The muscles in the snake’s body began to contract pushing me out of its belly. I pinched my eyes and mouth shut tighter as the fluids squished across my face. The pressure was causing my head to be pushed backward on my neck. It was painful. I struggled to bend my head forward against my chest. As the muscles along the side of the snake pushed my body out, it felt like a million finger tips wrapped around my body. Each of them worked together gently moving my body forward like an assembly line’s conveyor belt. The snake finally regurgitated my body onto a cold floor.
At first I was scared to open my eyes, but I had to know where I was. The floor was solid, but gritty like sandpaper. It was like a golden bronze color of which I had never seen before. The walls looked to be the same. I must be in something Hesna created, some kind of fortress. I don’t see Hesna. Maybe I can get away.
I built up the little strength I had left and tried to stand up. My legs, I can’t feel my legs. I tried to raise my arms to look at my hands. Nothing…I can’t move. I am paralyzed.
“Help. Somebody help me! I can’t move! Help!” I screamed knowing no one would hear me.
Hesna would never put me somewhere near rescue. He knew my father would come for me.
I can’t feel any part of my body except my eye lids. The muscles around my eyes started twitching rapidly, as if, to signal the rest of my body to wake up. Although it is quite annoying, I appreciate the movement as it is a sign that I am not a complete vegetable.
“So…Missy, I do believe that is your name, correct?” Hesna entered the room where I was held captive. He reached his hand towards the snake. The snake shrunk in size before turning back into Hesna’s scepter.
His strong muscular build towered over my defenseless body as it lay slumped on the floor. I chose not to respond to his question. He already knows who I am; there is no sense in playing games.
“I can’t imagine why your father would have brought you on such a risky trip. Clearly you don’t contribute much to the cause. Why would he have thought you helpful? I can look inside you. I can read you like a book, Missy. You don’t have to tell me for me to know. I know your type. You are very smart, aren’t you? But you can’t hide behind your books, your superficial knowledge. In the end, there is only one “knowledge” that matters. Don’t you get it?” He looked at me, as if, he were awaiting a response.
Nothing…I said and did nothing.
Then, he smiled at my resistance and continued. “How do you make a person forget all they have? Show them something they don’t have of course. You will never be satisfied with the obtainable. In the beginning, Eve knew all she needed to know. But she had to know more. She had to be wrapped in reasoning, explanations, theories, statistics, and opinions. The truth was not enough. It is never enough. You don’t just want to know the truth; you have to understand every facet.
Something so simple can be turned into something so complex by adding one word: “Why?” Why can’t you eat that fruit? Why can’t you share in God’s knowledge? Why? No one has ever liked the answer “because I told you so”. So I will give you explanations. I will have you so absorbed in finding out more and more about the mysteries of the Earth that you will forget about the promises of Heaven.
You see, when you are exhausted after a long day of work, you are less likely to pray, open your Bible, sing out praises. Instead you will sleep, and then you will wake up and do it all over again; a pointless cycle. Everything you work so hard to gain on this dying sphere will be lost. The one thing that will last forever will never be found. Why? You may ask. Because you are so consumed with every other book. Because your nature will choose to ignore the truth you have been given in a quest for more. Because enough is never enough...
And you, Missy are just another poor soul. You are aimlessly searching for what is right in front of your face. You can’t discover your purpose for trying to invent your own. All the while, he’s telling you the answers to all your precious questions. The problem is you can’t listen for trying to keep all the voices in your head in tune, in perfect harmony. Good and bad were never designed to coexist in harmony. What you seek you will never find. It’s deception at its finest.
In the beginning, Eve had paradise, but lost it to curiosity and the desire for more. Eve is no different than you or any other human on this Earth. She is no different than me. We all want the same thing. We want what we cannot have. We all want more. You can’t win. Even if you escape and somehow kill me, the seed has been planted too deep. The human nature is flawed. It’s pathetic. Over and over, he tries to salvage it, but it’s unsalvageable. The heart wants what the heart wants.” He laughed that horrid laugh from before.
Despite the repetition, it isn’t any less irritating. Why is he telling me all of this? Does he just need to gloat? I don’t believe we are unsalvageable. Although many of us have fallen and sin abounds, Jesus came to set us free. We just have to choose Him. Many of us are too absorbed with self-promotion and success to commit ourselves to God. I will admit I have been running from the idea myself. But thankfully, God is a God of a second chance. “Father, forgive me for my past preoccupations and my half-hearted attempt at unveiling my purpose.”
Hesna interrupted as if he knew I was praying “Birds of a feather flock together. We belong together…all of us. We will stand and fight together. We should stand for our rights, equality. I came to build an army. Many believe we cannot win because that book says so. It’s not true. More and more people are joining me. These days, people are too busy and preoccupied with life on Earth to even consider their eternity. Back then our numbers were low. Today is a different time, a new era of multiplicity. We have a very good chance now. While his team is sitting and waiting for the people to volunteer, I am actively recruiting. The ball has been dropped and the wave of deception is very wide spread.
You are on the winning team, Missy. And I am so happy to have you. I am a lot like you. I too don’t like rules and expectations; the watchful eye of criticism. It’s my life and I’ll live it as I please. See I get it. No more chains, Missy. We have freedom to do whatever we desire without consequence. I’m so happy I found you.”
Why would he think I am on his side? I am not a Satanist. I believe in God. I am a Christian by birth…or at least I thought I was. But I can’t ride into Heaven on my parents’ coattails. One day I will be alone…like today. Yes, I question the religion. When you do something so often, it becomes a cycle. You just start going through the motions. I never turned my back on God. I just wanted some time for me. I was going to come back later when I was older and more established. The Christian world is more suited for adults. We kids just want to have fun. But how much longer do we really have? I never thought about that. I always expected tomorrow. But what if today is my last day?
“Father, I come to you a sinner. I ask you to forgive me for my worldly, selfish desires. I thank you for the protection you placed over my life. I choose to serve you. Old things are washed away; behold all things have become new.” I prayed like I have never prayed before. This prayer was different. This prayer is real. Now I realize how lost I have been. How real this battle really is. My Dad isn’t crazy. Demons and angels on earth…it’s all real. I prayed desperately, for another chance; redemption
“Hesna, we are not the same. You are going to lose. You see you weren’t built to win. So you will take your deceptions and desires right back to Hell with you in a hand basket. Enjoy what little freedom you have left. I am on God’s side.”
Hesna looked deep into my pain stricken eyes. I fought to keep them strong and defined despite their heaviness. I wanted him to know I meant every word.
“I see. The lies sound better when you tell them to yourself. If you say so, the choice is yours to make.” As he turned to walk out the room, I closed my eyes.
My body trembled from the wave of darkness
that fell on me. It bore down on my body like a million weights.
“Oh and Missy, I know you don’t care to hear what I have to say, but know this: I will kill your father. Unfortunately, he is just too much of a nuisance. It’s okay you have plenty of time to pray for comfort.”
I could tell he was smiling as he walked out my area.
“You will try”. I said under my breath.
God allowed Job to be tested, but He still protected Job. I know He will protect my father as well.
CHAPTER 22—PASTOR MIKE
Epic Testament Page 26
