Stories from Heaven's Library -- Vol. 22
For Young & Old
Copyright 1997 by Aurora Productions, Inc. -- DFO
Featuring:
The Miracle Cheeseburger
Faithful Unto Death
THE MIRACLE CHEESEBURGER
The beautiful, clear, starry night had yielded to a gorgeous dawn. A magnificent sunrise and the brisk morning air seemed to fill life with a sweet sensation of hope and optimism. As Charles Beckett breathed in this promising, early morning air, he walked alone along the dusty road that led from his small farm into town.
It was the time of the Depression; uncertainty and despair filled most everyone's hearts--but not Chuck* Beckett's. His steps were firm and determined; he was forging ahead as one who reaches out to seize a prize that has already been won, as one who--believing in the unseen--could walk halfway 'round the Earth to receive a promised blessing. In those hungry days, "blessings" were a scarce commodity. Chuck Beckett knew that, but brushed the idea from his mind--he was going after a miracle.
Chuck lived in a simple but well built farmhouse. Grandfather Beckett had built it when he first arrived in New England in the mid-1800s. Wooden floors, oak beams across the ceilings, and sturdy bricks of the best quality made up this humble structure. Chuck lived there together with Alma Beckett, his beloved wife; with their love, they had turned that house into a home.
As he walked into town, Chuck said a little prayer for each of his six children, who had all been asleep when he left home early that morning. He remembered the conversation and time of prayer he and Alma had had the night before, after the children had gone to sleep:
"Chuck, we're virtually out of food. All we have is a bit of rice, a chicken that Mrs. Winkler gave us, and the vegetables that still grow in our garden. By evening tomorrow we'll be totally out of food. We must do something. I realize that nothing comes easy to anyone these days, but I know that God does not want us to go hungry."
"I know, Honey, and I feel I'm the one to blame for our lack."
"Oh, sweetheart, please don't!" interrupted Alma, "You've been trying your best."
"Perhaps I have, but it hasn't done us any good. Even though I'm convinced that the seeds I've cultivated will grow into the most beautiful flowers anyone has ever seen, no one wants to buy them. If only one of the big companies in town would invest in them, it could make all the difference in our financial situation. Alma, I know these seeds are good, and that they will help us get through these difficult times. That's why I named the flower Heaven's Scent!"
There had been a few moments of silence before Chuck sighed, "It just seems like no one will hire a gardener these days, let alone buy his seeds. But tomorrow I'll go into town again and look for any job that can bring us some income."
"That's fine, Honey, but there's something else that we need to talk about which is as important, if not more urgent, than our physical needs. It's our children, and the way they've been treating each other. It seems that no matter how much we tell them, and show them from the Bible about the advantages and the importance of treating each other with love and respect, the familiarity among them has crept in to such an extent that their lack of love towards each other is getting worse. I feel as if we have done all we can and that, at this point, we can only rely on God to change their hearts somehow. They're young, and I believe there's still hope that they'll change and start caring for each other."
The dining room walls, softly lit by candles, and the warm glow of the flickering fire in the hearth, echoed the prayers Chuck and Alma prayed for their children and for their desperate financial situation. Then they both kept their eyes closed in deep meditation. In this moment of silence, their faith was strengthened, and an assurance that the Lord was indeed going to work miracles the following day settled over them. Although neither one of them had the faintest idea of how God was going to provide, they both knew one thing for sure: God had never failed them before, and He wasn't going to fail them this time, either.
* * *
Upon arriving in town, Chuck found that his steps, which had been sure and confident that morning, became more and more uncertain and weary as the day passed. Folks weren't too interested in him or his offers of seeds, nor of offering him work of any kind. He tried everything he could think of. He knocked on doors, but was only met by excuses, or what might have even been genuine reasons for not hiring him; nevertheless, they all sounded like excuses to him. The owners of two large flower companies were away on business trips; they would really be the only ones worth giving his seeds to, but Chuck couldn't afford to wait; his wife and children couldn't afford to wait.
Surely God wants to supply, but why hasn't He? We prayed so earnestly--and He promised! The thoughts ran through Chuck's mind while he walked back home, defeated, feeling close to the threshold of despair. But despite the disappointment over his day in town, and running after a blessing that seemed to slip through his fingers every time he was about to grab it, something seemed to keep a tiny fire burning within him, some stubborn optimism that refused to give in to the odds that stood against him. Something deep inside kept assuring him that God wasn't done working. The day, though far spent, was not over yet.
"Help! Somebody, please help!"
Chuck was startled from his thoughts by a pleading voice that came from behind a hedge in the garden of a small house that Chuck never recalled having noticed before. Immediately, he stepped through an opening in the hedge to find a man, down on his knees, looking at a circle of overturned dirt in the middle of his garden plot. He was holding some of the dirt in his hands. Chuck stood behind him for a moment, not saying a word, and the man, without turning, kept talking as if he knew that he had a listener.
"My flower! My precious flower! Someone took my most beautiful flower away! I've been robbed! How can I I mean, how will I ever be able to explain to my daughter what happened! That someone just walked in and took away our most beautiful flower? She'll never understand! It'll break her heart!"
At this point the man got up, turned toward Chuck, and kept talking. "Sir, please, you've got to help me out here!"
"But ah how can I help you? I mean, I'm sorry about your flower and your daughter, but what could I do?"
"You could give me some seeds so I could plant a new flower; that's something you could do!"
Chuck was caught by surprise, shocked at what this stranger had just asked. "Seeds? Wait a minute! What do you mean, give you some seeds!" he questioned incredulously.
Who does this guy think he is, anyway? Chuck thought to himself, a bit aggravated. Maybe he overheard me trying to sell my seeds somewhere, and is now trying to get some of them for himself so he can sell them and make a profit! Maybe this man's a robber himself. But then, again, he sounds so sincere
Chuck was somewhat confused for a moment. "I'm sorry, sir," Chuck went on saying, "but I don't even know you."
