Of Great Concern - Fiction, Pt.1

In the last months, years even, both on this website and listening to sermons, something keep occurring which has brought out my concerns. At this point I won't say anymore, instead this week and the next, I wish to write a fiction story which carries an important point. Read and enjoy.
The characters are fiction and bears no relation to anyone alive or dead.

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Ah, the glorious moment had arrived. After spending more than two hours wandering restlessly around the airport departure lounge, at last our flight came up on the overhead computer, Flight 3246 New York, Boarding.

After the Wait in Lounge, was displayed for a seeming eternity, the message Boarding has set my adrenaline active in my bloodstream, and I among others, made our way to the boarding gate. As the crowd gathered to be let through to the walkway which would take us to the door of the 'plane itself, I took a quick glance at a young Asian looking-fellow. He was rather tall, extraordinary handsome with clean-shaven high cheekbones and a thin neck with a prominent Adam's Apple, descending into the open collar of his white shirt. His upper body features certainly gave the impression of slimness to the point of scrawniness, yet sported a generous waistline which seem to belie his rather undernourished appearance.

He was several paces ahead of me, and how he attracted my attention was that instead of facing the door which was due to open at any minute, he was looking back at the crowd behind, as if  surveying, looking rather uncomfortable, maybe even scared as he fidgeted about instead of keeping still.

Ah! I can understand how this poor chap must have felt. I recall the day I boarded my first flight ever. It was with a college mate and the flight to Spain was just two hours in duration. Back then I was still nervous, wondering how it felt being sealed, literally, in an airtight bottle suspended over thirty thousand feet above ground. This guy is alone, about to board a long-haul flight, most likely without any previous experience. No wonder he looked restless. He was jumping in the deep end, so to speak.

At last the door opened, and we all filed in to take our reserved seats as given on our boarding passes. The young Asian gentleman took his seat a few rows behind mine, and as he sat down, he was instantly out of sight, and quickly forgotten.

As more people piled on to the 'plane, another young man, this time brunette, wearing a tee-shirt, approached my row, checked his boarding pass and satisfied, took his seat right next to mine. I did not take much notice at first, as sitting by the window, I looked out to watch the last of the passengers board, then the closing of the 'plane's door as the exit of the walkway was retracted, resembling the mouth of a large snake retreating as if to strike.

At last, the 'plane taxied to the runway and took off. Below, the houses, streets and traffic appeared tiny, then the fields and rural areas were directly below us. Eventually the land gave way to sea as the clear, cloudless sky allowed a spectacular view of the jagged coastline. After a while the whole of the UK vanished out of sight as the 'plane began its journey over the Atlantic.

The expanse of water beneath brought in boredom with the scenery below, so with some taking of courage, I dared asked the fellow next to me if he, like me, was flying to New York to backpack the rest of the United States.

"No, I'm not backpacking," he answered cheerfully. "I'm flying to New York to spend a couple of weeks with my older cousin, a church minister."
"Oh, so you're Christian? Which denomination?"
"Baptist, but really it doesn't matter, as denomination is not as important as knowing the Lord personally."

Wanting to change the subject, I then asked, "What's your name? Do you have a job? Or are you studying?"
"My name is Geoff, and I'm studying Medicine at Oxford. The Uni is now out for the summer."

"I'm Larry, Larry Osgood, and I work in a factory, packing cases. I was a failure at school, and I resent that. But oh, how I LOVE to travel! Therefore I took a whole month off to backpack the USA. I will be staying in hostels for backpackers, the first being HI AYH New York City which, I believe, is the largest in the world with over six hundred beds."

HI AYH New York City

"There is nothing to resent." Geoff replied as he tried to comfort me. "Everyone of us has a purpose to fulfil in life." He turned to me and as he looked in my direction, I could not help seeing his eyes flooding with compassion. That has moved me. "Yes, I'm training for Medicine, but take away the plumbers, electricians, builders, refuse collectors and manufacturing industry, where would we be?"

"You are right. But I simply hate the British social class system!" I answered. "The way the guy in a suit thinks he's up there while we in turn are beneath him, so he looks down at us while he acts arrogantly. Yet whenever there is an inch of snow on the ground, our airports and railways grind to a halt and schools close. Yet despite their sheer incompetence, these men in suits act as they are rulers of Empire.  That's what I dislike." After a pause, I added, "Sorry, I just got worked up."

"Please listen, look at me." Geoff then exhorted, "God loves you so much, that he sent his dear Son to die and atone for your sins."
"Yea," I replied. "I attended a church Sunday School when I was a boy. I learned quite a bit about the Bible. But it's no use. I just can't be good enough. Surely this Jesus has given up on me."

