Elvis got three Grammy Awards during his musical career, and all three were for Gospel albums.

If you cared to learn more than Elvis‘s “Hound Dog” music, you’d see that he had a good and soft heart; witness one of his early songs, “Love Me Tender.” which was also the name of his first movie in 1956.

But an even closer inspection showed that deep down, his love was Gospel…songs like “Peace In The Valley” are obviously heartfelt. Personally, I always felt that Gospel was where he belonged, but the Colonel saw a gold mine in his rock and roll side, and wouldn’t turn him loose. Reverend Rex Humbard would agree with me. In fact, Rex and his wife were backstage at one of Elvis’ shows when Presley had a heartfelt Christian experience.

One of my “Thorntonisms” is the possibility that God will judge us, not for our weaknesses, but for our strengths. We do know that God looks on the heart in His judgment. This does not excuse sins, but it strengthens our hope that many who are truly sorry for, as David in the Bible calls them, “The sins of our youth.” (Psalms 25:7).

As for me, if I see Elvis in Heaven, I won’t begrudge his making it to that place. Nor any others that we may tend to judge in this life. Do you remember my talking at another time about the person who goes to church and makes the Sabbath a special day, but fails at times during the trials of the rest of the week? My hope is the possibility that his “Sunday Man” is the True Man. How good it is that God…not us…is our judge!

There’s room in Heaven for all who will turn to Christ. Let them in!