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The Art of The DEAL

by Billy Adams
9/10/2012 / Short Stories

Art Williams was a successful businessman. He could always negotiate business contracts better than any of his colleagues. He never had time for family and due to his endless pursuit of the next deal, Art found himself in a position in which his life was lived alone and without much purpose. Art was always good at closing deals.

One day, Art was traveling to Denver for a meeting to close on his newest deal. While conducting business in Colorado, something didn't feel right. He became very ill and was rushed to the hospital. After a battery of tests and several days away from his job, Art learned that he had cancer and was given only a few days to live. Art was devastated. His world around him was collapsing and he didn't know what to do. The next morning, a hospital chaplain dropped by and talked to him about his life and ultimate destination after he had died. Art wanted to avert his attention to other matters, but during the conversation, the chaplain mentioned meeting with God. This piqued his interest.

After the Chaplain left the room, Art started thinking about possible solutions to his problem. He believed that if he could just negotiate with God, God would see the importance of his petition and would allow him into heaven. One night as Art was lying in bed, he looked upwards and petitioned God to communicate with him about his life. In His grace, God made Himself known unto Art. Art was amazed at God's presence and then mustered up the courage to negotiate with Him. Art quickly started talking about his critical condition and knew that he had not lived his life the way he should have. He realized that some of his business dealings underscored the fact that what he was doing was in direct opposition to what God had desired for his life. Knowing that his leverage was weak and his situation was dire, he asked God if a sinless person could enter into heaven. God responded that He would allow a sinless person into heaven. Art knew that he could not meet that requirement due to his prior life, so he asked God if He would make an allowance and permit him to enter heaven if he didn't sin from that point on. God allowed this and then departed from that room.

Art was excited about his new deal and how he would now be allowed into heaven, but within a day, Art had sinned numerous times. His thoughts and desires had betrayed him. Although he was willing to remain good to his word, he knew that he had broken his promise and had negated the deal he had made with God. Later that evening, he petitioned God again and God made Himself known unto Art. Art explained that he knew that his previous deal was voided because of his new sin, but wanted to negotiate a new deal. This time, Art explained that during his time on Earth, he had provided some money to charity. Giving to needy people had to warrant some good favor in God's eyes. God looked at Art and said that although He did approve of giving to the poor, good intentions wasn't enough to get anyone into heaven. Sin was not allowed in heaven and there was a penalty for sin that had to be paid.

Art was dumbfounded. He wondered how anyone maintained the ability to enter heaven, so he stepped back and let God negotiate the next deal. He asked God to lay out the contract and then he would know what was required for the deal. God let him know that it was not in Art's ability to enter heaven within his own personality or skills and that although he was helpless in that since, God had provided a person that would make it possible for him to enter heaven. God had piqued his interest again. God said that He had sent His son, Jesus into the World to live a sinless life, heal people of their afflictions, bring people to the knowledge of Him and die to overcome sin and death as well as pay for Art's sin. The only way to heaven was to acknowledge that he was a sinner, ask for forgiveness of his sins, and ask for Jesus to come into his heart to be his Lord. By giving his life to Jesus, God would forgive him of his sins because Jesus paid for them on the cross.

Art looked at God and took in all that He had said. He then weighed what had been offered in the negotiations. What God offered looked very good to him so he agreed to His terms. What an amazing deal. Art was excited and knew that he had secured the better part of the deal. He received heaven, accepted Jesus into his heart, was forgiven of his sins and had a new life thanks to God. Art completed the deal and then later that week he closed his eyes for the last time. Art was very good at closing deals.

Billy Adams is a creative director for a small software development company located in Texas. His passion is writing short stories as well as commentaries on Christian topics and politics. You can view all of Billy's creative writing postings at www.contentservant.com

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

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