On Friday following the holiday, Dr. Murphy had insisted they close the office. Finding himself at loose ends that morning, Croft drove his motor car into downtown Denver and parked. From across the street, he read the lettering upon the windows of a modest set of offices: Pinkerton Detective Agency.
At the front desk, he introduced himself. “Bryan Croft. I would like to see Mr. O’Dell, if he is available.”
A moment later, O’Dell walked toward him. “Dr. Croft? How can I help you?”
Croft shook his hand. “May I buy you a cup of coffee, Mr. O’Dell?”
SARAH HAD TO GRIND her teeth in order to tolerate the remainder of the Thanksgiving weekend as it crawled by at a snail’s pace. She was irritable and easily provoked, causing the household at Palmer House—even Rose—to steer clear of her. They attributed her capricious mood to anguish over Blythe’s untimely death, and no one protested when Sarah spent as much time as she could in her room, away from the daily life of Palmer House.
Until Sunday came around.
Sarah could not sidestep the trek to church and, once seated in the warehouse, surrounded by followers of Christ, she could not ignore the vibrant worship. Nor could she evade the convicting sermon.
This morning, Minister Liáng brought the message. Compared to Isaac Carmichael, Minister Liáng’s teaching and preaching was generally reserved, even bookish—that is, until the Spirit came upon him. When the power of God hit Liáng, he was a changed man, a vessel from which flowed pure, living water.
And nothing Sarah tried could keep out that flow.
“Good morning, my dear friends. In our series, ‘The Overcoming Christian Life,’ we began by asking the question, ‘Why do some believers overcome sin in their lives while other believers are defeated?’
“Last week, Pastor Carmichael taught on truth and deception. This week, we shall continue that theme by comparing the nature of truth to the nature of deception.
“To what end, you ask? A bank teller is trained to know real currency and to recognize the counterfeit. We must be trained to do the same, to know what is of God and what is counterfeit: that which masquerades as the real thing but is a cleverly disguised fake.”
Sarah had longed to run away during worship; now she positively itched to flee the building. But if she left, Rose would surely corner her later and ask why—and Sarah wanted to avoid another conversation with Rose at all cost.
Sarah had no choice but to clench her jaw and endure the preaching of the word—the same preaching she had, until recently, embraced as the Bread of Life; the same teaching that had brought her peace and comfort. The same word that, today, stabbed her heart with increasing conviction.
“If you recall, Pastor Carmichael showed us in Scripture that truth is integral to the nature and character of God—truth is part and parcel of who God is. Conversely, Jesus tells us in John 8:44 that deception is integral to the nature and character of . . . someone else.
“Ye are of your father the devil,
and the lusts of your father ye will do.
He was a murderer from the beginning,
and abode not in the truth,
because there is no truth in him.
When he speaketh a lie,
he speaketh of his own:
for he is a liar, and the father of it.
“Who is the father of lies? It is none other than our enemy, the devil, also known as Satan. Jesus bears witness to the nature of the devil: that he is a murderer and always has been, that no truth abides in him, that whatever he speaks is always a lie—for he is not merely a liar but the progenitor of lies. After the same manner that Satan is the enemy of God and his people, deception is the enemy of the truth.
“Deception, if we allow it entrance into our hearts and minds, is not static or inactive. Deception grows; it progresses. If we allow deception to develop unchallenged, its mature state is delusion. What, you may ask, is delusion?
“Truth is reality—it reflects the genuine condition of the world, the way things actually are. Delusion is the opposite. Delusion is detached from reality, separated from the genuine condition of the world, the way things actually are. Delusion causes men and women to build their lives upon a false foundation, a foundation that dwells in the realm of fantasy.”
Despite her best efforts to block out his voice, Sarah heard each word Minister Liáng spoke. When he paused to allow the Spirit to lead him, Sarah had to whisk perspiration from her upper lip.
