ANGELS AT WAR

CHAPTER 16

ARCHANGEL QUERIDA

AWAKE, YOU WHO SLEEP, ARISE FROM THE DEAD, AND CHRIST WILL GIVE YOU LIGHT (Ephesians 5:14)

            “Whoa, Nelly!” Vermillion bellowed. “Did you see Larry’s face when his hand got caught in the proverbial cookie jar? At least he was able to take a bite before it got slapped. Only too bad the cookie was sweet little Jenny. Too bad she didn’t find out about his deception before she decided to share a bed with him.

            “And what do we have over here, Querida? Your two young Bible students seem to have fornicated. Look at LucyFr cling to Jimmy as they say goodnight for the evening. How sweet of him to stroke her hair and wipe her tears. Tell me, are those tears of joy, regret or bad memories?

            “How ironic, Querida. Ole Jimmy feels the need for something more in life, and he was seeming to find it. But he just can’t seem to keep those pants buttoned up when a lovely young lady bats her eyes at him. It’s looking like it’s over for Mr. Stetson. He’s in more girl trouble now than when he was a playboy! I guess a leopard can’t change its spots.”

            “It ain’t over till it’s over,” I replied mildly, then paraphrased Philippians 1:6. “He that began a good work will complete it.”

            “We’ll see about that,” Vermillion cackled. “Jenny finding out that Jimmy is for sure the father of her child, coupled with LucyFr and Jimmy’s romantic consummation, has solidified a very juicy triangle indeed. Just in time to distract from the last night of the seminar.”

            I felt the desire to tell him to stop calling Lucy ‘LucyFr.’ But if I did, he would only do it all the more. Twenty hours later Vermillion and his minions were busy at the seminar. But my colleagues and myself were there as well, ready to assist the Holy Spirit in a battle for souls.

            Jenny was distraught, discouraged and confused after receiving the news that Jimmy was the father of the child in her womb. She was also angry at Larry’s deception by omission. Especially since the hidden truth had led to his bed.

            In her anger she had handed Larry the keys to his gifted automobile. Technically it was still his as he had not yet signed the title over to her. She then used his phone to call a taxi cab. Uber didn’t exist in 1990.

            Her mind swirled and whirled as she walked to the last night of the Bible prophecy seminar. After paying five dollars for the taxi ride home, she decided to hoof it to the meeting. Although it was more than a couple miles away, she had hoped to get there early enough to enlighten Jimmy about his impending fatherhood. Much to Vermillion’s dismay, she was a bit late.

            This was good. Our side needed the little group of Jimmy, Lucy, Jimmy’s brother Jake, his girlfriend Ginger, as well as Jenny herself, to not be distracted by the baby drama before the meeting started. Pastor Samson, affectionately known as Captain Kirk by his friends and church family, had a powerful message about God’s immense love for humanity.

            He concluded the message with the sacrifice of Jesus for the sins of the world. He declared that God becoming a human being to save fallen humanity was not only the greatest story ever told; it is the greatest story that ever could be told. He then drove home the point of Jesus’s sacrifice.

            Christ had prophesied that he would rise on the third day. But in the midst of the ordeal, as the weight of dying for the sins of the world seemed about to crush him, His human side of His nature overwhelmed Him. For a period of time, He couldn’t see through the portals of the tomb. When He cried, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” He thought His separation from God the Father was going to be eternal.

            Yet the Son of God went through with His mission anyway! Jesus Christ intended to forfeit His own eternal life so that those who accepted His sacrifice and believed in Him would be able to enjoy eternal life in heaven! There is no better example of selflessness! No greater exhibition of love!

            Pastor Samson concluded with a well-known essay by James Allan Francis. (1864-1928)

            ‘He was born in an obscure village. The child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another obscure village where He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never went to college. He never visited a big city. He never travelled more than two hundred miles from where He was born. He did none of the things normally associated with greatness. He had no credentials but Himself. He was only thirty three (when He was murdered). His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. One betrayed Him. He was turned over to His enemies and went through a mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While dying, His executioners gambled for His clothing, the only property He had on earth. When He was dead He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. Nineteen (twenty) centuries have come and gone and today Jesus is the central figure of the human race and the leader of mankind’s progress. All the armies that have ever marched. All the navies that have ever sailed. All the parliaments that have ever sat. All the kings that have ever reigned put together. Have not affected the life of mankind on earth as powerfully as that one solitary life.’

