Sister Rose was stopped at the gate of heaven, and confusion filled her face. “What is going on here?” she asked. “My name is Sister Rose Agatha, the General Choir Director of the Association of Christian Choristers in my country. What do you mean I’m not qualified to enter?”
The angel looked at her calmly. “I’m sorry, ma, but the gate has been shut against you. Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14).
She felt offended. “Sir, with all due respect, you must be mistaking me for someone else. I served God all the years of my life on earth. Do you know how many choir groups I headed? How many crusades I was invited to? I was very popular.”
“The Kingdom of God is not about popularity,” the angel replied. “What quality of service did you render to God? Was it for His glory or to please men? Remember, ‘For we must all stand before Christ to be judged… each of us will receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body’” (2 Corinthians 5:10). “And again, ‘The work of each builder will be clearly shown… the fire will test the quality of each person’s work’” (1 Corinthians 3:13).
“Perhaps,” the angel continued, “let me show you.”
A large screen appeared before her. Sister Rose watched in disbelief as scenes from her life began to play.
The angel spoke gently but firmly. “Here is the day you accepted a bribe to sing at a concert, even though you had already committed to minister at your home church. You said it was ‘for exposure,’ but your heart desired the money and applause.”
Another clip played. “Here you are insulting your husband and disrespecting your family, yet standing before the congregation hours later, lifting holy hands and singing as if nothing happened.”
Sister Rose trembled.
The screen shifted again. “Here, you intentionally changed the lyrics of a worship song to suit the preferences of important guests, not caring whether the message still honored God.”
More scenes followed—moments of involvement in church scandals, an illegitimate affair with the General Overseer of another church, secret conversations filled with compromise.
Then the angel said softly, “Now look deeper.”
The screen revealed what no one else had seen—the content of her heart. Lust for material things. Sincere worship slowly replaced with performance. Malice and unforgiveness carefully hidden behind a smiling face.
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
“But this is not where it began,” the angel continued. “Look again.”
Another clip appeared—her younger self, fervent and broken before God, worshipping with tears, serving with purity, fearing God sincerely. She had once sung not for applause but for heaven’s smile.
“What happened?” the angel asked.
Sister Rose fell to her knees. “Please… just one more chance. I can fix this. I can make things right.”
The question echoed around her: “What type of Christian have you been?”
She woke up suddenly, tears soaking her pillow. It was a dream—but every scene reflected her real life.
“What type of Christian have I been?” she whispered to herself. “What happened to me? How did I get carried away?”
And the question would not stop ringing in her ears.
Now pause for a moment and ask yourself the same question. If your life were placed on that screen today, what would be there?
Great read
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