“We understand, do we not, that the man who insists he is Napoleon Bonaparte is suffering from delusions of grandeur? We all agree that the man has an illness of the mind, so we soothe and placate him and place him in the custody of those who will see that he cannot harm himself or others. This is a picture of delusion.”
Minister Liáng walked from one end of the platform to the other. “Let us delve a little deeper. The word ‘delusion’ in Scripture is translated elsewhere as ‘error.’ In 1 John 4:6, this word is referred to as the spirit of error.
“We accept that a woman who maintains that she is Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, is in error; this delusion, this error is evident to all. However, spiritual delusion—or a spirit of error—is not universally understood or accepted. Why is this? Because, as 1 Corinthians 2:14 tells us:
“The natural man receiveth not the things
of the Spirit of God,
for they are foolishness unto him;
neither can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned.
“Those who have been born from above, who put their faith and trust in Jesus and his word, who can discern and identify spiritual delusion, are in the minority. I speak of us, brothers and sisters: We are in the minority. Sadly, when we proclaim the truth regarding delusion, regarding error, we are often labeled as fanatics and zealots—out of touch with ‘reality’—because those who do not know Jesus cannot perceive spiritual things.
“We see how the unbeliever can be blind and, therefore, deceived. But can the believer in Christ be deceived? Can the believer fall into error, into delusion? Yes. Jesus warned his followers of deception many times. The Epistles, written to the people of God for their benefit, contain more than thirty similar warnings.
“Listen, my friends: Error and delusion are spiritual strongholds—and those strongholds must be demolished. The word ‘stronghold’ in the Greek means a fortification such as a castle or fortress. In spiritual terms, a stronghold is a garrisoned encampment, a reinforced position where our enemy, Satan, has gained a “strong hold” upon an individual. From the stronghold, the spirit of error wages ongoing war against the Spirit of truth.”
The congregation hardly breathed, so commanding were Liáng’s words; Sarah trembled and quaked under the Spirit’s hand.
“What becomes of a believer who succumbs to error? Jesus taught in Mark 3:25, And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. When a stronghold exists within the believer, he is divided, of two minds—he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways! Two voices within the double-minded man battle for supremacy, and I tell you most truly: only one will win.”
Sarah shuddered. Two voices? How well she recognized what Liáng preached!
“The root of every stronghold, undergirding it, is the falsehood the believer has received and embraced. This lie, this deception, opposes and rejects God’s written word. Where God speaks, the stronghold resists and declares, ‘This does not apply here!’ The stronghold cries, ‘My situation is different; my circumstances are unique. Therefore, I do not need to obey God’s word in this area.’ When we exempt ourselves from God’s word, we negate the living, active power of his word in us.”
Liáng’s voice thundered across the congregation. “It is now time to reassert the lordship of Christ over our houses and our lives! It is now time to apply the truth of God’s word directly to the stronghold. It is time to identify the undergirding lie, tear it down, and root it out!
“If you have
embraced delusion and allowed it a dwelling place within you—
“If you have allowed a spirit of error to take up residence in your soul—
“If you have, on a continual basis, rejected the correction of Scripture—
“If you recognize a stronghold of the enemy within you—
“If you are a double-minded man or woman, a house and heart divided—
“And if the preaching of the living, powerful word of God has, today, opened your eyes to the jeopardy of your soul—
“Come now! Come now to the altar and repent! Repent of the lies, the deceptions, the divided heart. Be delivered from the stronghold of delusion and error.”
When Minister Liáng called to the altar those who desired to break the spiritual strongholds in their lives, the congregation erupted. Many believers streamed to the altar, but Sarah sat rigid and still, fighting desperately against the Spirit’s convicting work in her heart.
Separated from Sarah by only two seats, Rose discerned the fierce battle within Sarah—a battle Rose was no longer certain Sarah wished to win.
I shall fight for you, my daughter—I must!
Rose stood and made her way to the front and knelt.