"They call me Gabe," he said, looking Chuck straight in the eyes. Chuck couldn't help but notice the undeniable twinkle in the older man's eyes, as if he was smiling from the inside, and in spite of his predicament, he was enjoying every moment of life.
"Well, Mr. Gabe, sir, I "
"Never mind the 'sir'; I'm just a servant like you."
"Well, whatever, Gabe. It's beyond me how you found out about my seeds, but the thing is that these seeds are rather costly and "
"Sorry, Chuck, but I had no intentions of paying money for them."
Chuck was taken aback. "What do you mean, you had no intention . Wait a minute! How did you know my name?"
Chuck had felt upset, then shocked, but now he wasn't sure what to think, or if maybe he was just dreaming all this.
"It doesn't matter how I know your name. What matters is that I need a beautiful flower for my daughter. Please, Chuck! Help me out here."
Chuck wasn't sure whether to feel compassion or pity as he considered the words of the old man. Finally, he shook his head. "I'm sorry ah Gabe. I have a wife and children waiting for me at home and we're in quite a delicate financial situation."
"I know you're going through some difficult times, Chuck, but I'll make a deal. I'd be willing to trade your seeds for something."
Gabe finally caught Chuck's earnest and curious attention, and after a few moments of quiet suspense, he continued: "Chuck, you need more than just money. Money would only solve half of your problems. My friend, you need more than that; a different kind of blessing."
"Can you be more specific?" Chuck askedwith a touch of skepticism in his voice.
"I'd be willing to trade your precious seeds for this cheeseburger here!" the old man said, as he held up a piece of neatly wrapped, shiny brown paper, which he seemed to have pulled out of nowhere.
"A cheeseb are you kidding?!" Chuck could not believe his ears. "Look, mister, I don't think you realize what I'm saying. I've got a wife and six hungry kids waiting to partake of a meal which they believe I am bringing home. I haven't had anything to eat all day myself; a cheeseburger would hardly be enough to feed me, let alone my whole family! Besides, these are the only samples I've got."
"Chuck," Gabe continued his plea, "I really need those seeds. I understand how important they are to you, but you must let me have them."
The fact that the man kept insisting on having his seeds made Chuck all the more frustrated, especially because he could sense a sincerity in Gabe, and he did not know how to respond. But for a cheeseburger?!? Finally, frustrated, he abruptly reached into his shoulder bag and pulled out a small paper wrapper.
"Here! So you want these seeds? Take 'em then. They haven't done me any good, so you might as well have them! What do I care?" Chuck held out the wrapper to Gabe, who looked on silently. "Sorry, Charles, but I can't accept them this way. You don't seem to understand that I want your seeds because I need them. It should make you glad that you're able to share them with someone in need. Chuck, you know your Bible; you know that God loves a cheerful giver."
Chuck calmed down for a moment, and a sober, convicted look came over his face, as Gabe continued: "I know you've had a rough day, and that you didn't have a single bite to eat. Here, why don't you try some of this?" Gabe placed the neat wrapping into Chuck's hesitant hand. It weighed perhaps a quarter of a pound, and felt quite warm.
"What is this?" Chuck asked, keeping his discouraged eyes on the package.
"This is the cheeseburger I told you about. It's your cheeseburger now. It'll serve you as a blessing."
"I don't know. I don't usually accept gifts from strangers."
"This is not a gift; I'm trading it for the seeds, remember?" There was a short pause before Gabe continued. "Chuck, I must tell you more about this cheeseburger because it is more than a mere sandwich. This is a blessing, Heaven-sent to you and your family. If you use it right, it will always be a blessing. You must share this cheeseburger; and allow others to partake of this blessing, so that you can keep receiving more and more. Maybe that doesn't make any sense to you. Alright, let me put it this way: never take the last bite of the cheeseburger. If you share it gladly, it will always be replenished before your very eyes--and remember, God loves a cheerful giver."
Chuck wasn't too sure what to think about what the old man had said. It was just a bit much to comprehend, but he simply put the wrapped cheeseburger inside his shoulder bag and, without saying a word, he returned to the road that led back home. His hunger seemed to have disappeared, but as Chuck walked along, discouragement started taking its toll: He was returning home without a job, with his dreams shattered, and with nothing but a cheeseburger to show for his faith. On top of that, he was returning home without his seeds.
The seeds! I forgot to give him the seeds! Chuck suddenly realized, as he felt the little wrapper in his pocket. What a terrible thing to do! I took his trade without leaving him mine!
Chuck immediately turned around and walked briskly back towards the house he had left behind only a few minutes ago. He suddenly stopped dead in his tracks, as a chill ran down his spine. He looked around with his mouth ajar, and slowly shook his head. The house that he had been in front of just a few minutes ago wasn't there! The hedge was there, but there was no sign of Gabe, or of any garden.
Have I been dreaming? What is going on here? That house was there just a few minutes ago, and the old man and his garden, the seeds and the the cheeseburger! He immediately reached into his bag and pulled out the still wrapped sandwich. It was as warm as it was when Gabe had first given it to him. This was his only link to all that had happened--but it was real, he still held it in his hands ... He looked around again and again, trying to make sense of the place where his encounter with Gabe had taken place. Still holding the wrapped cheeseburger, he returned to the dirt road again, homeward bound.
After a few minutes of walking with a blank look on his face (due to the fact that his mind was also blank), Chuck unconsciously began unwrapping the cheeseburger. To his surprise, he held in his hand a perfectly fresh and still steaming cheeseburger, the meat still sizzling, as if it had just come off the griddle; the cheese softly melted on top of the beef; the most fresh lettuce; the crunchiest pickle, and seasoned with the sweetest ketchup. And all this surrounded by the fluffiest sesame-seed bun ever baked.
Eagerly, Chuck bit into the soft bun. He had never tasted anything like it. One bite, then two, then three bites, and he was about to take a fourth when a voice startled him.
"Oh friend that passes by with the sweet-smelling food! Please help me! I'm a poor, blind man and I haven't eaten anything in three days! Won't you share some of your food with a poor man in need? Oh, please, I'm so hungry!"
