| 13 Comforting Stranger |
| �When God changes conditions on the earth, all those who are sleeping in death will be resurrected.� �They will?� �Yes. It�s only a matter of time.� Nick returned to the doorway. �Oh, please! You don�t really believe that, do you? Why would he even bother to resurrect the dead when he can create a whole new population of righteous humans? What would be the point? Do you really think he would waste his time retraining imperfect ones?� Peggy stared at Nick for a moment, then turned to Mike. �What if he�s right? What if God destroys everyone and begins again?� �That won�t happen. After the flood he promised he would never do that again.� �How can anyone be sure of that?� Peggy asked. �Because you can be sure of it. He never lies.� �Ha.� Nick scoffed. Mike gave him a disapproving look. �You know our father never lies.� �If that�s what you want to believe.� Nick raised a questioning eyebrow. �I don�t believe God lies, but what if he changes his mind. After all, he did create everything.� Peggy hypothesized. �He gave his word, Peggy. That can never change.� �People were created in his image, still they give their word and break it at every opportunity,� Nick added. �That�s true.� Peggy looked at Mike for reassurance. �Yes, people were created in his image, but they were also given the choice of free will, that�s the difference.� Peggy frowned. �But, doesn�t God have free will?� �His will remains the same always, and his word remains the same always. Trust that, Peggy. Don�t be deceived by Nick�s distorted version of the truth. That�s why he�s here, remember?� �I�m so confused.� Peggy slid off the bed and stood up, she needed time to sort things out in her own mind. �I�m going to make some tea. Do you want some?� �Sure.� Mike followed her. Nick eyed them both as they passed him in the doorway, smiling triumphantly at Mike. Peggy filled the electric kettle with water and connected the plug. She opened an overhead cupboard and took out three purple mugs, then opened another and removed a canister filled with teabags. She placed a teabag in each mug, then walked across to the refrigerator and took out a bottle of milk. Her mind was full and her heart was empty. She didn�t want to talk anymore. She quietly made the tea, then picked up two mugs, walked over to the dining room table and placed them on its polished wooden surface. �Sit down and have your tea,� she invited. Both men moved across to the table and sat down. Mike could see that she was distracted by her thoughts. �Peggy...� �I really don�t want to talk right now.� She picked up her mug and joined them at the table. �Could we just sit and drink our tea quietly? Please.� �Alright, if that�s what you want.� |