T
He Was:
Everything that he set out to be. A writer, a poet, a lover, not a fighter, someone to depend on. One evening changed it all, when he got that one phone call from the local newspapers.
“We learned that you have had a fallen out with a neighbor?” They asked him, while he gripped the telephone in his hand, while pacing the floor of his condo. “Yes, it was a nightmare. The real problem was, all I was doing was trying to teach him the Gospel.” A sigh came over the line from the news reporters, “you do know that you really should not tell everyone right?”
This shocked James as his mouth dropped. Did God not say to preach to every living creature? “Can I ask how that is a problem sir?” James asked the reporter on the other line. “Well…” the reporter began. “We live in trying times, no one wants to hear about all of that you know? Not many people believe anymore, so why not let it rest?”
James rolled his eyes, and hung the phone up. He started to remember how God specifically said, that the devil is out to seek, to kill, and to destroy anyone he possibly can. So should he listen to the reporter and keep this all ‘under wraps’?
James went to bed with this on his mind. He tossed, he turned, barley sleeping a wink. Until at five A.M. he finally was able to… rest. He was awaken by a knock on the front door. He raised up out of bed, and slid his slippers on. While he was rubbing his eyes, the knocks got louder.
He got up, and started walking to the door. He slowly turned the knob as the afternoon sun came pouring into his sight. “We must talk sir,” a deep voice sounded as he tried to make out the silhouette at his front door.
“Care if I come in?” James was hesitant, reluctant to agree to allow this stranger to walk on into his home. “Sure, I was about to make some coffee anyway. Please, have a seat in the din, I will be back. Would you like a cup?” The man shook his head, he seemed troubled about something. James could not even figure it out.
As James returned to the din, he sat apostate of this man. “Now, what can I do for you Mr…?” The man cleared his throat, “The name is Tim, I already know who you are. So there is no need to exchange names here. I am here on a strict only basis. I learned of you James. You have become the talk of the town here, everyone knows you. It even seems, all the women adore you. However, that is not why I am here.”
James looked very puzzled, and confused. “Then why are you here then Tim? What do you want with me? Me of all people?” Tim leaned forward as his dark hat covered his eyes, staring a hole through Jame’s soul. “The day in question, Yesterday. The person you had a problem with? Your neighbor. Why? It is simple really. The devil is very cunning mind you. However, I am here to tell you whatever that reporter said is false. God still have a great following, and He still loves us all very much. Remember that verse you played in your mind after that phone call?”
James’s eyes got big as his mouth dropped. He could barley choke out the words; “To preach the Gospel to every living thing?” Tim whistled, and slapped his knee. “That be it boy! That be is alright!” James was more confused, he has never met this guy a day in his life. Then again, he knew the very thoughts that rang in his ears. How did he…
He could not explain it. He was in a stand still, so James motioned for Tim to continue. “You see here boy, God is still alive, He is still here with us all in this life, and even the next. I am a messenger James, I come with a message.” James’s palms started to sweat as he mumbled the words, “what is this message sir?”
Tim started to laugh, with a grin so big it touched his eyes. “Never, not in this life time or the next, never, ever stop preaching the gospel. You want to know why?” James shook his head, “well boy, it is very simple really…. He did promise us a return didn’t he?” James smiled in agreement.
James states, “OK, Tim. I will not stop. You are right, we should continue the good fight of Faith and continue on our right paths to righteousness. Should we ever stop? No, not even when the cows come home. When they do come home, why not preach to them the Gospel also while they are being fed.”
Tim could not help but to keep smiling, “that ta boy James! That ta boy!” They shared a laugh with each other, as James asked. “Hey Tim,” Tim replied, “yes James?” James eyebrows furrowed as he looked into Tim’s dark blue eyes and asked, “what kind of messenger are you?”
A single white feather fell to the floor as Tim shook Jame’s hand in departure. “I am one of God’s messengers boy. He put me in command to make sure everyone who is on the right path, stays on that very path to righteousness.”
