The Guardian (44 page)

“How?”

“Do you know who I am?” “I think so,” she said shakily. “I see His mark on you.” “What do you mean?”

“No matter. Surely you don’t think that after all this time, He’ll let you in. He banished your mother and father from here ages ago. They sinned against Him.” “I know.”

“Well then, surely you can’t think that all of a sudden He’s just going to let you in. I mean you of all people, Anna,” he hissed. “What do you mean,
me?”

“You are the worst kind. You’ve spent your entire life avoiding Him. He’s called to you before and you’ve turned your back on Him. You’ve cursed His name. You’ve rebelled against Him. You’ve worshipped things other than Him. You are an idolater! You’ve betrayed Him! Haven’t you?”

Anna started to cry as the weight of her sin hit home.

“I’m sorry,” the serpent hissed, “was that a yes?”

“Yes,” she squeaked. The tears came in a wave now.

“If you enter that water, Anna, you will surely die. You know you aren’t worthy of the Garden of Eden. Now, if you leave here right now, you can save him. He needs medical attention. But if you go into that water, who’s going to help him? He’ll die right after you. And then you’ll be no better than a murderer. A selfish one at that.”

“But what about the garden?”

“Oh, don’t worry. I’m sure someone far more qualified than you will eventually stumble upon it.”

Anna felt a wave of emotion. If she went into the water to find the garden, would she be letting Jason die? Would she be no better than a murderer? “God, what do I do?” she whispered. “Please help me.”

Peace filled her, and she understood at last. She looked at the serpent and smiled.

“So, Satan—I can call you by your name, right?—tell me why Adam and Eve were never allowed back into the garden,” she said smugly.

The serpent slithered back into his coil. “I told you, they sinned against Him.”

“No! They were not allowed back in because they couldn’t pay for their own sin. Mine has been paid in full.”

The serpent twisted in an evil hiss. “There is no forgiveness for what you are!”

Anna shook her head and looked sadly at him. “Yes, there is. And Christ died for it. For me! You have absolutely no authority over me anymore. I’m His now. And that makes me as qualified as anyone to enter that garden. So you just sit back and watch!”

As she turned to run back into the water, the serpent lashed out at her, coiling around her ankles. She fell face-first onto the rocky beach. Her fingers clawed at the wet sand, trying to pull herself away, but the serpent’s grasp was too tight. She kicked and flailed, but it was no use. The serpent was pulling her back. She turned around to face him and swung a backhanded fist. She caught him in the head. The strike shot pain through her arm and into her shoulder, but it was enough to stun the serpent. For a moment, its grip loosened. She pulled a leg free and kicked the serpent again. Freedom. She crawled like a crab on hands and knees toward the water. She dove in headfirst and began to swim out into the deep.

The water was cold and bit into her skin like little razor blades. Her feet barely touched the bottom. She turned back to the beach. The serpent was gone. Jason lay lifeless on the rocky sand. She closed her eyes and prayed.

God, I believe that I was chosen to find this place. I believe that You have led me here. I know, deep in my heart, that this is what You called me to do. Please, Jesus, help me.

She treaded water, waiting. The chill numbed her body, and it was becoming hard to fight against the pulling current drawing her farther out.

She started to cry. Jason said she had to have faith. Didn’t she? Wasn’t she out here because of faith?

Her arms moved slower. She fought to stay above water. Her teeth clattered together. Maybe she should turn around, try to swim back.

A Voice.

Not an audible voice, but a voice nonetheless.
“Do you trust Me?”
“Yes,” she said aloud.
“Then let go.”

“You mean, just drown?” That made no sense. She was supposed to find the garden. Wasn’t she?
“Do you trust Me, Anna?”
“Yes,” she said again, crying. “I trust You.”
“Then let go.”
“I’m afraid.”
“Do you trust Me?”

She took a deep breath and let it out again. “Yes, Father,” she whispered. “I trust You.”

She stopped kicking her legs and moving her arms. She didn’t even hold her breath. She simply let go. Her body sank slowly under the water. When she opened her mouth, the cold sea overtook her. She shook violently as the cold water poured into her lungs. Burning, searing pain ripped through her body. Death was overtaking her, and she started to lose consciousness.