"Not at all!" Geoff exclaimed. "God's command is that all men everywhere should repent."
"Oh, one of those sanctimonious words, repent." I replied. "Turning from sin, I believe. I tried that at Sunday school, but of no avail. I still ended up sinning one way or another. I recall making a promise to the teacher always to honour my parents. A couple of days later, Dad and I had a massive row, and I was sent to my room. So you see, this repenting lark doesn't work. Dark feelings lurk in me to this day."

"You don't understand, Larry." was Geoff response. "To repent simply means to change your mind over something, here referring to the death of Jesus Christ on the cross to atone for our sins and three days later, rise physically from the dead."
Geoff went on, "You see, this is the crux of the matter is the Resurrection. Jesus Christ was the only human ever to rise from the dead. As with all other men, many in the Bible were made great and famous, yet their remains are with us to this day. But the grave was not able to keep Jesus Christ in its bonds. His resurrection proved that He is God."

I responded, "Great men in the Bible? I recalled the series of lessons about Abraham, his faith in God and the promise of a son who would be the father of Israel."

"Yes, that's right!" Geoff answered. "Abraham believed, and God credited righteousness to his account through faith. Let me show you the Scripture."

Geoff reached into his bag he placed under his seat and pulled out a small Bible. Turning to Genesis 15 and pointed to verse 6: And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him as righteousness. Geoff then explained,
"You see, God told Abraham that he will have a son through his wife Sarah, despite being stricken in years. Abraham believed in the revelation and immediately God pronounced him not guilty of any sins committed. It was a judicial justification, a verdict that was declared in the Heavenly Court. Abraham did not do a single work to earn it, neither did he make any promises to modify his life in order to receive it, as you did at Sunday school."

Geoff continued,
"Paul the Apostle referred to this justification in applying to us. In his letter to the Romans, he harked back to Abraham's justification as applying to us. See, here is the Scripture."

Geoff opened his Bible and I read chapter four. He emphasised verse 5 which reads,
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justify the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

I sat back at my seat, then the penny dropped.
"Yes, Geoff, I believe! Jesus Christ was crucified and he rose again physically from the dead. Yes, Jesus Christ is Lord!" I exclaimed.

Geoff then showed me another Scripture which confirms what I have just done. Turning further into Romans, he pointed out verses 9 and 10 in chapter ten:
That if you confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Geoff then advised that all who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, so says verse 13. I bowed my head and thanked the Lord for saving me.

"How do you feel about water baptism?" Geoff asked.
"Is it to do with earning or keeping my salvation? I responded.
"No, not at all," Geoff answered. "It's to outwardly demonstrate your faith before other people. As far as I can see, you are already saved."
"Then yes, I would love to be baptised. But there is no opportunity here."
"When we arrive at New York, why not come round to my cousin's house. He has a swimming pool in his back garden, and I was told before boarding that in New York it's thirty degrees Celsius."
"May I check in at the hostel first?" I asked. "The bed is reserved and paid for. Is your house far from the city?"
"About an hour's ride on the subway."
"Then yes! Please baptise me."
"We should be all done by this evening." Geoff assured.

We had hardly finished talking when there was a scuffle a few rows behind. Some passengers had risen from their seats and was as if restraining someone. Geoff, driven by his medical experience, rose up to see if he was needed, and I too, got out of my seat to see what was going on.

Two or three passengers were attempting to restrain the Asian man who I saw ahead of me back at the airport. The passenger restraining him yelled, "HE HAS A BOMB!"

Some women screamed, panic within the aircraft turned serenity into chaotic confusion. The air crew also rushed to the scene with an attempt to section the bomber off and place him under arrest, where at New York Airport, police and security would escort him away.

The device, which was wrapped around the man's waist, was fully exposed as his white shirt was lifted up. A detonation cord was attached to the device and the bomber was trying to reach for it, although stalled by the restraint from the other passengers. Then in a split moment, his arm was released, and he grabbed the cord and pulled.

Ka-Booom!!!

The explosion was so intense that there was no physical sensation as the aeroplane was suddenly non-existent. The hull literally exploded, like a balloon popping, due to the normal air pressure within and the extremely low pressure outside. Large fragments of metal, plastic, glass, upholstery, belongings, clothing and human flesh rained down from the sky to fall into the Atlantic Ocean. However, both of the wings and the tail fins hurtled into the ocean intact, as they were each still attached to a large fragment of the hull.

In heaven, I saw Geoff being embraced by the Lord Jesus himself. The Lord then told him,
"Well done, thy good and faithful servant. As you have been responsible over little, I shall put you in charge over much. Enter into the joy of your Lord."
I watched Geoff being escorted to the pearl gate of the most beautiful city man could ever behold. Not only was the city astounding in its beauty, but it was a place of holiness, joy and everlasting happiness in the presence of the Lord.

Then the Lord Jesus approached me and said,
"Sorry, Larry, but you can't come in here, guilty as you are. Depart from me, ye who work iniquity."

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TO BE CONTINUED....