Chuck halted right in front of the blind man and for a split second thought of several excuses why he could just keep walking: If he gave this man some, there wouldn't be enough left for his family. But as he took a look at the man, he felt really sorry for him. Chuck handed the cheeseburger to the beggar.
What happened then made Charles automatically move his hand to his mouth to muffle the scream he felt like uttering. The moment the blind beggar had possession of the partially eaten cheeseburger, it became whole again! With a soft noise that went something like "sshwopp," the sandwich returned to its original form: the soft bun, the freshly broiled meat, the melted cheese, and all the topping--as if it had just been ordered! The fresh steam rose softly in the brisk air--right in front of Chuck's amazed eyes, the sole witness of what had just happened.
Oblivious to the miracle that had just taken place, the beggar began to thank Chuck. "Oh, dear sir! I have no words to thank you. May God bless you and your family with abundance! And you hadn't even taken a bite before offering me your delicious sandwich! Bless your heart, my friend!"
After the poor man had eaten over half of the cheeseburger, and noticing that he had no immediate intentions of stopping anytime soon, Chuck kindly reminded the beggar that he still intended to take some of it back to his family.
"Oh, dear sir, please forgive me! I was so hungry that for a moment I completely forgot about you. Here, please take it back along with my apologies. May God bless you on your journey."
As Charles accepted the cheeseburger back from the man's hands, to his astonishment, it happened again! With a soft "sshwopp," he again held a freshly prepared cheeseburger in his hands. There weren't even any crumbs on the paper wrapper. He couldn't resist taking a few bites out of this "rejuvenated" cheeseburger, which he did, finding it as fresh and wholesome as the first time he had bitten into it. After a few bites, he slowly wrapped it back up, and solemnly placed it back inside his shoulder bag.
A little while later, as Chuck approached his house, his mind was still unable to grasp just exactly what this was all about. He could see the hand of God in it, and if this miracle kept up, he could surely feed his whole family, and God only knew for how long! Yes, God was certainly answering his and Alma's prayer in an unusual way, but there was yet another miracle to come.
His mind could indeed have been described as far away when all of a sudden, as he walked under a big oak tree that towered over the road, two people dropped down next to him, one on each side. With a gasp, a pounding heart and a search for breath, Chuck came back from the dream world he had been walking in, just to recognize Harry and Mark, his ten- and eight-year-old sons.
"Hi, Dad!" said Mark, the younger of the two. "We've been waiting for you for quite a while now. How was it in town? Did you get a job? Did you bring us some food?"
"Hey, slow down!" Harry interrupted his young brother. "Give Dad a chance to breathe, will you? Are you blind or something? Can't you see that he's not carrying any bags? He didn't bring any food."
"I'm not blind!" Mark retorted, facing his older brother. "I was just asking a question, stupid!"
"Hey, kids," Chuck interrupted his quarrelsome sons, "that's not the way two brothers should treat each other. There is no reason to be calling each other names!" They both quieted down as the three continued walking the rest of the way towards home. Chuck told them about some of his encounters in town that day. No, unfortunately, he hadn't been able to sell his seeds, nor had he found anyone who would give him a job. But, yes, he did have some food that he would gladly share with them.
"It may not seem like much to you at first," he said as he reached into his shoulder bag, "but it'll probably be enough."
As Chuck was talking, the two boys started pushing each other, grabbing one another's arms, trying to be "the first in line" to receive whatever Dad was about to give them. Mark managed to get closer to his dad, but Harry had ahold of him by the sleeve of his shirt. Mark's other arm was stretched towards the prize, with his hand ready to receive it. But his eyes were on his big brother, as he was trying to free himself from his grip.
When Chuck placed the cheeseburger in his younger son's hand, Harry was the only one to see what happened the moment his little brother held the sandwich. "Sshwopp!"
Chuck got a kick seeing the shocked expression on Harry's face, his eyes and mouth wide open, as he let go of his brother's arm. Young Mark was happy to be free, although he couldn't quite understand why his brother had so suddenly decided to let him go. He was impressed by the beauty of the cheeseburger which, after a quick "Thanks, Dad!" he began to heartily bite into. Harry, on the other hand, still shocked with what he had just seen, kept staring at his father's smiling face, looking for an answer, or at least a confirmation that he had really seen what he had just seen.
"Daddy, what what was that? How did it ?"
Meanwhile, Mark kept munching away.
"Hey, Dad, this is delicious. Thanks. What's why are you two looking at each other like that? What's going on?"
"Son, make sure you leave at least half of the sandwich for your brother, okay?
Harry kept searching for an answer. "But how did you do that!" he asked his father again.
"I didn't do a thing, son. It all has to do with your willingness to share."
Mark had already reached the halfway point of his meal, and showed no intentions of quitting just yet. Chuck kindly reminded him, "Mark, perhaps you should pass the cheeseburger on to your brother now."
"Aw, Dad, I'm still hungry, and besides, I don't feel like giving it to him."
"Mark!" Chuck put on a more severe tone of voice, "Just give the sandwich to your brother. Now!"
Reluctantly, Mark took a few steps towards Harry and shoved the half-eaten cheeseburger into his hands. Harry looked at it closely, waiting for it to replenish itself, but to his dismay--and his dad's astonishment--the sandwich remained as it was: over half-eaten and kind of cold.
Without saying a word, Chuck picked it up from Harry's hands and turned to Mark:
"Son, I'm sorry, but this is definitely not the way a boy should share his food with his brother. I know that we are going through a difficult time right now, and that food hasn't been as abundant as it used to be, but God hasn't failed yet to supply our meal every day, even if it's nothing but rice and vegetables. I understand that you must be hungry, since it's almost past suppertime, but so is your brother. I know you two have your disagreements once in a while, but when it comes to sharing, especially food, don't you think you should be happy to share what you have with him? Here," he said, placing the cheeseburger back in Mark's hands, "how would you like to share this sandwich with your older brother here, the buddy you spend so many fun moments with?"