Then, as if she were dropped from a rooftop, her body crashed down onto the beach. She coughed and heaved violently, throwing the seawater out of her lungs. Her eyes burned and her head throbbed, but she could breathe. She could breathe! Didn’t she just drown? What was going on?

She lifted her head and wiped her eyes, then rubbed them

again, for she couldn’t believe what she saw. Walls of water standing at least a hundred feet in the air stood all around her. She was on a dry pathway about ten feet wide that stretched and sloped from the beach behind her to…

“Oh my!” She fell back to the ground. In front of her, a couple hundred yards ahead, was the most beautiful canopy of green she’d ever seen. Trees and vegetation she couldn’t recognize stood before her. Every branch was weighted with ripe fruit. Birds, singing songs that sounded what could only be described as angelic, flew between the treetops.

She didn’t know where the strength to move was coming from, but she found herself running. In seconds she was in the Garden of Eden. The vegetation was so thick she could barely see through it. But there was a path that led into the heart of the garden. She took a step to cross the line into it and heard a blood-curdling scream. When she turned, she was face-to-face with the serpent again. The serpent had dragged Jason’s body with it. Jason seemed to be dead.

“Murderer!” the serpent hissed at her. “You’ve done this to him! Go on! Try to walk in there. See what happens. You’ve killed. You’re no better than Cain!”

Anna was about to launch at the serpent when a brilliant flash of light shot down from the sky, fast as a bolt of lightning, slamming into the serpent and knocking him and Anna over. There was a huge ball of dust and smoke as if a bomb had been detonated. When it all cleared, Anna scrambled to her feet. The serpent was restrained by Michael, the archangel.

“Let go of me!” the serpent hissed.

“Not on your life!” Michael spat. “I’ve waited for this day for thousands of years.” He turned to Anna. “Walk through that path.” He pointed it out to her. “Take Jason with you. There is someone waiting for you there.”

Anna did as she was told. She leaned Jason’s body up and placed her arms underneath his shoulders. She started off down the path, backpedaling and dragging Jason along the way. She stole a glance back up the path and saw that the serpent had now transformed itself into a massive dragon. It spat fire at Michael, who slashed at its flames with his sword. Michael turned to catch Anna’s stare. He winked at her and smiled broadly before returning to his battle.

Anna followed the path beside a stream with water as clear as finely polished crystal. A massive tree marked the end of the stream, light shining from its branches. Cherubim stood guard on both sides of the tree, and flaming swords flashed back and forth in front. Anna lay Jason’s body down at the foot of the tree. She closed her eyes and prayed.

“Jesus, I am in so much awe right now, I don’t even know what to pray. I am so at home in here right now. I feel like I’ve never been home before until now. Thank You for hearing my prayer and allowing me to come home. I love You and worship You.”

The canopy of the garden slowly parted. The clouds lifted, and the sun shone brightly down on her. A booming voice from the heavens spoke.

“This is My daughter, My creation, with whom I am pleased.”

The tree’s branches swayed back and forth, applauding the voice. The stream bubbled and frothed. The birds sang one song.

Anna cried tears of joy but couldn’t move anything else. A hand touched her shoulder and released her from her paralyzing grip. She looked up and saw a man clothed in white. His hands were rough, His face scarred. His robes were silk, and His beard was dark. His head was crowned with pure light. His feet were bare and bore holes in them. As He held out His hands, she saw the piercing there, too. When He spoke, His voice was like a warm blanket that gently caressed.

“Anna, welcome home.”

She fell at His feet and cried more tears of joy.

“Stand, child.”

She did. He took her by the hand and pulled her to Himself in a tight embrace. His smile was like nothing she’d ever imagined.

When He let her go, she stepped back a step and pointed to Jason. “Jesus, what about him?”

Jesus leaned down and touched Jason’s hand. “Come forth, Jason!”

Immediately Jason opened his eyes and sucked in a breath. He stood and turned to see his Savior in front of him. He then fell back to his knees and cried out, “My Lord, Jesus!” as he laid his head at Jesus’ feet.

“You may stand, My son.”

Slowly, and with his head still bowed, Jason rose to stand before his King. “Thank You.”

