curious and asked Peter why all furtiveness. Peter quickly answered that the (insert your own Christian denomination or sect) live behind the edifice. He added, “We’re always quiet around the wall because they think they’re the only ones here.”

That story has gotten more than a few laughs
over the years. Unfortunately, it’s a little less than humorous when you
consider that it hits way too close to the truth. There are more than a few folks
who have set themselves up as judge and jury when it comes to the road to
Heaven. Fortunately for the rest of us, they aren’t the final authority, and I
seriously doubt they will be the only ones in Heaven (regardless of who they
are).

We Have Differences

Lord knows, we Christians have our
differences. We have different theologies, different practices, and differing
views on Scripture. As a matter of fact, the only thing we really have in
common is a belief that Jesus is Lord and Savior, God Almighty come in the
flesh. Beyond that, it seems (at least sometimes) to be a free-for-all. Let’s
face it. There’s a lot of material for disputation.

Everyone needs to have the strength of their
convictions—otherwise, they wouldn’t be convictions at all. Nevertheless, there
has to be common ground—a place where we agree. That, I hope, would be a belief
that all believers end up in Heaven one day—even those who differ from us.

Healthy debate and Bible–based discussions are good and necessary. Everyone is on a journey as they go through this life. My journey has taken me along a path that has wound through different beliefs, practices, and traditions. Eventually, it brought me to where I stand today.

I think I’m right. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t
stand strong. Still, I try to remember that I’m a mere human being—one who
doesn’t understand every little thing. And I always allow for the possibility
that I’m wrong on something. There’s always room for growth. Even for an old geezer
like me.

[Dave Zuchelli is a graduate of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and
currently resides in Aldie, VA.]

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