In a blink of an eye Tim was gone, however this meeting left James certain of one thing. He will not ever, ever at all stop preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Everything that he set out to be. A writer, a poet, a lover, not a fighter, someone to depend on. One evening changed it all, when he got that one phone call from the local newspapers.
“We learned that you have had a fallen out with a neighbor?” They asked him, while he gripped the telephone in his hand, while pacing the floor of his condo. “Yes, it was a nightmare. The real problem was, all I was doing was trying to teach him the Gospel.” A sigh came over the line from the news reporters, “you do know that you really should not tell everyone right?”
This shocked James as his mouth dropped. Did God not say to preach to every living creature? “Can I ask how that is a problem sir?” James asked the reporter on the other line. “Well…” the reporter began. “We live in trying times, no one wants to hear about all of that you know? Not many people believe anymore, so why not let it rest?”
James rolled his eyes, and hung the phone up. He started to remember how God specifically said, that the devil is out to seek, to kill, and to destroy anyone he possibly can. So should he listen to the reporter and keep this all ‘under wraps’?
James went to bed with this on his mind. He tossed, he turned, barley sleeping a wink. Until at five A.M. he finally was able to… rest. He was awaken by a knock on the front door. He raised up out of bed, and slid his slippers on. While he was rubbing his eyes, the knocks got louder.
He got up, and started walking to the door. He slowly turned the knob as the afternoon sun came pouring into his sight. “We must talk sir,” a deep voice sounded as he tried to make out the silhouette at his front door.
“Care if I come in?” James was hesitant, reluctant to agree to allow this stranger to walk on into his home. “Sure, I was about to make some coffee anyway. Please, have a seat in the din, I will be back. Would you like a cup?” The man shook his head, he seemed troubled about something. James could not even figure it out.
As James returned to the din, he sat apostate of this man. “Now, what can I do for you Mr…?” The man cleared his throat, “The name is Tim, I already know who you are. So there is no need to exchange names here. I am here on a strict only basis. I learned of you James. You have become the talk of the town here, everyone knows you. It even seems, all the women adore you. However, that is not why I am here.”
James looked very puzzled, and confused. “Then why are you here then Tim? What do you want with me? Me of all people?” Tim leaned forward as his dark hat covered his eyes, staring a hole through Jame’s soul. “The day in question, Yesterday. The person you had a problem with? Your neighbor. Why? It is simple really. The devil is very cunning mind you. However, I am here to tell you whatever that reporter said is false. God still have a great following, and He still loves us all very much. Remember that verse you played in your mind after that phone call?”
James’s eyes got big as his mouth dropped. He could barley choke out the words; “To preach the Gospel to every living thing?” Tim whistled, and slapped his knee. “That be it boy! That be is alright!” James was more confused, he has never met this guy a day in his life. Then again, he knew the very thoughts that rang in his ears. How did he…
He could not explain it. He was in a stand still, so James motioned for Tim to continue. “You see here boy, God is still alive, He is still here with us all in this life, and even the next. I am a messenger James, I come with a message.” James’s palms started to sweat as he mumbled the words, “what is this message sir?”
Tim started to laugh, with a grin so big it touched his eyes. “Never, not in this life time or the next, never, ever stop preaching the gospel. You want to know why?” James shook his head, “well boy, it is very simple really…. He did promise us a return didn’t he?” James smiled in agreement.
James states, “OK, Tim. I will not stop. You are right, we should continue the good fight of Faith and continue on our right paths to righteousness. Should we ever stop? No, not even when the cows come home. When they do come home, why not preach to them the Gospel also while they are being fed.”
Tim could not help but to keep smiling, “that ta boy James! That ta boy!” They shared a laugh with each other, as James asked. “Hey Tim,” Tim replied, “yes James?” James eyebrows furrowed as he looked into Tim’s dark blue eyes and asked, “what kind of messenger are you?”
A single white feather fell to the floor as Tim shook Jame’s hand in departure. “I am one of God’s messengers boy. He put me in command to make sure everyone who is on the right path, stays on that very path to righteousness.”
In a blink of an eye Tim was gone, however this meeting left James certain of one thing. He will not ever, ever at all stop preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.