by David Riley
“I was surprised to see a ship entering port. Do you know where they came from?”
“Actually, that’s why I was looking for you,” she said with an excited gleam in her eye. “They came from Rome and there was a package of messages. One of them is addressed to you!” She held out a leather parcel, barely able to contain her anticipation.
He grinned at her enthusiasm as he reached out to take it. His hand brushed against hers and his heart skipped a beat as he blushed. They had been spending a lot of time together over the past few months, but he still felt nervous at times, worried she did not share his same feelings. She didn’t seem to mind the contact, however. She seemed to let her hand linger against his as she loosened her grip on the parcel. There was an awkward pause as their eyes met, but then he cleared his throat and pulled the parcel onto his lap.
“Uh, ahem, thanks. I mean…” He fumbled for words for a moment as she giggled at his discomfort.
She settled into the grass beside him and put her arm through his, leaning against him. “You know I like being with you, don’t you?” She could be very direct when she had a mind to.
He gulped, his mouth dry and a silly grin spreading across his face. “Yes, I kind of got that idea. And I…” he paused, taking a deep breath. “I love spending time with you. I am so thankful God brought us together.” He could feel his cheeks flush even more, but now that he had said it, he felt better. He laughed and tightened his arm against hers. She smiled, her teeth flashing white and a twinkle in her eyes.
“Well, don’t keep me in suspense! What is it?”
For a moment he did not know what she was asking about. Then, his eyes brightened as he turned the parcel over to see what it said.
“It’s from Luke!” he exclaimed. “He told me he would send this, but I did not know if he would remember!”
He sat up straighter and carefully opened the package. Inside was a thick stack of parchments. He pulled it out and turned it over so he could see what was written. As he looked at the first few lines, he smiled, thinking about the last conversation he had with Luke and with Paul.
—————
The morning before they departed for Rome, he and Luke were sitting in this very place, talking. Paul was a short distance away praying. They had become close friends and Luke and Paul had been teaching him much about Jesus. He had asked many questions, and Luke was patient with him, answering all of them. Luke had shared with him much that he had learned about Jesus’ life. He had interviewed many who had known Him personally, even Jesus’ own mother. He had compiled much of the information during their stay on Malta but was not finished yet.
“Remember, I want to read it!” Temeros had said. “Don’t forget to send it to me!”
Luke had agreed to do so. “I’m proud of you deciding to stay here and work with these people. I think you will be a great part of their lives.”
“I am ready to stay on solid ground, and Malta is a nice island. I talked to Publius earlier this morning, and he told me he may need my help with some of his governing duties. I believe God is leading me to stay here and serve. Maybe someday I will come to Rome and see the sites, but I’m enjoying it here.”
Luke grinned at him, a knowing look on his face. “I’m sure Publius’ daughter will be happy with your decision!” He chuckled at Temeros’ discomfort around this subject.
Paul had finished praying and had come over to where they were sitting.
“Brother Paul!” Luke had said. “Temeros has decided to stay behind. He plans to work with Publius, and I imagine he will be running this place before long! We’ll have to start addressing him as ‘Your excellency’ or some other fancy title!”
Paul had laughed at that. “Well, with a title like that, you might need to change your name! Temeros doesn’t seem like an official name for royalty! I don’t think I ever asked you what your formal name actually is.”
His smile had faded at this and he had looked out over the bay. After a pause, he had answered. “I’ve never liked my name. When father was younger, his devotion to Artemis was deep, almost fanatical. Of course that had faded as his devotion to money had increased and his own reputation became more important to him. But when I was born, he was still enthralled with Artemis. He named me ArtemEros, lover of Artemis, to reflect that. You can imagine how much I was teased over that as a child. As I got older, my friends took to calling me Temeros and I never used my full name after that. Now, I’m ashamed to have the name of a false idol.”
They sat quietly for a moment and then Paul spoke up. “You know, God gave father Abraham his new name when He made His covenant with him and then did the same thing with Jacob when He named him Israel after he had struggled with the Angel of the Lord. Even for me, He led me to stop calling myself Saul, the name by which everyone knew me when I was a murderer and torturer of His people. I became Paul. I think a renaming is in order for you.”
Luke nodded in agreement. “Yes! Instead of being a lover of Artemis, you have become devoted to God. I have a suggestion of what you should be named!”
—————
They had all had a laugh about that but then they all seemed to like the sound of it. It had never really become what his friends called him, but now, as he read the first paragraph of this book from Luke, he laughed out loud:
Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, ….11
Theophilus, Lover of God. That was truly what he hoped to be for the rest of his life.
Alex leaned her head on his shoulder and asked him to read to her. He started again from the beginning as they settled in.
Notes:
11 Luke 1:1–3 (NKJV), emphasis added
Final Word
And so The Emir perished. The full name, Emir Al Salaam, means the Prince of Peace. Just like the ship, its namesake, the Prince of Peace, was broken and torn to save humanity and eventually gave in to death. That, however, is where the analogy breaks down. The true Prince of Peace, Jesus, returned from the grave and remains alive still. He is with us to carry us through the storms in our lives, bearing us to our home on heaven’s shore. The journey is not always calm, and there are guaranteed to be storms, but this Prince- our Prince- will no longer succumb to the storm. With a word He calms the storms when they are too great, and He never leaves us alone to fight the storm on our own. He longs for us to turn to him, He pursues us, and He reaches out for us.
If you find yourself in stormy waters, in need of an anchor, turn to Jesus, the Prince of Peace. The book of Hebrews tells us our hope of salvation through Jesus is “an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.”12 No matter how dark the storm clouds or how uncertain our circumstances, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”13 When we are worn out from battling life day by day, Jesus himself says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”14
If you long to know Christ, I encourage you to read God’s word, the Bible. Find a good Bible-believing church, and talk to a pastor. I pray that God will rescue you from whatever storms you face as you turn to Him.
Notes:
12 Hebrews 6:19 (NKJV)
13 1 John 1:9 (NKJV)
14 Matthew 11:28 (NKJV)
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