Difference between Heaven and Hell

I recently found this short story while looking for a story to drive home an area of culture that God wants to see in His Church.  

The short story validates that Heaven and Hell will be occupied by people, but there is one unique difference between these people that we often overlook when thinking about these places of eternity.

Let's let the story show us what that difference is.

"A man spoke with the Lord about heaven and hell.  The Lord said to the man, 'come, I will show you hell.'  They entered the room where a group of hungry people sat around a huge pot of cooking stew.  Everyone in the room was starving.  Each person held a spoon that reached the pot, but each spoon had a handle so much longer than their own arms that it could not be used to get the stew into their own mouths.  The suffering was terrible. 

'Come now, I will show you heaven' the Lord said.  They entered a room identical to the first, the big pot of stew, the group of people and the same long-handled spoons.  But here everyone was happy and well nourished. 

'I don't understand' said the man.  'Why is everyone happy here and miserable in the other room?  Everything is the same.'  'Here', said the Lord, 'they have learned to SERVE each other.''

The difference between the people of Heaven versus the people of Hell is simply Heaven is made up of people who care about one another enough to serve the other.  And God is not waiting for us to get to Heaven to start serving.  Instead He is watching us now to see if we are practicing this ever important trait that will be seen in all those in Heaven.

So what are you waiting for?  Humble yourself today and begin serving others.  This will be your Heaven on earth.