Throughout his dad's speech, Mark kept his eyes down. He knew his father was right, and he felt convicted about it. So when he found the cheeseburger back in his hands, he looked up at his dad with a smile in his eyes, as if thanking him for the second chance to do good to his brother. The smile then went from his eyes to his lips as he took a few steps and placed the now totally cold cheeseburger into Harry's hands.
And then, again, it happened: "Sshwopp!!" Right there, in front of Mark's astonished brown eyes, the cheeseburger restored itself to its "hot off the grill" state, as if freshly ordered. Now the two youngsters proceeded to fire questions left and right at their smiling father, who was enjoying every minute of it. As they walked back home together, Chuck told them about his encounter with Gabe, the cheeseburger, and the conditions under which it would always replenish itself.
He told the boys that this cheeseburger was a direct answer to his and Alma's prayers. Chuck didn't go into details of what these prayers were; the boys assumed that they had prayed solely for God to supply food. Chuck, however, was beginning to realize that their other prayer was also being answered.
Arriving at the house, Chuck was met with a kiss from Alma at the gate. Right behind her came the three girls. Joanna, the eleven-year-old, was carrying her baby brother in her arms.
The two boys, in complete harmony with one another, took their sisters to the back yard. "Girls, you won't believe what happened!" Mark began, without giving Harry a chance to breathe. But Mark caught himself, and decided he should let his older brother be the one to give account of the news. "Ahm, Harry, you go ahead and tell them."
And so he did. Chuck also told his wife of all that had happened, and of the miracles that God would surely perform in their house from then on. Without a glad heart, there can be no cheerful giver, so with this cheeseburger, the Beckett children soon grew into a united, loving group of brothers and sisters, to whom unselfish giving and caring had become a habit.
It was still a while before Charles Beckett found work, but that didn't stop him from being a loving father and husband. And the cheeseburger, well, as long as they kept a tender heart towards one another, it kept replenishing itself. And so they lived--loving and sharing--happily ever after.
FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH
In the days when the great Roman Empire ruled the world, and its marching legions conquered one nation after another in facile* vic-tories, to be counted a Roman citizen was a high privilege.
It was now over 270 years since Jesus, a humble carpenter from Nazareth, had been cruelly killed--condemned to death by the scribes and Pharisees--yet He died to save men from their sins. His jealous enemies had thought that by killing Him, they might quench the zeal of those that followed this Man--a Man who had called Himself the Son of God. Yet, as the years passed, His followers increased, and only grew bolder as they faithfully witnessed, proclaiming the Gospel of the risen Savior to the world.
To protect themselves from those that would do them harm, the Church in Rome had to live in secret. During times of persecution, they took refuge in underground caves known as catacombs, a wide network of passages and rooms that ran underneath the city. The Romans had used these as tombs to bury their dead, and they were considered sacred; now no longer used, Romans were forbidden to enter them. And so the church survived, and in spite of these difficulties, their faith in Christ only increased.
As cautious as they were, some were caught by the Romans. But they remained brazenly bold and brave. Though they were cruelly tortured, fed to the lions and burned at the stake, to the amazement of their captors, these Christians only rejoiced that they were worthy to suffer affliction for the Name of Jesus. They died happy and smiling, often even singing in the midst of their torment, as if pain had no power over them!
This is the story of one such Christian--a man who dared to defy the System of his day, to stand up for what he had found to be the truth. He was faithful, even unto death, and he received a glorious crown of life for his labors, and for fulfilling his part in God's great plan!
* * *
In the celestial courts, the powerful archangel Gabriel approached the King of kings on a matter of great importance: "Your Majesty, the Roman emperor has once again heightened the persecution of Your followers and is now leading them by the hundreds to the arena to be killed."
"Yes, I know," Jesus answered with a tone of concern. "It grieves Me to see those who I love dearly suffer, yet it will not be in vain. For those who have given their lives for My sake will be remembered by those on Earth. Their witness in death will speak louder than their witness in life--I will see to that! Nevertheless, I have heard the cry of My people and I will help them. Gabriel!"
"Yes, my Lord?"
"Summon Jason, the guardian angel of one called Alexander Romelius, a respected nobleman of Rome, and one of My dear children. For I have chosen him to help carry out My plan!"
"At once, my Lord," the magnificent archangel replied as he left the Throne Room, and returned shortly with Jason at his side.
Then Jesus spoke. "My people are being cruelly treated by the anti-God, bloodthirsty Romans, and their cry for deliverance has come up before Me. I have a plan, Jason, a mission for Alexander. Now that Alexander has returned to Rome, you are to bring him back in contact with the Christians there, that he may help them, and that I may fulfill My plan for his life. Go in My strength and power, and remember, I am with you always!"
* * *
As Jason hovered over Alexander's house, he heard the drearily familiar sound of music drifting towards him. It was not the kind of Heavenly music that he was accustomed to hearing; he knew only too well that a heathen party was taking place.
Jason slowly descended through the roof and found the nobleman sitting with his friends as they gaily talked, ate and drank to their hearts' content. Alexander lay in a corner of the room, leaning against the back of his comfortable bench, while one of his friends, merry with wine, proposed a toast in his honor.
"Here's to Alexander!--And to his most welcome return from Gaul!"
Alexander smiled as he lifted his goblet in unison with his friends, and then spoke proudly, "And by the gods, how good it is to be back in Rome. Gaul was a fine place to be, but it can never compare to home, sweet home!"
"So, tell us, Alexander! What did you do amongst those barbarians for all that time?"
"Oh, business mainly. Now that those peasants have stopped revolting for awhile, thanks to the presence of our good Roman legions, there has been a fair bit of profitable trade to be done. I say, my friends, it is truly a good day to be a Roman!"
"That it is!" replied his friend. "Our armies are invincible!" to which the rest of the group nodded their agreement. "And not only that, we have the best holidays, and our games are also the best! Oh, by the way, did you hear what's happening at the arena this weekend? They are going to be feeding a whole horde of Christians to the lions! Diocletian signed an edict while you were away, stating that the Christians are to be put to death for refusing to worship the emperor and gods of Rome."
