The monthly meeting of the angels was usually a very unexciting affair. It
was a time when the guardian angels got together and talked about the ones they
were responsible to protect. But today’s was different, as they had asked God
himself to attend, as they had some questions about a Mr. Holland who had
recently died. And gone to hell, and they didn’t understand why. Mr. Holland
was a pillar in his community, past president of the leading social club, on the
church board, and owned a very prosperous business in his small town. Everyone
in town knew him, and adored him. Whenever the school needed help, they turned
to Mr. Holland and his business for help. The cheerleaders need new uniforms,
he would pitch in. A student needed work, he would hire them after school. And
each year in the Harvest Parade his tractors would pull the farm wagons,
provided at no charge for the various floats. He was always first to reach into
his pockets when the Little League field needed repairs, and had been on the
church board for years. He had the gift of organizing, and of making money when
others needed it. He and his wife of many years never had children, the
community was their family, and each Sunday they could be found in their regular
seat in church, third row center, right side on the aisle. He basked in all the
attention, and they rarely missed, but now Mr. Holland was dead, and no one was
there to lead them. But that wasn’t the question, he had gone to hell, and the
angels, in particular his guardian angel didn’t get it. Why had this man who
had led such an exemplary life gone to hell? Hadn’t his guardian angel
protected him? A job easier than most angels, as Mr. Holland led such a good
life. Why, then God, did he end up in hell? And the room became quiet when God
entered the room.
He had heard their questions, and prepared a short demonstration to answer
it for them. A parable on the big screen, so they would understand Mr. Holland
better, and to show why he ended up in hell. God chose a scenario they would
have known Mr. Holland in, on a farm. The angels saw Mr. Holland among the
flames in hell, with no way out. Screaming in pain, one who shined bright like
a son of God called him to a tractor hooked up to flat bed trailer. “Hop on,
and follow me, I will show you where the gate is,” the figure called to him, and
without hesitating Mr. Holland jumped behind the wheel. The brightest angel
jumping off, rather being pushed off, Mr. Holland taking over and steering. Mr.
Holland saw the gate ahead, but had to go across a field to get there, quite a
distance. And along the way, he passed by many others who screamed in agony
were jumping on the cart. They too were looking for escape from hell, and
figured Mr. Holland would lead them out. In hell like he had on earth. But
soon the cart became full, then overloaded, and the tractor could hardly pull it
through the rich soil. “Get off, you ‘re keeping me from escaping!” he yelled,
but even more jumped on, soon blocking the tractor, and almost bringing it to a
halt. “Get off you fools,” in anger and fear, and when he yelled one more
time, and when they didn’t obey him, he reached behind, grabbed the clevis pin
holding the trailer to the tractor, and pulled, setting the trailer free, and
allowing the tractor to jump forward, running over those ahead of him. Nothing,
no man would hinder his escape. Soon he was far enough ahead he could barely
hear the cries for help, the gate was in sight. He was racing it to it alone,
when suddenly the screen went black...and Mr. Holland was back in hell, where he
had started. And as the angels sat silent, they now understood why Mr. Holland
had gone to hell. Mr. Holland’s Oops was evident to them all, and they saw
God’s perfect justice. No words were needed.
In life Mr. Holland had done well, but at a price. He used to brag he
lived by the Ten Commandments, but really only lived by nine, neglecting the
first one. He didn’t place God first, and all his actions led to him getting
the glory. Even the huge funeral he had when he died, was in his will, along
with the statue to commemorate him in death and after death. He had established
his own gospel, the gospel of self, and that was Mr. Holland’s Oops. Although
he was a church member, and on the board, he never accepted Jesus into his life,
instead rather going it alone, using his wits and talents. And the angels had
seen the same thing the townspeople had seen, it was only God who looked at his
heart and saw the evil. It wasn’t the money, the selfishness, or the fame that
had sentenced him to hell. And no, God hadn’t sent him, God sends no one to
hell. It was his refusal of Jesus Christ, to repent and be forgiven, and even
to the end, when given one last chance, when the brightest angel Jesus appeared
to him, showing him the way, he tossed Him aside, his pride ruling and his
ending in hell. He wanted to lead, leading himself right into hell. It was his
decision to not place God first, and even the Ten Commandments couldn’t save
him. And it wasn’t the gates that kept him out, but kept him in, as Jesus is
the only way to escape the gates of hell. Only Jesus keeps you out, something
no gate can do. And to the end, he was willing to sacrifice others to get what
he wanted. Truly, this man showed no love to his fellow men, than to lay down
his life for another.
Sadly, Mr. Holland’s Oops is not unusual. We tend to look at the outer
man, God looks at the heart. And when we ask forgiveness, He grants it. Sins
committed, sins we are committing, and those to come. All at once, and once for
all. Even the sins we don’t know we commit, and we commit many under the guise
of our own gospel. When it is only the gospel of Jesus Christ that will save
us. What are the angels saying about you? What will they say, better yet what
will God say? Despite our sins, we can be forgiven, and can all hear the words
“well done my good and faithful servant,” and arrive in heaven. The choice is
ours....many around us think we are who they see, only God knows who we are, and
who we are when we are alone. And He loves us anyway, so why not turn to Him
today, let Jesus in and never face the gates of hell again. The angels
understood after the demonstration, what will it take for you? God is patient
that none should perish, and he was ready to forgive and forget Mr. Holland’s
Oops, He calls it grace, all he had to do was ask Jesus to forgive him. So
rich, yet so poor. So smart, yet so foolish. So giving, yet so selfish. To
the end, when he faced Jesus, he rebelled.
Today Jesus stands at the gate knocking, let Him into your heart before you
cannot escape and it is too late. The gates of hell shall never prevail against
the Son of God, and His followers. Mr. Holland found that out too late. Don’t
let his oops be yours. He found out too late that it can be on earth, as it is
in heaven, not the other way around.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com