Gospel

---

It was constant rain. It had been that way for three days. Harold Lemlot had become a prisoner in his own cabin by the lake. His buddies, Jeff Marlson and George Camp, had not been able to trudge up the mud-bogged hill and had used their cell phones to inform Harold of their predicament. The local sheriff had closed the road shortly thereafter.

The rain pummeled the cabin relentlessly, causing Harold to play one of his old vinyl records – a Bing Crosby product. Jeff and George didn’t like Bing much, so at least something good had come from the rain. Harold could enjoy Ol’ Man River without hearing his pals’ complain. And so he sat down by a roaring fireplace, Bing belting out his best, rain assaulting his getaway, and he began to think.

'The good Lord has given me seventy-eight years on this here planet. And what have I given Him back? I can’t remember turnin’ no one in his direction. Not one. All I’ve done is talk about him to a few people now and then. I need to find a way to show people God’s message. I can’t expect the good Lord to just ignore the fact that I ain’t even told Jeff and George everything ‘bout my faith. I mean I talk about God in front of them. Just ain’t never told them that I believe that Jesus is the only way to walk through them pearly gates.'

“And why haven’t you, Harold?”

Harold flopped out of the chair with shock. There before him stood a being of glowing light, an angel. Harold was in the company of an angel. The being was nearly seven feet tall and appeared to radiate light throughout the cabin. Harold Lemlot shook with fear.

“I repeat, why haven’t you?” the angel asked again.

“I…I…I don’t know. I guess I was scared they’d think I was pushin’ my faith on them and all.”

“And how is it that you ended up in this cabin before the rain made the road impassable?”

“I saw the weather report. I knew it was gonna’ rain. So I left earlier.” Harold’s voice was shaky.

“And had you called your friends, would they not be here with you this very moment – in the cabin?”

“Yes, but.”

“But nothing, Harold. Your silence cannot bring your friends to the clear path before it is too late. Let them know the forecast of the Lord. Tell them about the great divide and the redeemer who built the bridge across it.”

When the angel made his final comment, just before disappearing from the room, the rain stopped and a giant rainbow appeared above the lake.

Harold called Jeff and George on their cell phones. He told them he had to talk to them about something important as soon as they could make their way up the hill. Then he opened his Bible and looked up the passages that told mankind about the coming storm and the safe passage a redeemer had forged. He would be silent no more.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE