Imagine

Imagine you are standing in a huge convention hall filled with people. The atmosphere is one of utter joy with people high fiving, whistling, shouting out loud, and hugging each other. The room is lined with occasional doors for entry. As you look around the hall you see friends and family who return your gaze and laugh with tears in their eyes as they see you. But also there are people from every tribe and nation. All laughing and rejoicing. Suddenly, you notice your deceased friend and run and hug him, shouting for joy. A song of worship begins to rise from the front of the hall as the Lamb stands in now approachable light. Worship flows from all in attendence, hands raised, tears flowing down cheeks. The volume of voices rises to shake the auditorium as the unbridled worship escalates. Out of the corner of your eye some movement grabs your attention. As you turn to look, a door attendent slowly closes the door to the hallway. Peering in through the closing entryway is the face of your friend, in a grimace of fear and sadness, disappearing as a ship sinking at sea; the door closed and locked....never more to be opened.