Event Horizon – The River

I wrote a long time ago that I would hesitate to call my novels “Christian Novels.” There are too many things that go on in them that are ugly. There are murders. There are sexual assaults. There are drugs.

But that doesn’t stop the Word of God from being spoken, expanded on, and demonstrated.

For the message in Event Horizon, here is for your reading pleasure, a small excerpt:

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“But changing the subject a little,” Jonesy said. “What has Jesus done for you?”

    “You mean aside from dying for my sins?”

      He nodded.

     “For once in my life, I know who I am.”

     “And that is?”

     “Someone who is alive, no thanks to my efforts.”

    Jonesy looked a little skeptical. “What are you saying?”

    I looked out into the darkness, trying to think how to explain what salvation was.

    “Remember when we were in Basic Training, and they taught us what a sign for a minefield looked like?”

    “Yeah.”

    “Many people see being a Christian as I shall not do this, and I shall not do that. They get fixed on the ‘Don’t do this.’ They forget that violating those rules or laws can have some seriously deadly consequences.”

    “If you see the sign and go into the minefield, it’s your fault if it goes boom,” Jonesy said.

    I nodded. “I tried to tell Max that last year. That the sign is there for your protection.”

    Jonesy looked out into the darkness. “Maybe if Max had listened, we wouldn’t be out here right now.”

    “Maybe. I could only hope,” I said. “But Max would agree with Marx that ‘Religion is the opiate of the people.’ But I’ve come to know that no matter how strong I think I am, I’m not strong enough. I need His help.”

    Jonesy sat, thinking for a moment. “My Grandmother used to say that. But how?”

    I thought about that for a moment. I was about to put into words the Human problem, the solution, and why people don’t take it. Finally, I had a story. “Think of it this way. We’re in a raging river. It’s too strong for us to swim out. The best we can hope for is to avoid the rocks we might smash into. And ahead, there’s a Niagara Falls drop that we’ll never survive.”

     “You’re talking about death.”

     “Physical and spiritual,” I said. “Now, here’s the funny part. Most people ignore the river or act like its not there. They don’t fight it, and they get swept along. Those that do see the river, try to fight it and they aren’t strong enough to get out on their own. Even if they manage to grab onto a log or a slimy moss-covered rock, their strength or hold will give out and eventually they’re swept away and over the falls.”

    “But?”

     “But suppose you know of the river, the rapids, and the falls. And suppose some guy shows up with a Zodiac with powerful engines that can navigate the river. He says he’ll be happy to take you to shore. Would you get in?”

     “Of course.”

      “But here’s the kicker. You’ve managed to grab onto a log floating alongside you or you got up on a rock. The branch helps keep your head above water and makes swimming a little easier. Or the rock makes you feel safe for a little while. The guy in the Zodiac tells you that you can’t bring the log or rock into the boat with you. You have to leave it behind. And there’s one other thing. The minute you get in the boat, he’s in charge.

     “Would you let go of the log or rock and get in? Or would you say, “Thank you, No,’ and try to forget that sooner or later you’ll be overwhelmed by the river.”

     I saw him hesitate. He knew the log or rock was a simple analogy for what we count on in this world. But at least his answer was an honest one. “I don’t know.”

     I nodded. “Mike, I was in a river being swept to my destruction by my belief in myself. That was my Log. I thought I could save myself. I couldn’t.”

     I could see the moment of fear on his face. I was telling him something he knew but had ignored up to this point.

“What did you do?”

“I let go of the log and got in the boat and said ‘yes’ to the Captain. I might still be on the river, but I’m not going to be swept away by it. And I’m being carried to shore.”