The Orphan
Isaiah 32:1; Matthew 22:11-14; Rev.11:17; 20:4
There once was a group of war orphans who had lost their parents in bombing. A kind missionary lady opened an orphanage. She offered the children free lodging, food, clothing, schooling, and even her love.
She had but one condition for entrance into her sanctuary: To check the spread of lice, the children must first bathe and put on clean garments she’d already provided for them. Otherwise, they were not allowed to set foot in their beautiful new home, lest the lice take up residence there as well.
One boy refused to give up his torn, filthy rags because he would not part with what was familiar to him. He refused to use the hard-to-get soap which had been provided at the missionary’s expense. Taking a bath might make him look like a sissy, especially if he cleaned himself up because a woman ordered him to do it. The boy wanted only a shelter from the elements, not a new life. He preferred to take his chances outside.
Lots of folks want God's blessing on their lives, but aren't so keen on having Him become become Lord of their lives. They want to be saved from hell, but they don’t want to be saved from sin. Many will not avail themselves of God's only Remedy for sin, the precious Blood of Jesus, because they don't want to be beholden to Him to the point of surrendering their lives to His control.
Hardened sinners refuse to swap their sin-stained garments for Christ's white Robe of Righteousness. They wish God would perform mighty miracles to make their lives nicer, but they have no desire to become children of God and submit to Him as their Father. If such sinners were allowed to enter heaven on their own terms, it wouldn't remain a Paradise for long. At least, not in the sense that God and His people understand the meaning of paradise.
How terrible, if sinners were permitted to enter into heaven on their own terms, forever sealed in a lost condition. They would soon spread the decay of sin all around like a contagion. Sinners would be very unhappy in heaven unless they could make a few changes. If they had their way, there would be a strip joint on every corner. There would be 24-hour bars in heaven, with a never-ending "happy hour". The streets of gold would be all lit up with glitzy gambling casinos. Sin would have free reign and heaven would no longer be a fit place for God's Holy Habitation.
Thank God that He reigns in heaven, and the day will surely come when He reigns in righteousness on earth!