            Pastor Samson made an alter call to close out the two weeks of Bible teachings. Jimmy, Lucy, Jake, and even Jenny joined the two dozen attendees as they made their way down to the front of the high school auditorium’s stage. Unfortunately, more than double that number made their way to the exit or remained seated. Ginger was one of those exiting.

            Although part of her was moved by Captain Kirk’s description of Jesus’s suffering and courage, her evil heart of unbelief had held sway. Like Vermillion, she didn’t like the direction Jake was going. In her mind, Jake was becoming a religious fanatic.

            Why just last night she tried to initiate a little hanky panky. Jake always eagerly went along with her seductions. But last night he baulked. Then he suggested marriage! He said something about even most non-Christians recognized living together as ‘living in sin.’

            But marriage? They had only been together six months. It had only been three weeks since she moved in with him. She was still adjusting to cohabitation with him. Now he getting religious on top of being a neat freak. Should she break up with him? They already had squabbles about dirty dishes and her undergarments hanging in the bathroom.

            The pastor prayed for those accepting Christ or rededicating themselves to the Savior. Then he suggested that those wishing to be baptized talk to him afterward. Jenny watched as approximately half of the altar call attendees raised their hands when he wanted to see a show of those desiring a full commitment. She chewed her lip as she noticed Jimmy raise his hand along with his two companions. Everything was happening so fast!

            Vermillion sidled up to me as I watched Jenny quickly leave the auditorium and sit on a bench outside to await Jimmy. “Chaos and confusion is working as well on Jenny as lust and desire with Jimmy. Still believe in He who began a good work?”

            “As long as there’s breath there’s hope,” I replied.

            “Show me someone with hope and I in turn will show them to be a naïve fool.”

            “Not if they turn to God’s love. Then they can conquer all.”

            “Oh no, are you gonna start quoting the love chapter now?” He replied with a derogatory tone as he referred to 1 Corinthians chapter 13. “Too bad humans turn to lies over love, huh?”

            “That’s why love for God’s law is perfect converting the soul.” (Psalm 19:7)

            He cackled. “Let’s see how many of these four that went down yonder for the altar call stick with that concept or whether they go the way of lovely Ginger. Jenny even seems to be taking the first step away only minutes after being moved to partake in the altar call.”

            “Like you said, seems to be,” I said, causing him to make a dismissive gesture.

            “You hope in vain,” he said and then grinned maliciously. “Thanks to last night’s indiscretion between Jimmy and LucyFr, more chaos and confusion is going to come out of Jenny’s baby revelation than warmth and bonding.”

            “For now.”

            “You need to be more pessimistic,” Vermillion said bitterly. “You and your righteous army are doing battle in a lost cause.”

            “I beg to differ. Jesus won the decisive battle at Calvary. Instead of humanity being lost, all can find salvation in Christ.”

            “All,” Vermillion snorted. “Then why are many called but only few chosen? (Matthew 22:14) Why the broad gate verses the narrow gate? (Matthew 7:13, 14) The broad leading to destruction, where many enter. The narrow being difficult, where few find it?”

            Once again, the demonic realm knows scripture better than the most devout Christian. I countered. “With God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26) All who call of the name of Jesus will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

            Vermillion always wanted the last word. Making a reference from the book of Revelation and something it mentions numerous times, he said, “Looking over the world I’m not seeing many spiritual overcomers.”

            As Jimmy exited the auditorium, Jenny arose quickly from the bench and in a rush said, “Jimmy, I need to talk to you.”

            He was a little taken by surprise. Just as Vermillion had hoped. He was tempting Jimmy’s spiritual bliss to begin to evaporate. “About?”

            “It’s rather personal,” she replied. “Can we speak in private?”

