Memory's Door (A Well Spring Novel) (40 page)

“I’m here to speak to you about truth and confront the lies of the spirit that have been controlling you. I’m here to talk about true freedom.”

“Controlling me? Yeah, baby! That’s what I’m talking about.” Carson slapped his chair. “See why this stuff these Warriors are spouting about is so deceptive? Didn’t the professor sound sincere?” He pointed at Marcus. “Okay, Professor, let’s get right to it. What’s the truth you think I’m missing?”

Again Marcus didn’t have the words, and again he opened his mouth and spoke, his gaze fixed on Carson’s eyes. “‘You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?’”

“Professor? You okay?” Carson whipped his head back and forth. “No Galatians in the studio here, and not thinking we have too many, if any among our fifteen million listeners. Want to try again?”

Marcus leaned forward. “Carson, ‘Are you so foolish? After
beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?’”

Carson blinked and a look of confusion flitted across his face. “We’re not trying to attain anything by our own effort, Prof. We’re simply trying to show people what a righteous lifestyle looks like. We’re giving Christians a set of standards they can aspire to live up to every day.”

“‘Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. I am emphatic about this. The moment any one of you submits to circumcision or any other rule-keeping system, at that same moment Christ’s hardwon gift of freedom is squandered.’”

Again a look of puzzlement appeared on Carson’s face and it stayed longer this time. “We’re not promoting a rule-keeping system. And we’re not talking about whether Christians should have their baby boys circumcised or not. What does circumcision have to do with—?”

“‘I repeat my warning: The person who accepts the ways of circumcision trades all the advantages of the free life in Christ for the obligations of the slave life of the law.’”

A thick sheen of sweat appeared on Carson’s forehead and he struggled to speak. “Professor, I don’t know where you’re going with this circumcision thing, but my ministry was founded on the idea of drawing people deeper into Christ. Showing them how to walk the path.”

Carson gripped the armrests of his chair. “My Redemptive Reminders are in churches and homes all across America. People memorize them and use them to lead their families and congregations.”

“‘Why don’t you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?’”

Marcus stood and took a step toward Carson. “‘I suspect you would never intend this, but this is what happens. When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace.’”

“I’m in his grace, don’t try to tell me I’m not.” Carson wiped the perspiration off his forehead. “Without religion, Christianity gets out of control. Read Corinthians. They went nuts. Religion is to be regarded, respected, and revered.”

Marcus took another step toward the radio show host, the cord of his headphones stretching to its full length. “‘In Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love.’”

Marcus blinked. A translucent curtain of darkness appeared and seemed to surround Carson as if he were inside a cocoon. It shuddered every few seconds as if being struck by a hammer.

“I have faith. I have love. I started this show with nothing, no one believed it would happen. No one. I’ve brought people stability. Guidelines. Principles. Challenges. They need it! They want it. Maybe some people don’t like it, but it’s the truth! And it will make people more moral, more righteous; it will purify their hearts. It will make them holy.”

Marcus spoke in a whisper. “‘Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way.’”

The look now etched into Carson’s face said he no longer believed what he just said was the truth, but he was holding on to it like a man drowning. “They need an ideology they can apply to their lives and their kids’ lives. Rules are not a bad thing!”

The words poured from Marcus’s mouth with power. “‘For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?’”

The curtain around Carson shattered as if made of glass and the shards floated to the floor. Carson’s eyes went wide and his breaths came quicker. “I’m doing a good work here, Professor. I’m not trying to divide people. We’re changing lives. How do I know? Nearly fifteen million listeners tell me I am.”

“I believe you, Carson. From what I’ve heard, ‘you were running superbly. Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience? This detour doesn’t come from the One who called you into the race in the first place. And please don’t toss this off as insignificant. It only takes a minute amount of yeast, you know, to permeate an entire loaf of bread. Deep down, the Master has given me confidence that you will not defect. But the one who is upsetting you, whoever he is, will bear the divine judgment.’”

Carson’s face went blank. He opened his mouth to speak three times, and three times he stopped. Five seconds passed. Ten. Twenty. Marcus prayed the power of the Spirit down on the room, but he didn’t need to. The hold of the enemy had been shattered.

The dull sound of a fist pounding on glass floated toward them. Marcus turned. Sooz jabbed her finger at Carson’s microphone and mouthed the words,
Get him back on the air!

Marcus turned back toward Carson, the host’s eyes desperate, pleading.

“I want to be free.”

Marcus grinned and finished the passage from Galatians. “‘It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life.’”

He turned and looked at Tristan. “I feel what the Spirit just accomplished has ramifications far beyond this studio.”

“You have no idea how accurate you are, Professor.” Tristan gripped Marcus’s arm. “I have to go, but I’ll be back soon. Wait here, yes?” The angel inclined his head toward Carson and smiled. “I think you’ll find a friend to occupy your time till I return.”

FIFTY-FOUR

T
HE RIDER SMILED
,
TOOK ANOTHER STEP TOWARD
D
ANA
, and repeated his question. “Are you coming with the other Warriors, daughter? Or will you stay here while they enter my rest?”

In the next moment three things happened in Dana’s brain simultaneously. First, an image of the professor flashed into her mind.
Marcus, where are you?
He was talking into a microphone in some kind of studio with a man sitting near him. Carson Tanner? But somehow she knew the professor wasn’t having a conversation. He was quoting Scripture. As the image intensified, a dark curtain surrounding him shattered into a million pieces, and the room the professor sat in filled with light.

Second, the words
confusion
and
deception
were plastered in brilliant white letters against a cloud of darkness. Third, she saw a picture of Jesus standing on a hill just like the one the three of them stood on now. More real, with more glory and power than the false Jesus in front of them could ever display. His words came in a whisper but also as loud as thunder.
Stay strong, Dana. For all of you.

