In heaven an angel approached Jesus, “My Lord, why are You listening so intently and why are You smiling?”
“Oh,” Jesus said smiling back at him, “go to the following two addresses on earth and you will discover the reason why. Then come back and report to Me what you have found.”
The first address the angel visited was a cold prison cell. From a distance he picked up the most beautiful music he had ever heard. Getting closer, he found a man sitting alone on a bench in his cell, looking up towards the only small window.
“How strange,” the angel thought. “How is it possible that one person can produce such beautiful music all on his own without any musical instrument?” Then he remembered the other address he had to visit and although he wanted to stay a little longer, he had to leave.
The other address was a house in a beautiful suburb. As he got closer he heard a horrible noise. It sounded like a bunch of metal pipes, pots and pans being hit together. The sound was so terrible he had to cover his ears as he approached the source of the noise.
He discovered the terrible noise originated from a woman who lived in what seems to be a blessed environment. With his hands still clutching his ears, the angel decided to return back to heaven.
He immediately went to Jesus and asked Him, “Lord, why is it possible for one person to produce the most beautiful sound in the universe while someone else creates a horrible sound of clanging metal? What seems to be even more puzzling, Lord, is that it seemed both people were busy praying to You!”
“The answer is simple,” Jesus replied. “Both need Me to assist and comfort them. Both are asking Me to help, but there is one big difference. The man you found in prison made terrible mistakes which he is paying for in prison as punishment laid on him by human laws, but he found Salvation and he gave his life to Me. For the first time in his life he has discovered true Love and all he wants to do, is to love Us back.
Every prayer of his is born out of pure love.
The other person was very blessed in life but recently her financial circumstances took a turn for the worst and she fell ill herself. She is a Christian too but unfortunately her attitude is one of blame and demand.
All she does is asking, pleading and sometimes even demanding a miracle in her life.”
“But, Lord, You told people who are heavy laden and tired to come to You. You invited them to throw all their troubles and cares onto Your shoulders.”
“That is right, angel, and I will never turn My back on them. However, what seems a bit too much to endure sometimes, is people’s lack of love. Love is what makes the big difference between the people you have visited. It is one instrument any human can use to produce the most beautiful music in the world.” (1Cor 13)
Love is what compels people to praise and worship God under all circumstances.