Peter of Arezzo was one who feared neither God nor man. If anyone spoke to him of the punishments of sin, and how everyone will be judged according to how they lived their life, Peter only laughed.

One day, while in a church in Rome, he was drawn to an impressive painting. It was a picture of the Last Judgment. He looked at it for a long time in silence, and then went away.

Some people there noticed him, and wondered where he was going so silently. They watched, and were surprised to see him kneel down to say his prayers. The sight of the picture had changed his heart. He said,

"If I am so frightened by the sight of a picture of God’s judgment, what will become of me when that judgment itself really comes?"

And so Peter became good, and remained good as long as he lived.

Life on earth is so short and the afterlife never ends. We will be forever grateful if we spend our earthly lives preparing our souls for the never-ending lifetime of Eternity.