“O Lord God!” Rose began, but she could not go on; she broke down and sobbed. When she could continue, she prayed, “O Lord, my God, in the name of Jesus, I contend for Sarah’s heart and soul. I know I must confront her yet again. Please guide me and show me how, my Lord!”
With many sorrowful groanings, Rose fought for Sarah, pouring her earnest pleas upon the altar where she knelt.
When she came to the close of her travail, Rose wiped her eyes and whispered, “Be pleased, Lord, to pour your Holy Spirit through your servants that we might overcome the evil one and his devices, that by the power of your Spirit you would bring Sarah’s heart to godly sorrow and repentance . . . that you would restore her, Lord, to yourself and to us.”
Chapter 17
It was Tuesday, the close of yet another workday. Sarah trudged up the walkway to Palmer House—almost, but not quite, late for dinner. She and Lola had eked out every minute of the time they had after Corrine left for the day, staying together until Sarah had to catch the last trolley home to avoid being late.
Sarah’s heart was in turmoil as it was continually lately. Every fiber of her heart hungered to be with Lola, to remain with her. Her spirit, however, clanged an unceasing alarm in counterpoint to her desires.
The more Sarah reasoned why she could not be with Lola—in the way Lola begged Sarah to be with her—the more her heart rationalized why she could.
Lord, I know you say that what I am doing is wrong—but is it wrong in every instance? In all circumstances? I am grieving, and Lola listens to me. She comforts me as I weep for Blythe; she consoles me in my sorrow. Is that wrong?
And you know that I cannot, I shall not, marry a man. This I have vowed. So, if I cannot marry, am I then to be condemned to be alone the remainder of my life? Without love? Without companionship?
Is that fair?
Why must I pay such a heavy price for what evil men have done to me? Why must I suffer for what Richard did, for what Willard did, for what Judge Brown did—why must I live in loneliness because of the brutes who beat and raped me and the ‘gentlemen’ who paid for me to pleasure them?
How is that right? How is that just?
Instead of resolving never to see Lola again, Sarah’s mind bent its obdurate efforts upon achieving a means of having what she desired while justifying that means to her conscience.
Lola loves me . . . and I love her. Does it matter where I find love as long as I do?
One voice within insisted, If we were together, we would be so happy . . .
The Other whispered, Sarah . . . if you love me, you will obey me and forgive.
Sarah climbed Palmer House’s porch steps and let herself in the front door. Turned inward, focused on her own unrest, she hung her coat and hat and scarf on the hall tree and did not notice the unusual quiet of the house.
Until she entered the great room.
On any ordinary evening, several girls would be helping with the meal, shuttling dishes from the kitchen to the dining room and bustling about the table. The remainder of the house’s residents, including Rose, Mr. Wheatley, Billy, and his children, would be gathered in the great room, waiting to be called to dinner.
But the great room was empty when Sarah entered; she heard none of the usual dinner commotion coming from the kitchen. The house was eerily quiet.
“Hello?” she called. She turned when she heard a step behind her.
“Hello, Sarah.”
“Hello, Miss Rose. Where is everyone?”
Rose was composed, but her expression was grave. “I have sent everyone away for the evening, Sarah.”
Sarah wrapped her arms around herself against a sudden chill. “Away? Where? Why?”
“Please come into the parlor, Sarah.”
With dread trickling through her bones, Sarah followed Rose into the parlor. There, Pastor Carmichael stood. Waiting.
“Good evening, Sarah.”
“Good evening, Pastor. I . . . what is the meaning of this, Miss Rose?”
“Please sit down, Sarah. We must talk.”
Sarah swallowed hard; she found a chair and sat.
“Yes?”
“Sarah, you and I spoke some three weeks past regarding the dangers of your friendship with Lola. Although you listened, wept, prayed, and committed before the Lord to break off your friendship with her, you have not.”
Sarah was aghast; she felt faint. “How . . .”