"Really?" Alexander exclaimed in amazement.
"I still can't get over it!" his friend continued. "These Christians are actually willing to die instead of deny their belief in some dead carpenter! They think their God is more powerful than the emperor! Long live the emperor! Long live Diocletian!" At this, the man lifted his glass in a toast, and had it emptied almost as quickly before he continued, "Well, it's obvious whose god is greater; while they go to the lions, we continue to prosper! But at least we get a good show!"
The hours wasted on. Finally, tired and drunk, the friends left and went home. As Alexander closed the door behind the last one, he heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank God that's over with!"
As he walked out into the garden, gazing up at the stars, he felt a certain uneasiness come upon him. Now that Alexander was alone, he seemed a different man. He didn't have that happy and carefree front that he put on whenever he was with his friends. He was quiet, reflective, and his mind seemed to be wandering over distant memories.
Alexander found himself picturing the Christians being herded into the arena. Unbeknownst to Alexander, Jason was standing beside him, influencing his thoughts, and projecting these images into his mind.
The truth was, Alexander was a Christian himself, although his Roman friends did not know it. He couldn't help but think back to that day, long ago, when he had first come to know the Christians. Jason remembered this day well, too, for it had been his job to help bring Alexander to Christ--and that hadn't been easy:
* * *
"Aemelius, my head is hurting me, and I wish to leave the house for a short while. Perhaps the fresh morning air will do me good. If anyone comes for me, tell them I will be back shortly." Alexander had only been up a short while that morning. He had been working on some unfinished business, but for some reason found himself unable to concentrate. He felt a strange urge to go for a walk. He rolled up the scrolls that cluttered his desk, threw his cloak over his shoulders, and was soon outside, strolling along the country road that led from his house to the town a short distance away. Birds sang cheerily, the trees swayed gracefully in the wind, and the sun shone as brightly as ever in the beautiful azure* sky. Beautiful flowers decked the hillside in every color, shape and form. Yet Alexander did not even notice the beauty around him.
As he trudged along from path to path and trail to trail, he thought of his life and how empty it was. When he was younger, he had had many ideals and dreams, yet now it seemed as if life held no meaning for him.
Hearing footsteps coming up the path in front of him, he glanced up, and his eyes fell upon the most beautiful form he had ever seen. There before him stood a girl, dressed in simple clothes, with long golden hair cascading off her shoulders, and a face that shone like a star in the night. Yet, what he noticed more than anything were her eyes, which emanated an unearthly beauty and light such as Alexander had never seen.
Mustering up all his manly charm, he approached her, and in greeting her, he found her beauty went beyond just her appearance, as her gentle and loving voice answered the few words that he was able to stammer out in greeting.
Neither his gaze nor his words hid his admiration for this beautiful girl that stood before him. Gazing into her eyes, Alexander spoke, "Let me introduce myself. My name is Alexander Romelius. I am a nobleman, I was raised in the palaces of the rich, and from my birth I have traveled--by the gods--and seen every beauty known to man. Yet in all my life I have never seen such beauty as I behold now. Truly, the loveliness before my eyes is as exquisite as a diamond, more lovely than a pearl, and your eyes shine with a richer glow than any gem could boast."
Looking straight into his eyes, she smiled and said, "Thank you, but I must tell you that this light you see in my eyes is not my own; it is the light of Jesus in me!"
"Jesus?" Alexander repeated, with a puzzled look on his face. "Sounds like some Jewish name to me! Tell me, what do you mean--Jesus in you?"
Happy for a chance to share Christ's love, she began: "My name is Nina. I grew up a Roman citizen, and lived a happy and carefree life--or so I thought. Parties and games were my daily life, and yet while I had everything, I did not have true happiness or love.
"Then one day I heard about a man called Jesus Christ, Who died that we might have eternal life. He came into my life, and filled the emptiness with His love--and now my only wish is to serve Him, and be one of His Christian followers."
"Christian?!" Alexander exclaimed, "You're a Christian?"
Alexander had heard about the Christians. Although he did not know much of what they believed in, he knew that they had fallen out of favor with more than one Roman emperor, and more often than not were persecuted by them for their strange beliefs and proclamations.
"Yes, I am."
"Why would you want to waste your life being a Christian?"
"Waste my life?" Nina replied. "Jesus gave His life for me; I can't help but give mine for Him!"
"You would throw your life away for some dead carpenter God?"
"He is not dead. You yourself even said that I had a light in my eyes that you'd never seen before. That light is Jesus, my living God! He was crucified, that by His blood we could be set free from the wages of our sins, death. But He rose from the dead on the third day, and now He still lives, promising eternal life to those who believe in His Name!"
"No, it can't be, it can't be!" Alexander said as he slowly turned, and began walking away. "It can't be that simple."
Nina called out after him, "Just believe, Alexander, and you will be happy."
But Alexander, not willing to believe, continued walking away.
As the rest of the day rolled by, no matter how hard Alexander tried, he could not keep the words that Nina spoke to him from ringing in his ears: "Just believe, and you will be happy!"
That night had been a restless one. Something told him that he had finally found the truth and happiness that he had been searching for, but from all the strange tales he had heard about these Christians, he didn't know what to think. I want that light, that happiness, he thought. And it is true; these gods of Rome have never brought me true happiness. But it seems too high a price to pay: it would mean forsaking my friends, the way I live, and everything that I've believed in and given my life to! But then again, none of these things have ever satisfied me, or given me the kind of happiness I saw in the eyes of that beautiful girl. Maybe I should find out more about this Jesus, and see if He really can make me happy and change my life. But how will I meet Nina again? I don't even know where she lives.
Realizing that meeting up with her again would be something close to a miracle, Alexander quietly spoke, "Jesus, if You are alive, like Nina said, then please help me to meet her again." Suddenly a peace came over him--somehow he felt that his request would be answered. And it would, for no sooner had Alexander prayed this prayer than Jason left to engineer the next meeting of him and Nina.
The next day, Alexander walked down the same paths and trails as he had the day before. Only this time, it was like he had stepped into a new world that he had never noticed before. Everything seemed to be more beautiful, the flowers more colorful, the songs of the birds more sweet.
When he arrived at the same spot where he had met Nina the previous day, there was no sign of her anywhere. His heart sank as his eyes scanned the park in every direction, yet there was no one to be seen. Stupid of me to think that she would be here again today, he thought. I don't know why I'm even here.
He turned around to start on his way back home, but Jason put a thought into his mind to check one last time. Alexander looked back for one last glance up the trail where he had seen Nina so gracefully walking the day before. Suddenly his eyes fell on a lone figure walking down the path towards him. Hope rose in his heart as he strained to see if it could indeed be Nina, and it was not long before he realized that it was.
Rushing up to see her, he said, "I knew you would be here. What made you come?"
Nina smiled at him, and with a twinkle in her eye said, "Jesus told me to come here again today."
Alexander looked deep into her eyes and said, "My soul is like a house with many rooms, each one bearing a different name. One is called fame, and that room is full; one is called wealth, and that room is full; one is called power, and that, too, is full.
"Yet the rooms of happiness and love are bare and empty, and everything that I have tried to put into them never fits. Like a vacuum they have pulled on my heart. Though I have everything a man could desire, I still yearn for something more, something deeper, something to live for."
Nina reached out and, taking his hand in hers, said, "Just take Jesus and He will make you happy. Just open your heart and ask Him to come into your life and you will see that He will fill that empty void within your soul with everlasting love, and He will come and live in your heart forever. Yes, the cost of living for Jesus is great, but the reward is eternal. Will you believe and accept Him as your God and Savior?"
"Yes, I believe," replied Alexander. "I take the Christ into my life, and honor Him as my God." At that very moment, shouts of joy and praise filled the courts of Heaven as the angels rejoiced over another soul saved!
The words had barely left Alexander's mouth, when a feeling of love and tranquillity came over him--a joy such as he had never known. A smile lit his face as he looked up and said, "Thank you, Nina. You have brought joy into my life at last!"
"It wasn't me, Alexander," Nina replied, "It was Jesus! He is the only One Who can truly satisfy. Now that you have received Jesus, your life will never be the same. You can have peace and faith, knowing that Jesus is now always with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. You can rest assured that all things that may happen to you will work together for good, because Jesus has His hand on your life, and will not allow anything to happen to you that does not in some way conform to His will.
"You will also not be able to go back to living the way you have. Your friends may persecute you for the truth that you have found. But if you stay strong, our Lord promises you will receive a crown of life, and you will live and reign with Him forever.
"To stay strong in the Lord you must study His Word. We Christians often gather together for fellowship. Some of us meet every other day to strengthen each other in the Lord. Tonight we are having a meeting not far from here. If you would like, you can meet me here at sundown, and I will take you there."
That evening Alexander was introduced to a number of other Christians, some of whom had given up everything for what they believed was the truth. These were those who traveled around to preach the Gospel to any who would listen. Others simply believed, and shared of their sustenance and goods to support those who traveled and preached. Certain Roman nobles also held to the Christian faith and used their positions of authority and influence to try to help their fellow Christian brethren.
As the weeks and months went by, Alexander's faith grew and he was soon well known among the Christians for being a strong brother in the Lord.
* * *
Alexander was startled out of his reverie* by the hoot of an owl in the distance. A year had now passed since he had met Nina, and joined the ranks of the Christians. But in that one year, so much had changed. After his months in Gaul, the Rome that Alexander returned to was quite different from the Rome he had left.
Throughout the realm, Christians were now sought out and put to death by every cruel means one could devise. One Christian family after another was dragged from their homes and thrown into prison.
In Rome, more and more Christians sought refuge in the vast network of catacombs beneath the city. But after a while, even the catacombs were no longer the safe havens that they had once been. In their Satanic effort to abolish the Christian name, the Romans set aside their superstitions and began to conduct searches inside the catacombs. Christians were rounded up by the hundreds, and at this very moment many were in Roman prisons anxiously awaiting their fate.
Still walking alone in his garden, Alexander became greatly burdened about the situation, and he desperately prayed for an answer; the catacombs had been the last refuge for these Christians, and it looked like they would soon have nowhere to go. Jason, who had been with Alexander during these past several months in Gaul, and had now been given the task to somehow get Alexander back in contact with the elusive Christians, moved closer and whispered something in Alexander's ear.
Alexander looked up, startled. He had just been given the answer. By the I mean, thank You, Lord Jesus! What an excellent idea!
* * *
Early the next morning, Alexander set out to one of the west entrances of the catacombs. With torch in hand he arrived at the entrance. Relieved to find it still unguarded, he quickly entered and disappeared into the darkness. He knew these passageways well, as he had often come here with Nina and her Christian friends. He passed one corridor after another but, as he had feared, when he arrived at the small chapel room, it was empty. There was only dust on the ground where the simple altar had once stood. This room had not been used in months.
"Oh God! If I am to help my brothers and sisters, I am going to have to find them. Jesus, You brought Nina back to me once. Please, help me to find her again," Alexander whispered. He stepped outside the chapel room once again, and looked around desperately.
Jason knew where the Christians were. He could see the angels that stood guard at the doorway down the narrow passageway that led to where the Christians were hiding. He tried his best to pass on these directions to Alexander, and now that he had prayed, Jason had more power to directly influence his senses.
Turning around, Alexander began heading down one of the corridors. He took careful note of the direction he was heading. He did not want to get lost. When he came to a crossway, he stood still for a few moments, trying to decide which path to take. Suddenly, it was as if he was gripped by a divine inspiration.
He resolutely* turned left and, one alleyway after another, it seemed he knew just where he was going. He did not even stop and take note of the direction in which he was heading. He followed this unseen force that seemed to be leading him through these darkened hallways.
