By Arthur

I, Arthur wasn't a bad man, not cruel, not malicious. I lived 60 years a quiet life worked married raised kids paid taxes went to church, a good man I thought. As I took my last breath a calmness enveloped me, I had lived well, heaven awaited. A warmth like morning sun greeted me, I opened my eyes. Before me stood a magnificent gate pearlescent, shimmering. A piece I'd never known filled me. This was it, this was home. A figure bathed in light approached, androgynous, powerful yet comforting. "Arthur", the being spoke voice like windchimes. I fell to my knees. "Have I lived a worthy life?" I whispered. Fear, a tiny tremor in my voice. The being smiled, not a blinding grin, but knowing, sad. My Heart stuttered.

The being opened a book, ancient leatherbound. "Arthur Son Of..." The Voice trailed off reading, then looked up. "We have watched you..." My confidence wavered. "Watched?" Why that tone? "I, I tried to be good", I stammered, the warmth around me chilling slightly. I felt a coldness grip my insides. What was happening? The being closed the book with a soft thud. You were kind Arthur, honest, loyal... I dared to breathe again, but the being continued, voice dropping. "You wasted your life." My blood ran cold. Wasted? "You had potential Arthur a gift to inspire to create to uplift." The being looked into my soul. "You chose comfort, ease, and in that choice you sinned." Sin? I have never stolen, never killed. My Mind raced. I had dreams once to write, to paint, but life got in the way, responsibility. Was that a sin not to chase a dream? I looked up pleading in my eyes.

"Every life has a purpose, Arthur." The being said, voice echoing with sorrow. "Each soul is given a unique path to follow, not all are grand, but all have meaning. Every moment, every choice contributes to the tapestry of existence. You were given a spark of the divine, a gift meant to illuminate, not just your path, but to touch others as well. You let it dwindle die. You allowed the pressures and distractions of life to snuff it out." I saw my life flash by, the choices I made the roads not taken, moments of quiet joy, yes, fleeting instances of happiness that now seem so distant, but also a nagging emptiness, a void that grew with each passing year. I pushed it down ignored it. Was that my sin? The refusal to confront my own dissatisfaction, choosing contentment over striving for something more, settling for Less when I could have reached for greatness?

I wanted to argue, to defend, to justify my choices, my life. I was a good man. I had done no harm, had lived a life of decency. Didn't that count for something? Didn't my goodness hold any weight? But the truth settled in my gut, cold and hard. I'd settled, I had chosen the path of least resistance. I'd chosen the easier path the one that required less effort, less risk, and in that choice I'd failed not just myself, but the potential I carried the potential to be more, to do more to shine brighter. Is there no forgiveness, is there no Redemption for a soul like mine? I choked out tears, finally spilling my heart heavy with regret and sorrow. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. I'd followed the rules, lived by the book, wasn't that enough to secure my place?

The being regarded me, eyes filled with a profound sadness as if understanding his turmoil. "Arthur" The Voice softened. "Heaven is not a reward but a reflection of your inner self. You lived in the muted hues of self-doubt never truly believing in your own worth. Can you expect to find brilliance here in this darkness that mirrors your own heart? I felt a sob rise in my throat. Was this my judgment, my eternal fate, to be forever barred from the light to never feel its warmth again? I had lived a good life, hadn't I? I had tried my best, wasn't that enough to save me? The weight of my wasted potential, my unlit spark crushed me making it hard to breathe. I had sinned not through malice, but through apathy, through inaction and indifference, and the price it seemed was everything I had ever hoped for, everything I had ever dreamed of.

The being placed a hand on my shoulder, a gesture that felt both heavy and light. The touch was neither warm nor cold, but filled with an ancient sorrow, a sorrow that seemed to span centuries. "Go now Arthur" The Voice whispered. "And know this, the greatest sin is not to hate, but to simply exist, to drift through life without purpose or passion." And with that I was gone, fading Into the mist like a forgotten memory, not cast Into darkness, but left in a muted gray space, a space of my own making devoid of color and life. A life lived not in sin, but in the shadow of what could have been. Surrounded by missed opportunities and unfulfilled dreams. A life lived in the quiet despair of indifference, my own personal hell where every moment was a reminder of what I had not done. The gates of heaven shimmered in the distance, a painful reminder of what I had forfeited, what I could never reach, not with grand gestures of wickedness, but with the silent Insidious sin of wasted potential of talents never realized. A sin far more common and perhaps far more tragic for it is the sin of doing nothing of letting life pass by.

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This is an important message because Jesus warned us that the slothful will face consequences (Matthew 25:30). Although Arthur was somewhat lazy, he was a good and honest man who held down a job and took care of his wife and children, which in itself is admirable. If one spends a lifetime in drunkenness or addiction and never learns to love, never has a relationship with Jesus and God, this article is really for them. The bible tells us there will be atonement, particularly for those who die unrepentant. Sloth is one of the seven deadly sins and is not merely about physical laziness, but also encompasses spiritual negligence. The Bible provides insights into how sloth can impact our lives and how we can overcome it through diligence and faith. Sloth is characterized by carelessness about God’s commands and priorities, as well as a lack of love for God and His ways. It undermines the biblical doctrine of vocation. The Book of Proverbs also condemns sloth, describing the slothful as “lazy” and “wasteful” (Proverbs 19:15, 24:30). So, the Bible emphasizes diligence, spiritual vigor, and faithful stewardship over slothfulness.

What Is Sloth?

26 Bible Verses about sloth

What does the bible say about sloth?

Bible Verses About Laziness

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By Arthur, last name unknown.

Editor thepeoplesvoice.org