Peace and power flooded her. Whatever war the professor was waging in the physical realm had just saved them here.

“No!” She pointed her finger at the rider and took a step toward him.

“What is wrong with you?” Brandon grabbed her shoulders. “This is more than we could ever have hoped for.”

“No.” She bent over and pressed her temples as if to stop the migraine that had flared up seconds earlier. “He’s not who he preten—”

“Be quiet, Dana!” She yanked her head up as the rider drilled her with his gaze. His eyes flashed dark for a nanosecond, then returned to light brown, full of life and joy. “Do not quench the Holy Spirit. I am giving you a gift. Do not neglect it. Do not refuse what you desperately need.

“The pain in your head is from the enemy, trying to distract and deceive you.” The pretender motioned toward her head and the migraine vanished. “I long to bring you rest and healing, yet I will always give you a choice, even in this. You can turn from this now if you want and I will take Reece and Brandon without you. But I pray you do not. The Spirit desires to do a great work in all of you.”

“Let’s go, Dana.” Brandon took her hand. “It’s okay. Didn’t he just heal you?”

“Yes.” She rubbed her temple again. “But it’s not him—”

“What more do you need to see? Let your doubt go. We need this. You need this.”

She stepped back and pulled her hand from Brandon’s. “I want you to do something for me.”

“Sure.” He gazed into her eyes and she looked back through the twin windows into his soul. His heart for her had never been this deep. “Anything.”

“Be the Song.”

“I am the—”

“Sing like you’ve never sung before. To Jesus. Not to this . . . this . . .” She pointed to the rider. “Close your eyes and sing to the Alpha and Omega with everything you are.”

“Now? Right now? Even though my vocal cords aren’t all the way back?” He grinned.

“Since we’re in the spirit here, not in body, I think you’ll sound wonderful.” She returned his smile. “And even if you don’t, I think it’s about the heart behind the song, not how it sounds.”

“I’m sorry.” The rider shook his head. “There isn’t time for Brandon to sing, Dana. Later, yes, we’ll let the song of the Song echo through the heavens. But not now. If you want this gift, we must go.”

“There is always time to bring adoration to the King. Always time to praise the one who holds eternity in the palm of his hand.”

“So true, my friend.” The rider opened his arms and smiled. “I welcome your song, Brandon. Then we will go.”

“Sing, Brandon.” Dana fixed her gaze on the rider. Maybe Reece and Brandon and this Jesus were right and the enemy was trying to pull her away. But more of her knew it was a lie.

Stay strong, Dana. For all of you.
The words echoed in her mind again.

Brandon’s song started soft and built, the melody strong and haunting.

Look.

The voice of the Spirit filled her heart and mind, and she intensified her focus on the rider. His arms were raised to the heavens and tears ran down his cheeks. His mouth moved silently along with Brandon’s words. Despair flooded her. Was the vision she’d just seen of Marcus a lie? Was the rider who he claimed to be? Wait. Darkness shimmered across his chest so fast, she couldn’t be sure if she’d seen it or imagined it.

The song ended and she grabbed Brandon by the collar. “Tell me you saw that!”

“Saw what? I was sing—”

“Reece?” She whirled toward the big man and clenched her fists. “Did you?”

“No.” Reece shook his head and looked at Dana. “Brandon is right. Let go of your doubts and fears. It is time to go with him.”

“Are you satisfied, Dana?” The rider smiled at her as his eyes danced like joy-filled lightning. There is so much I want to show you! Why did you doubt?”

Dana’s legs shook. From fear? From adrenaline? She couldn’t tell and didn’t care. She knew what she’d seen, and yes, she doubted
it. But if she cried out and was wrong, there would be forgiveness from the Lord. If she was right . . .
Jesus, if this isn’t you . . .

Speak truth, dear one. I am with you.

She strode forward two paces—now only five feet from him—and pointed at the heart of the Jesus in front of them. “In the name of the true Christ, King of all realms in heaven and on earth, the crucified, ascended, and glorified Jesus Messiah, I command you to reveal yourself.”

For a moment nothing happened. But an instant later the sky darkened and fat rain fell from the heavens and pelted them like liquid BBs. The drops fell on her arms and hands and face and head, but the sensation wasn’t like liquid, it was like drops of fire that seared her skin.

“Arrrgh!” Brandon tried to shield his head from the rain, but it only exposed more of his bare arms. Tiny red welts appeared on his skin and on hers as well. But the drops didn’t seem to be affecting Reece.

“Reece!”

The big man drew close to Brandon and her and covered them with his arms and body. “You have to fight this just like the three of you did during the testing Doug and I sent you on.”

“No caves around here to escape into this time.” Dana ground her teeth. “You couldn’t just tell us how to fight this, could you?”

“What did you use then?”

“The sword of the Spirit.” She closed her eyes against the pain and her body tightened.

“Yes.”

Dana’s brain spun as the rain fell harder. It pounded into the ground and splashed up onto her ankles and through her pants. The drops seemed to seep like acid through her skin into her bones. It was like white-hot needles were being stuck into her body in a thousand places.

“Reece!”

“Put on the armor.”

A moment later she had it. “Ephesians. Faith . . . ‘Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.’” Her words rang out and seemed to surround them. She stared at Brandon and shouted through the pain, “Faith. We must believe he is with us. ‘The L
ORD
is a warrior, the L
ORD
is his name!’”

His eyes widened and he nodded. She held his gaze and watched determination and belief grow inside and his pain grow into anger. He glanced at Reece, then stepped out from under the big man’s covering. The drops of rain pounding down on them didn’t lessen, but now they seemed to have no effect on Brandon.