There is an old Jewish legend that goes like this:
I went up to heaven in a dream and stood at the Gates of Paradise in order to observe the procedure of the Heavenly Tribunal. I watched as a learned Rabbi approached and wished to enter. “Day and night,” he said, “I studied the Holy Torah.”
“Wait,” said the Angel. “We will investigate whether your study was for its own sake or whether it was a matter of your profession and done for the sake of honors.”
A Righteous Person [a Zaddik] next approached the Heavenly Tribunal. “I fasted much,” he said, “I underwent many ritual cleansings. I studied the Zohar, the mystical commentary on the Torah day and night.”
“Wait,” said the Angel, “until we have completed our investigation to learn whether your motives for fasting and studying were pure.”
Then a tavern-owner drew near. “I kept an open door and fed without charge every poor person who came into my bar,” he said.
The Angel immediately opened the Gates of Paradise for the tavern-owner.
How are YOU like or unlike the tavern-owner?
YOU CANNOT ASK GOD TO MAKE ROOM FOR YOU IN HEAVEN IF YOU HAVE NO ROOM FOR GOD IN YOUR HEART!
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