Then he came to a dead stop; he had heard something. He held his breath, listening intently to see if he could tell where the sound had come from. He backed up a bit, till he stood in front of one of the passageways that led off to the side. Then he heard it again. It was unmistakably the sound of singing, and it was coming from the direction of the passage.
His heart raced as he ran down the corridor, following the faint echo of the singing.
"Who goes there?" a voice suddenly called out.
Alexander stopped dead in his tracks, and looked around. He saw no one, but the voice called again.
"Who goes there?"
"I am Alexander Romelius. I am searching for the Christian girl, Nina."
"Brother Alexander?" the voice answered in surprise. A hooded figure stepped out of the shadows and into the light of Alexander's torch. "Is it really you? God be praised! We have missed you! How did you ever come to find us?"
Alexander found himself clasped in the warm embrace of Peter, a Christian whom he had come to know well in times past. He could hardly contain his joy as Peter led him along, through another passage and around a corner. There they stood at the entrance to a crowded room. A primitive stairway, dug out of the sand, led down into this room which was aglow with the flickering light of candles, and filled with the happy, smiling faces of his beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord. All eyes were suddenly upon Alexander, as the people turned to check out their new visitor.
"Alexander!" a voice exclaimed from the crowd, as a slender young girl made her way to where he was standing.
"Nina!" Alexander uttered as he ran down the stairs to greet her. And there they embraced. Tears streamed down their faces. Alexander felt he had finally come home, and Nina was overjoyed to see her dear friend.
Alexander did not have long to wait to hear what had happened in all those months that he had been gone. "We have been here on the southern side of the catacombs for many months now, and we have suffered much from the persecution. The Romans have even been so bold as to send whole mobs of people down here to search for us. So we have had to be very careful."
"Yes," said Peter, "We have spent most of our time making new rooms and enlarging the catacombs for safety, hoping that the Romans will not find us. But every day, they explore new sections and, but for the protection of God, it is only a matter of time before their searching catches up with our digging."
"I believe that God has given me a plan," Alexander said. "But we must act quickly. The Romans know that we are here, and as you said, it is only a matter of time before they find out where. But what if we stop them from entering into the catacombs entirely? We could seal all the known entrances, and dig new, secret ones, which only we will know about. If we are careful, they will have no way of searching us out."
And so they did. The next few weeks were spent gathering rocks, boulders, mortar, and everything they would need to seal all the entrances. They mapped out new tunnels and passages for the secret entrances. At the time of the next Roman feast, when Alexander knew that all the Romans would be feasting away in their luxurious mansions and not bothering with the Christians for a few days, they set out and sealed all the entrances, working all day and night until it was done.
They also dug out new rooms and passages. Dangerous missions were carried out to help bring other Christians to the safety of the newly constructed catacombs through the secret entrances, and the underground Church continued to grow in faith and size.
Not too long after, Alexander and Nina were married, and together they did their part to help strengthen their little group of believers. Though times were often rough, with sickness and shortage of food, God never failed, but always answered prayer and came through for them somehow. When times seemed darkest, all Alexander had to do was look up to Jesus, and he always felt reassured that God was there, in perfect control.
* * *
A year had gone by since Alexander had disappeared from his Roman life to hide out and help those who had sought refuge in the catacombs, and the many secret believers who still lived in the city of Rome. He often went out on dangerous missions, together with Nina, disguised as common laborers. They would visit these other Christians, both in the city and the surrounding towns, to help strengthen and encourage them in the Lord. Many of the Christians had come to know them well, and they were greatly loved.
One morning Alexander and Nina prepared themselves to go out on one of these missions, and although Alexander had been on hundreds of such missions, this morning he had an eerie* feeling about going, but he knew that their fellow Christians needed them and were expecting them. After desperate prayer, they left. Their mission went as planned and, towards late evening, they headed back home.
But they had not gotten far outside the city when a group of Roman soldiers surrounded them, arrested them, and then escorted them to prison. Alexander found out that one of his old friends had recognized him, and because a large sum of money had been promised to whoever found him, this man had turned him over to the government. Alexander thought of Jesus, and how He had been betrayed in the same way. Then he remembered a portion of Scripture he had read in the writings of John the Apostle, paraphrasing the words of King David: "Yea, mine own familiar friend in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me."
Alexander and Nina, both being Roman citizens, knew that a trial soon awaited them. They strengthened themselves in the Lord by repeating the Words of Jesus that they had memorized in past years, and they sang songs of praise to God.
The next day the court was in session, and the tension only mounted as the hours passed. One accusation and distorted lie after another were leveled against the Christian couple. Finally the elderly judge stood up, and raising his hand, quieted the court, saying, "Alexander, what is your defense against these witnesses? You know the law and the penalties for breaking it. It is treason to defy the emperor and worship some dead God, some stinking Jewish carpenter. You were once a proud and ambitious nobleman of Rome. You were greatly loved by your father, whom I knew well. We fought side by side in the name of the emperor and the gods of Rome, protecting the rights of our magnificent empire. Yet in return for all that Rome has given you, you have chosen to betray and humiliate your family, your friends and your country!
"You say that you serve a God of love. Well, we are prepared to show you love. Yes, despite what you have done to hurt us, we will have mercy on you if you deny your faith. That is all we ask. But if you refuse to bow to the emperor, then you will die."
Alexander stood up, and boldly looked the judge in the eye. "I am not afraid to die! My 'dead God'--as you call Him--is so real and so alive that I am willing to live or die for Him!" Then he turned to the crowd. "Friends and countrymen. I was raised a Roman noble. I lived in the houses of the rich, and had everything a heart could desire, and yet I was empty inside. All the things that I had did not bring me happiness or true love. As the years passed, discord filled my heart with pain; I was like an instrument with no strings.
"Then one day, this woman, my beloved wife, herself also a citizen of mighty Rome, told me of Jesus, and from the day that Jesus came into my heart, my life was filled with meaning, with purpose, with joy! I felt like I had been born again, like my life had started anew. Now, the Name of Jesus means more to me than everything I gave up--money, fame, friends, and yes, even my own life.
