Drama

Cast: two person, either sex

Props: ladder, sign "777 Pearly Gates," white robe, sheets of paper ("good" list), huge sheaf of computer printout paper (St. Peter's "bad" list) one small piece of notepaper (the "bad" list), sounds effects- thunder or Halloween tape of frightening sounds, red/orange lights (with switches to allow flashing)

Theme: people depend on their own works to save them, in the process devaluing their sin and overvaluing their good works; one must look to Christ for grace instead

Characters: St. Peter acts as a judge; person is prideful and blind to the depth of his/her own sin to find it himself.

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Time: 5.5 minutes

THE SCENE IS A GATE TO HEAVEN; ST. PETER SITS ATOP A LADDER

BLINDERS: (ENTERS LOOKING AROUND AS THOUGH IN A STRANGE PLACE) Say, you up there?

ST PETER: Yes?

B: Who are you?

SP: Peter-- St. Peter.

B: Oh, well nice to meet you Mr. Peter St. Peter.

B: I just came from my funeral. I guess my liver and kidneys finally gave out after all the overtime I gave them the last 30 years! I can't go back home, so I'm looking for a new place. This is 777 Pearly Gates, isn't it?

ST: Read the sign.

B: Where's the door?

S: There is only one door to heaven. The door is what a Man has done.

B: I thought so! I brought a list!

S: A list?

B: Here-- look it over. (HANDS A FEW PAGES OF A LIST TO ST. P)

It's a list of all the good things I've done. I figured you'd also want a list of the bad things, too, so you could see how they balance out. (HANDS ST. P. A SINGLE, SMALL SHEET OF PAPER) As you can see, my "good" list is a lot longer.

S: We were expecting your death today, so we downloaded a list of bad things produced from the database of your life. Here it is. (HANDS B A VERY THICK COMPUTER PRINT OUT)

B: Hey! Why's this so long? You must have the wrong guy.

S: Sir, we don't make mistakes.

B: Let me see that! This is me alright. I'd forgotten most of this stuff, though. Hey! You can't count this! I didn't actually beat up Harry Jones. (IF WOMAN: "POKE OUT MARY SMITH'S EYES) (ASIDE TO AUDIENCE:) He's lucky I never had a good opportunity!

S: "You have heard that it was said 'Do not murder, and anyone who does will face judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will face judgment, and anyone who says 'You fool!' will be in danger of hell." (MATTHEW 5:21-22)

B: Yea? Who thought up that dumb idea?

S: Jesus Christ.

B: (DUMBFOUNDED) No!

S: Yes!

B: Uh, oh... Well, no need to argue on a sunny day like today. What else do you have written here... What's this? I didn't lie to Mr. Evans! Not exactly, anyway.

S: The Way you phrased your answer, you led him to believe something that wasn't true.

B: Well that's his problem!

S: It was his problem. But it's your problem now! A half truth amounts to a whole lie.

B: (LOOKING AT THE LIST AGAIN) Do you mean to tell me that you actually tallied up my life time income and everything I gave to the church and the poor and reduced it to a percentage? I thought only the government hired so many bean counters! Now that's tacky, real tacky.

S: What really is "tacky," or rather, "sinful," is that the way you used your money shows how obviously little you cared for anyone besides yourself.

B: Why are you making such a big thing out of this? It's not like I gave all my money to pushers and crooks!

S: A person sins by not doing good even more than he does by doing bad.

B: And the situation with my sister. I did the best I knew how.

S: Your best judgement means nothing. God's judgement means everything.

B: It all depends on the situation.

S: Situations change, but God's commands remain the same. (PAUSE)

We have heard enough from you.

B: Wait! Give me time! I can explain at least half of these! I'll think up more items for my "good' list if you give me time! Maybe I can get the good to outnumber the bad!

S: It would make no difference. Even a single sin brings condemnation.

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. (JAMES 2:10) Do you really wish to be paid for what you have done?

B: Yes!

S: That's too bad.... The wages of sin is death. It would have been better if you had picked the gift of God which is eternal life in Christ Jesus.

B: But you said that the door to heaven is what a man has done.

S: Yes, but you misunderstand. The door to heaven is what a Man has done-- the mediator Jesus Christ. His work on the cross, not ours, is the door to heaven. You said nothing about Him.

B: What did he ever do for me?

S: At just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a good man; but God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (ROMANS 5:6-8)

B: What about my "good" list? Doesn't that mean anything?

S: Good things are not the door to heaven-- Jesus Christ is. But for those who enter through Him, it results in rewards.

B: That's not fair!

S: God is more than fair. He is merciful. You cannot depend on what you have done. You must depend on what He has done for you.

B: Where do I go now? I have all this time off from work, and I had to leave my credit cards and RV at home. (POINTING TO THE EXIT B IS HEADED TOWARD; THEN THUNDER OR WAILING AND FLASHING RED LIGHT BEGIN SUDDENLY AS SHE WANDERS OUT)

S: They have a place for you over there. (POINTING TO EXIT)

B: Well, at least someone around here shows some hospitality! (WANDERS SLOWLY TOWARD EXIT)

Those noises-- is that a party going on in there? Sure is dark... Are you sure that's the right place? Sure is hot in here. (DOOR SLAMS)

(MAY REPLACE S'S LAST LINE WITH A DIFFERENT VOICE OFFSTAGE PLAYING THE DEVIL, "WE HAVE A PLACE FOR YOU OVER HERE")

DR JOHN JUEDES

MESSIAH, HIGHLAND, CA 1997 SKITS/GOODVSBD (GOOD VERSUS BAD) 2