A/N: I wrote this piece in poem form, but decided it worked best as a story. I'm sure I have plenty of mistakes. Any help would be much appreciated, but please do it in a nice way. Thank you and God Bless.

"Paradise"

Going down life's highway, I come upon a narrow bridge. The barricade was in the form of a cross; rainbow colors encircled its sleek frame. On the other side, I could see a beautiful golden archway. Beyond it, flowering shrubs hung over a marble walkway. The scene, was breath taking I had never seen anything like it.

I had heard the land owner loved his people. I was told it was warm there, and the seasons never changed.

Some folks said, "It was Paradise."

I glanced back at a sign that dangled from the cross. It was as shiny as pure gold, the wording was traced in silver. It read, "Evil Stops Here, No Earthly Things Beyond this Point!"

I quickly reach-up and felt the gold chains around my neck. The clothes, I was wearing were very expensive. The bag in my hand held my life savings.

I heard someone ask, "Do you want to cross the bridge?" I turned slightly and saw a young man approaching me. He was carrying an outfit of old clothes.

He said, "In order to cross the bridge, you must be saved by the blood of the Lamb." I listened and nervously shuffled my feet back and forth.

"You must leave your worldly goods here, and put on these" he stated, holding up the garments.

I stared at the tattered and torn clothes. I thought he must be crazy. Besides, I wasn't ready to be saved. I looked him in the eye and asked, "Why do I have to leave my things here?"

He replied, "The Master of the land takes care of his people. There, you shall never want for anything."

I laughed and said, "I would rather die then give up what I have worked for all these years."

The fellow shifted his weight and blurted-out, "You surely will if you don't get your life in order!"

I stared at him with a blank look on my face. Then I slowly turned and headed back towards the highway. I noticed traffic was getting heavy as I crossed the road. I proceeded on my way and thought about what he had said, "I would surely die."

I screamed aloud, "I don't want to die!" I wanted to go back and cross the bridge, living meant more to me then dying.

"I want Paradise to be my home," I mumbled.

I glanced down at my bag and tears rolled down my cheeks. I felt something tuck at my heart. I ripped the chains off my neck and slung my bag aside.

"I must go back!" I cried. I must tell that man, "I want to change before it's too late." I smiled and stepped off the sidewalk onto the roadway.

But, I never saw the oncoming vehicle...

God's LIL Messenger