“You are My child, Jason. What else could I do?” Jesus explained.

Jason lifted his head to meet Jesus’ gaze.

“Anna, Jason, this is the tree of life.” He pointed behind Him. “Adam and Eve were banished from it because of their sin and rebellion. Their choice has led to a hurtful and broken world. Your faith and perseverance have brought this world to an end, and I will now redeem and restore it.”

He waved His hand. The cherubim and flaming sword disappeared.

“You may take fruit from the tree and eat it. You and Jason may live here freely for a time. Eat from whatever tree you want. Now that the tree of life has been granted to you, My Father’s plan is complete. I will go back to the world one last time and bring an end to all things. I will judge the living and the dead, and establish

My kingdom forever. And I will bring with Me those the Father has given Me, that they may also be where I am.”

Then He reached out and pulled them in, so that they each rested in His arms. “Jason, Anna, I’ve loved you, even before you were born. Well done, good and faithful servants!” He let them go and motioned for them to continue into the garden.

They both walked a few steps in and turned to see Him once more, but He was gone. “Where did He go?” Anna asked.

Jason smiled. “To make all things new,” he said. He grabbed Anna and pulled her to him. “Anna, you did it! Look at this place!”

Anna shook her head. “Uh-uh.
We
did it!” she said. Then she kissed him and said, “I love you, Jason Lang.”

He brushed the hair out of her eyes. “I love you, too, Anna Riley.”

T
he city of Cairo, Egypt, was alive and festive as they prepared to host their first ever FIFA World Cup soccer event. The opening ceremonies were some of the most spectacular visual displays the world had ever seen. Over a million people had come to the city to witness the tournament.

The stage was set for the first big game of the thirty-day event. For the first time in World Cup history, the Americans and the Egyptians were ranked as the number one and two teams in the tournament.

Cairo International Stadium swelled with the masses of people pouring in through the gates. Vendors selling trinkets and team paraphernalia lined the city streets all the way to the front gates of the stadium. The smell of food saturated the air for miles around, as the restaurants were filled to capacity. The entire city was bustling with preparations for this eagerly anticipated sporting event.

The players took the field as the officiating crew gave a final look over the team rosters. The crowd chanted and stomped their feet in unison on the concrete and metal floors, creating a cacophony of noise. Banners waved through the air with the different team

logos. And then the ball was placed at center field.

As if in reverence for a spiritual moment, the crowd grew eerily silent as the referee raised his hand and waited to blow his whistle to signify the start of the game.

And then the ground began to tremble with a slow, soft rumble. The fans looked around in a bit of confusion, as if this were some kind of special effect saved by the opening ceremonies crew for the special match. Then the rumble grew.

But not from the ground. As the noise grew louder, people realized the rumble emanated from the sky. Slowly, but intensely, the sound crescendoed from a low-pitched hum to an earth-shaking rumble. People stood still, watching and listening, waiting for the noise to reveal itself.

Outside in the street, cars stopped. People came out of buildings and gave their attention to the sight above. Clouds had begun to streak across the sky, obscuring the sun.

Television and radio stations were already carrying the coverage of the strange noise and visual occurrences going on above the ground. The phenomenon, it seemed, was happening all over the world. The rumble was getting louder now and began to rise in pitch. People covered their ears to shield themselves from the deafening noise that now sounded like a thousand fighter jets at close range, as panic rose in the heart of every man, woman, and child.

Suddenly there was an enormous explosion in the sky, as if the sun had burst and shot its rays like giant fireworks. And then the sky changed. Both hemispheres were plummeted into almost complete darkness. People screamed and ran as the entire world seemed to be under attack.

A few moments later it stopped without warning as suddenly as it had happened. Either out of fear or curiosity, everyone stopped with it. And the inhabitants of the entire world stood still, collectively holding their breath, wondering what had just happened, or worse, what was coming next.

Then, as if a giant hand had reached down and pulled the lid off a canister, the sky was peeled back and an enormous crack filled the sky, encircling the entire globe. Then, from the crack, an ear-shattering trumpet blast sounded. And with it came the most brilliant, radiant white light ever seen. And it pierced the darkness.