"In these many years that have passed, I have found that the presence of my Lord is always with me, and He fills each new day with His sweetness. When the time comes for me to die, I will go to a Home that He has prepared for me. I know that it will be worth every sacrifice and trial along the way."
"Then you have spoken your own sentence!" shouted the judge, "Go, you ungrateful traitors, to meet your God, for tomorrow you shall surely die! Guards, take them away!"
Alexander reached out, and took Nina by the hand. Then slowly and calmly, they turned and walked out of the courtroom.
The next day they were led to the prison under the arena. It was dark and cold. Nervous about what lay ahead, Nina held tightly to Alexander. Shortly before noon, they heard footsteps coming down the hall. A Roman soldier opened the big gate that led into the prison, and more Roman soldiers came, leading in a band of about 40 Christians, who were all thrown into the cell with Nina and Alexander. Some were crying, and others sat despondently on the floor.
Suddenly Alexander and Nina forgot all their fears. They were overjoyed to be with other believers again, and they praised the Lord for His goodness. Trying to encourage the others, they started to sing songs of praise to God, and soon the other Christians all joined in. And so they passed the hours: singing, praying, and praising God.
When the final moment arrived, instead of being filled with fear and hopelessness, the band of Christians portrayed a divine faith and courage, knowing that God would take care of them, and that they had nothing to fear. The Christians were led down the dimly lit stone corridors towards the field of their death. The light of the sun hurt their eyes as they passed under the last arch that led to the sandy floor of the arena.
Alexander glanced around, and noticed that the grandstands were full, and that the emperor had come to watch as well. He silently prayed for strength to help him in this, his last hour. He could see large poles stuck into the ground, with wood all around them, and he knew what that meant: They were going to be burned at the stake.
Alexander and Nina were the last to be tied up. It so happened that Diocletian himself, who normally resided in the distant city of Nicomedia, happened to be in Rome this day. When he heard that two of his own nobles were among these Christians, he wanted to personally witness their death, so he had them tied closest to where he was seated. Close to his side stood a young man by the name of Constantine, the son of a little known nobleman whom Emperor Diocletian had raised to the rank of Caesar*. He could not keep his eyes off of the procession of Christians, being led to their fate as sheep to the slaughter. Yet there was no trace of fear or even despondency in their eyes. Instead, these Christians displayed a perfect peace, a silent boldness, a determined courage which reached deep into the heart of this young and impressionable man.
Suddenly the Christians broke out in glorious songs of praise to God that rang through the grandstands! The emperor, surprised at this unusual display of fearlessness, ordered the fires to be lit at once. Yet the singing only became louder, and smiles lit up the faces of the Christians as they died. Alexander sang as he had never sung before, with a joy in his heart; he realized that the flames did not even hurt him. Closing his eyes, he said, "Jesus, You gave me the power to live for You, now give me the power to die for You!"
No sooner had he uttered these words than he saw a bright light shining all around the arena! Looking up, he saw the most beautiful sight he had ever seen--an angel! The Heavenly being introduced himself:
"My name is Jason. I am your guardian angel, and I am here to take you Home!" Reaching out, he took Alexander by the hand and pointed to a brilliant cerulean*, circular object that was hovering above the arena.
"Come," he said. Then, as if by magic, they floated upwards. Alexander, lost for words exclaimed," I feel so wonderful, as light as a feather!" Soon they were inside the large round glowing vehicle. Nina was already there and greeted him with a smile. The vehicle was soon filled and began its journey upward, sailing through the sky with effortless ease.
As Alexander gazed out of the transparent walls, Jason stood beside him, and pointed out, "That's our destination!"
"The moon?!"
"Yes," replied Jason, "Inside is the Heavenly City, where Jesus has prepared a place for you all." It was not long before they had passed through the moon's surface, and beheld the most beautiful city any of them had ever seen.
Upon arriving, they were welcomed by a group of angels. The captain of the group approached Jason. "Well done, Jason. Jesus has sent us to escort you, Alexander and Nina to the Heavenly courts immediately upon your arrival."
Moments later they were walking down the golden halls that led to the Throne Room. Alexander's heart pounded harder and harder with each step; the thought of meeting the King of kings sent trembling excitement through his whole body!
When they entered the hall, Alexander looked up and gazed at the sweet face of his loving Savior. And then he knew that indeed it had been worth it all, and that nothing could have ever compared to the joy he now felt as he knelt in gracious thanks.
Jesus arose and walked up to meet them. Putting His hand on their shoulders, He said, "Well done, My good and faithful servants, enter into the joy of thy Lord!" Then turning to Jason, He said, "You have done a good job in fulfilling My plan! Come, and I will show you more." He pointed to a huge crystal ball over to the side.
Gazing into the crystal sphere, Alexander and Nina saw Constantine, destined to become the next emperor of Rome, with his legions marching behind him, setting out to do battle. Then, as mysteriously as ever, in the sky above the setting sun, Constantine saw a vision of a cross, and above it the words "IN THIS SIGN CONQUER." Startled by this vision, he remembered the Christians, and how they had died, courageously, victoriously, happy and singing, as if death held no power over them.
Constantine decided to fight under the banner of Christ, and he won the battle. Upon becoming emperor, he promptly ended the persecution of the Christians, and declared Rome a Christian empire--a monumental turning point in the history of Christianity. And all this happened because those Christians remained faithful--faithful even unto death! Will you?
Definitions included throughout booklet:
* Chuck: a variant of "Charles"
* facile: done easily, without much effort
* azure: a light, sometimes purplish, blue
* reverie: distant thinking
* resolutely: in a determined manner
* eerie: frightening, having a sense of impending danger
* Caesar: originally a title given to emperors, Diocletian took the imperial title of Augustus, and used the title "Caesar" to designate two "junior emperors" who were to take his place
* cerulean: sky-blue
[End]
Copyright (c) 1998 by Aurora Productions