The pass code …


There was a woman who, at the end of a very long life, died and found herself standing in front of heaven’s pearly gates.

Peter stepped forward and welcomed the woman, and then asked for the pass code in order to enter.

“The pass code?” the woman asked with a startled expression.

“Yes,” Peter said. “In order to enter, you must give the pass code. The pass code, of course, is to give the correct spelling of the word ‘love’.”

“Oh,” said the woman, “Why it’s L-O-V-E,” stated the woman.

“Right you are!” exclaimed Peter, “Welcome to heaven!”

Peter extended the hand of fellowship, gave her a map to guide her on her way, and then asked, “Listen, could you do me a favor? I need a short restroom break. Could you stay here for a minute and fill in for me? If anyone comes along, just ask them for the pass code — how to spell love — and if they spell it correctly, let them in. I’ll be gone just a few minutes.”

“Well, certainly, I could do that for you,” the woman said, and Peter quickly disappeared.

Moments later, the woman saw a man approaching the heavenly gates from a far distance. The closer he got, the more familiar he became. Soon, she recognized him and was shocked to see her ex-husband approaching heaven’s entrance. The woman was upset at the idea of having to spend eternity with her ex-husband, surely she wouldn’t have to suffer so!

When the man arrived, he had a look of surprise and mischief on his face as he recognized his ex-wife.

“Well, imagine seeing you here!” he said to his former bride.

“Yes, well, you haven’t gotten in yet!” she said.

“What do you mean?” the man asked.

“Well, in order to be allowed into heaven, you must give the correct pass code,” the woman said with a sharp look.

“Okay, so what is the pass code?” the man asked?

“You must spell correctly the word ‘Czechoslovakia’ …” the woman answered.

*****

You would think God’s own children would be those who most ardently want to see the salvation of others and swing wide for them the gates of heaven.

But sometimes, the hardness of our own hearts are the very stumbling blocks put in front of others.

That same heart can be a stumbling block to our own relationship with God. Jesus spoke to that issue this way:

23 “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God,” Matthew 5:23-24.

Unreconciled issues with others creates a problem for our being reconciled to God. This Christmas season, is there anyone who you need to offer the gift of reconciliation and peace? Are you a stumbling block for someone, or do you hold the gates of heaven open for all?

Scotty