“Someone witnessed you with Lola, down our street, in the park, on the afternoon of Thanksgiving Day. You and Lola were exhibiting what was described as ‘an unnatural affection.’”
Sarah choked but managed to ask, “Who? Who has said this?”
“Someone who, I assure you, cares very much for your wellbeing. They came to me and only me, no one else.”
“But—”
“You have a right to confront your accuser—although the issue is not, at this moment, who saw you, but whether or not you will declare the accusation to be untrue. If you pronounce this person’s testimony to be false, we shall bring you and your accuser together and allow you to refute this lie.
“First, however, I must ask you to respond. Have you kept your commitment to the Lord to sever your friendship with Lola?”
Sarah stared ahead. “No.”
Tears trickled down Rose’s cheeks. “I am so very sorry, Sarah. As I carefully explained when you and I met one on one, if you persisted in your relationship with Lola, you could not continue to live at Palmer House.”
“Have you decided I must leave?”
“Until recently, you have been a wise and caring sister, a loving, encouraging mentor to the girls of Palmer House younger than you, an example of godliness. I could not have been more proud of you.”
“But you no longer hold me in high regard?” The loss of Rose’s approbation struck Sarah the hardest. She began to crumble under the import of Rose’s declarations.
“I must go?” she wept.
“I think your decisions this evening will determine that.”
Rose had to speak above Sarah’s muffled sobs. “As I said when we met previously, you stand to lose everything good and right in your life—not to mention your walk with the Lord. I assure you, however, that this outcome is not what I wish or what anyone who loves you wishes.”
“O God, O God!” Sarah mourned.
“In the manner that Scripture instructs us, I met with you a first time to confront you with your sin in private. Since you have not turned from your sin, this second time I have brought a brother, Pastor Carmichael, with me, in hopes of restoring you.
“Sarah, Pastor has been sharing with me while we waited for you to arrive, and I believe the Lord has given him insight into your heart. I hope you will be open to hear him out. Will you?”
Sarah continu
ed to sob, but when she did not respond to Rose, Carmichael said gently, “Miss Ellinger, we are all—every person who has ever lived—broken in some manner or fashion. We enter the world with a sinful nature. As we grow and learn the difference between right and wrong, we may make many right choices, but we also, inevitably, choose what is wrong.”
Sarah moaned into her hands. “Oh, how I regret ever meeting Lola, ever allowing my heart to consider that she and I could be more than friends.”
“Regret is not repentance, Sarah,” Carmichael said softly. “Regret is sorrow for an adverse outcome, not sorrow for grieving the heart of God.”
“But what can I do? I-I am drawn to Lola, engaged and compelled by my feelings. How can I deny this?”
“You do acknowledge your relationship with her is sin?”
Sarah nodded her head. “I know it is . . . with my mind, but my heart is trapped. How do I escape from this snare?”
“We must, with careful discernment, identify the root of this sin, Sarah. I believe we can guide you in this, but you must allow the Holy Spirit to do his convincing work in you and then follow through.”
Sarah sniffled. “I am listening. I want to do what is right.”
“I am glad to hear it. Do you recall Minister Liáng’s message Sunday on delusion and spiritual strongholds?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“He said in his message that a stronghold is a place in our hearts where our enemy, Satan, has a ‘strong hold’ upon us, a place that is resistant to the Lordship of Christ and his word.
“He also said that at the core of every stronghold is a lie. This lie, this deception, opposes and rejects God’s written word. The stronghold cries, ‘My situation is different, and my circumstances are unique. Therefore, I do not need to obey God’s word in this area.’ Do you see the lie, Sarah?”
“I suppose so . . . in principle.”
“Then, let us bring the principle to bear upon your life, shall we? I know something of the time you spent in those houses of evil in Corinth. I know what you were forced to do; however, we are not here to talk about that which the blood of Jesus has washed away and made clean. Rather, let us speak of the men who abused you, and let us begin before you were taken to Corinth.”
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