Christian Library | Full Free Coptic Books | Orthodox Library

Short Stories (Stories for the Youth), book by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

243- Who will Buy my Seat in Heaven?

 

St-Takla.org Image: Voltaire (21 November 1694 – 30 May 1778) at 24, by Catherine Lusurier (vers 1753-1781) after Nicolas de Largillière's painting. His original name is François-Marie Arouet, French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher. Oil on canvas, 1718 , 64 × 52 cm (25.2 × 20.5 in), at the Musée national des Châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon. صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: لوحة فولتير (21 نوفمبر 1694 - 30 مايو 1778) في سن الرابعة والعشرون. رسم الفنانة كاترين لوسوريه (1753-1781) مثل لوحة نيكولاس جي لارجيليه. اسمه الأصلي هو فرانسوا ماري آرويه، وهو كاتب تنوير فرنسي، ومؤرخ، وفيلسوف. اللوحة زيت على قماس بمقاس 64×52 سم، من سنة 1718، محفوظة في المتحف القومي دي شاتو دي فيرساي ودي تيريانو.

The famous atheist Voltaire was once a guest at one of the banquets given by Frederick the Great. In an attempt to mock at the believers in God and eternal life, he said to the Christians present at the banquet, “I’m ready to sell my seat in heaven for one Prussian Dollar.”

Then, one of the believers commented saying, “Sir, since you’re in Prussia, you must know that you aren’t allowed to sell anything without prior proof of ownership. Are you prepared to prove that you have a seat in heaven?”

Voltaire marvelled at that comment and was so ashamed that he only said a few words during the rest of the evening.

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: من يشتري مقعدي في السماء؟

Lord, You promised me not to worry about what to say.

Our Heavenly Father’s Spirit grants us the words to speak.

Grant me that my life be adorned with holiness,

That it be filled with Your heavenly wisdom,

And empowered with the power of the Spirit.

---