Our seats in heaven

Rejoice because your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:20)

At one time Frederick the Great held a banquet at which Voltaire, the French philosopher and skeptic, was present. . . . The noted unbeliever began to ridicule the Christians who were there. Finally he said, "Why, I would sell my seat in heaven for a Prussian dollar!"

There was a pause. Then one of the guests said, "Sir, you are in Prussia, where we have a law which requires that one who wishes to sell anything must first prove ownership. Are you prepared to establish the fact that you have a seat in heaven?" Surprised and embarrassed, Voltaire, the normally quick-witted scoffer, had nothing more to say for the rest of the evening.