This story is about what happened to a man who was about to die.
This man had been a devout believer in God all his life. He thought he had done everything right, following the rules and teachings, never slacking off, and never betraying his faith. He believed he was different from others—others might not be able to make it, but he was certain he would go to heaven.
When he was about to die, Death came. Death did not scare him but spoke calmly, “Your time has come. Come with me.”
Death touched his feet, and they grew cold; he touched his head, then his heart, and it suddenly exploded with a loud “bang.” His soul left his body and followed Death as he flew away.
At the moment his soul left, his entire life flashed before his eyes like a movie. He saw everything he had done, everything he had said, and everything he had thought. It wasn’t what others saw in him, but everything he had truly done.
What kind of “life” did he see?
As they flew, they arrived at a place that looked like a dance party. Many people were dancing in beautiful clothes and looked very respectable.But strangely, under everyone’s clothes, there was an “animal.”
Some people had monkeys under their clothes, some had goats, some had snakes or fish. These ‘animals’ were the evil thoughts, selfishness, jealousy, anger, and desires deep within their hearts.
The man was shocked when he saw this. He thought, “So everyone has something bad in their hearts?”
Then he asked himself, “What about me? What am I hiding inside?”
The Grim Reaper pointed to a person who looked particularly noble, with a golden glow around his head, like an important figure. But the Grim Reaper said, “Look at what he’s hiding inside.”
The soul looked and saw that inside that person’s heart were the feet of a peacock. The light on his head was actually just the feathers of a peacock spreading its tail—beautiful, but vain.
The soul understood: this person looked impressive, but was actually just a show-off with a proud heart.
Then he heard birds chirping in the air, sounding like human voices: “Do you remember me? I am the bad things you used to think!”
It turned out that these birds were the bad thoughts that had popped into his head in the past—wanting to hurt others, looking down on others, thinking he was better than others.
He began to feel afraid. He wanted to run away, but with every step he took, his feet were cut by stones. He asked, “Where did these stones come from?”
The Grim Reaper said, “These are all the hurtful words you have spoken. You thought they were just casual remarks, but they are like stones that have pierced other people’s hearts.”
He was stunned. He had never thought that words could hurt people so deeply.
He thought he was “right,” but he was wrong
He still wasn’t convinced. He said to Death, “I may have said some things, but I always followed the rules! I never did anything bad! I’m not like those sinners!”
He felt he deserved to go to heaven.
They arrived at the gates of heaven. The angel asked him, “Who are you? What do you believe in? What good deeds have you done?”
He said, “I followed all the rules! I hate evil! I hate those bad people! If I had the power, I would use swords and fire to destroy them!”
The angel listened and asked him, “Then are you a follower of Muhammad? Because he said to defend the faith with swords.”
He hurriedly said, “No, no, no! I’m not! I’m a Christian!”
The angel asked again, “Jesus said, ‘Those who take up the sword will die by the sword.’ He also said to love your enemies, forgive others, and be merciful. Have you done these things?”
He was speechless.
He had always thought that “believing in God” meant following the rules, criticizing others, and hating “bad people.” But he had never truly loved anyone or forgiven anyone.He thought he was right and others were wrong, so he had the right to “punish” them.
But true faith is not proven by “obeying the rules,” but by ‘love’ and “gentleness.”
What is the truth?
The truth is that this person appeared to be very devout, but in reality, he was very proud.
He believes in God not to become a good person, but to prove that “I am better than others.”
He follows the rules not to help others, but to show that “I am right.”
He hates sinners not because he cares about them, but because he looks down on them.
He thinks he is “doing God’s work,” but in reality, he is using his faith to satisfy his own sense of superiority.
This is the deepest truth behind the story: A person can appear to be very “spiritual” on the surface, but be filled with pride and indifference on the inside.
He thought he was close to heaven, but in fact he was the furthest away.
What did he finally understand?
When he finally approached the light of heaven, it was so bright that he couldn’t bear it. It’s like when you suddenly walk out of a dark room into the sunlight and can’t open your eyes.
When the light shone into his body, he suddenly saw himself clearly:
He saw his pride like a mountain crushing others;
He saw how his coldness had hurt so many people;
He saw that every “right thing” he said was actually tinged with the meaning “I’m better than you.”
He finally understood:
“The good things I did were because the environment forced me to do them, not because I loved others so much;
and the bad things I did were all my own choices.”
He bowed his head and dared not say that he was “worthy of heaven” anymore.
He felt that he was too heavy to fly up, and could only fall down.
He didn’t even dare to cry out, “God, have mercy on me,” because he felt he was not worthy of mercy.
But ‘mercy’ still came
Just as he was about to fall into darkness, a voice appeared—not a voice of judgment, but a gentle voice.
The voice said, “Human soul, you are forever sacred, happy, kind, and will never disappear.”
This was not because he had done well, but because God’s love already existed.
God’s love is not like people’s love, which requires “grading”: you have to do enough good deeds to be accepted.
God’s love is: Even if you fall, I am willing to help you up.
He was held up by this love and no longer fell. He began to rise slowly, not by his own strength, but carried by love.
He became purer, gentler, and more authentic. He no longer needed to pretend to be great because he had already been accepted.
What lesson does this story teach us?
1. True faith is not about “following the rules,” but about “learning to love.”
Many people think that believing in God means not stealing, not lying, going to church, and reading the Bible.
These things are certainly important, but if they are only for the sake of “looking good,” then it is not faith, but performance.
True faith is learning to be gentle with others, learning to forgive, learning to see the difficulties of others, and not just focusing on the mistakes of others.
2. Pride is the most dangerous “sin” because it blinds people to themselves
The person in this story is not a murderer or arsonist, but his biggest problem is that he thinks he is “perfect.”
He sees only flaws in others and only strengths in himself.
This mindset caused him to lose opportunities for growth.
Proud people are like wearing glasses that prevent them from seeing themselves.
The more they think they are “right,” the further they stray from true kindness.
3. Compassion is not a “reward,” but a “starting point.”
Many people think: I have to be a good person first, then God will love me.
But the story tells us: God’s love comes first, and then we slowly become better.
Just as parents love their children, not because they got full marks, but because they are their children.
God loves us, not because we are perfect, but because we are His children.
4. Death is not the end, but the beginning of “seeing yourself clearly”
This story takes place on “the last day,” which is when a person dies.
But the point is not “where you go after death,” but “what kind of life you have lived.”
At the end of life, people see what they have truly lived—not how others see you, but the truth in your heart.
If you spend your whole life comparing yourself to others, criticizing them, and proving that you are better than them, you will end up realizing that you are actually very lonely.
If you spend your whole life loving, forgiving, and helping others, you will feel at peace in the end.
Summary: How should we live?
This story is not meant to scare people, but to remind them.
It says:
Don’t think that “faith” means following rules, criticizing others, and thinking you are very spiritual.
True faith is humility, gentleness, and a willingness to admit, “I have many shortcomings.”
It also says:
Don’t be afraid that you are not good enough.
God’s love is not for “perfect people,” but for “those who are willing to change.”
Like the soul in the story, he did not enter heaven because of his “good deeds,” but because he was embraced by “love.”
Each of us will make mistakes, say the wrong things, and hurt others.
But as long as we are willing to turn back, admit our mistakes, and change, that love will always be there.
So, don’t live your life trying to be “right,”
try to live it being “true.”
Don’t rush to prove how great you are,
try to understand how difficult it is for others.
Then, when we reach the last day of our lives,
we won’t fear that light,
but instead open our arms and walk into it.
Because that light isn’t there to judge us,
it’s there to embrace us.