            “I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” he said, glancing uneasily at Lucy. Lucy looked at her shoes.

            Jenny’s stress morphed into irritation. “Fine. Well, just so you know, I’m now one hundred percent sure that you’re the father of my baby. Have a good night.”

            With that Jenny turned on her heels and briskly walked away, leaving Jimmy and Lucy with jaws hanging open. Jimmy’s brother Jake had missed the news. He had noticed Ginger wasn’t at his car, so he kept walking. He found a note declaring that she didn’t want to wait and had called a friend to pick her up.

            “Jenny, wait,” Jimmy called after her. But she kept going. When he noticed a few people turn and look, he didn’t petition her any further.

            Jimmy and Lucy had driven his pickup because rain was in the forecast. As they walked to his truck, a light drizzle began to fall. They both noticed Jenny walk through the parking lot without getting into a vehicle. As she began to walk down a long sidewalk in the direction of her apartment, Jimmy’s thought became audible. “Where’s the car Larry gave her? She’s more than two miles from her apartment.”

            “Do you suppose it has something to do with what she just told you?” Lucy asked.

            Jimmy looked at her with a bewildered expression. Despite feeling jealous of Jenny, Lucy’s recent spiritual growth gave her empathy. As the drizzle quickly became rain, she said, “You need to offer her a ride.”

            They exited the parking lot and slowed when they got to Jenny. He ordered, “Hey Jenny, get in, I’ll give you a ride home.”

            “No thanks,” Jenny replied without looking at him.

            “Come on, it’s raining.”

            “Despite what you think, I’m not gonna melt like a wicked witch.”

            “Would you just get in?”

            “Just go.”

            He could tell she was gonna be stubborn and someone was coming up behind him. What happened to the sweet, mousy girl from high school? He took Lucy home, only about five minutes away. “You need to go after her,” Lucy suggested.

            “What about us?” Jimmy asked.

            “What about us? Do you mean there’s danger of you and her getting back together if you give her a ride and discuss the baby?”

            “No, I mean, well, it is complicated.”

            “Well, something for you to consider. Despite what we did last night, after what happened tonight, with accepting Jesus at that altar call. Then discussing baptism and more in depth Bible study with the pastor. I’m not gonna fornicate anymore.”

            Jimmy nodded but cringed. He knew that abstinence until marriage was necessary if he wanted to be right with God. But he was also self-aware enough to know that sex was an idol of his. Despite this, he asked, “I don’t want to either. Well, maybe I should put it as I’m not going to.”

            “Good. Now go get her and offer her a ride. I’m sure she’ll accept with me not there. Then you can make peace.”

            Jimmy was relieved when she kissed him back after he leaned in to kiss her goodnight. He hurried back to the roads to Jenny’s apartment. He was dismayed that he made it all the way to her building without seeing her. Then he was bewildered when he recognized his brother’s 68’ Mustang Fastback parked in a stall at Jenny’s building.

            He didn’t know Ginger too well. Did she live in Jenny’s complex too? No, that couldn’t be. She moved in with Jake a couple weeks ago. He knocked on Jenny’s door. He froze in surprise when Jake opened Jenny’s door grinning at him. “Hey, Bro.”

            “What are you doing here?” Jimmy asked.

            “I gave Jenny a ride home, she was walking in the rain.”

(Writers note: I recently saw a three part series on grace by Pastor Ty Gibson on YouTube. The last sermon in particular is what I envisioned my fictional preacher preaching on the last night of the Prophecy seminar. If you are interested, it was entitled ‘Amazing Grace.’ If you choose to watch, please don’t be concerned about the length of time shown. Although the preliminaries are quite lengthy, by fast forwarding Ty begins speaking at the 1 hour and 7 minute mark. If you are interested in the first two as well, the first is called ‘Theater of Grace,’ and he starts speaking at the 59 minute mark. The second is called ‘Saved by Grace.’ It starts a little before the 42 minute mark. I was very blessed by these talks! I hope you are as well if you decide to check it out! P.S. It is not necessary to watch the first two to grasp the message in the third.)