Soul Battle | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Soul Battle | Previous Challenge Entry
By Gary Ritter
07/31/15
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Like any good salesman the devil enthused: “It’ll be just like a vacation, one with your entire family plus all the friends and acquaintances you’ve known over your whole life.” He said under his breath: “Except for your one son who turned from me.” Continuing the pitch to his latest prospect Satan said, “Henry, think about this: the good times will never end.” The whole approach was ironically appropriate as Henry had been a salesman all his life. Of course he’d appreciate having the tables turned on him!

The sounds of the special mattress pad inflating and deflating to prevent bedsores on the old man’s body filled the room with its constant electronic wheeze. Henry’s family sat around him unaware of the battle for the man’s soul that raged within his heart and mind.

Henry’s renegade son reached out to gently hold the old man’s hand. “This is Tom, Dad. Your eyes are open. Are you awake?”

His mouth was perpetually dry, and Henry could do little more than mumble.

“I’ll take that for a yes,” Tom said. “Are you in any pain?”

The words were hard to articulate. Henry formed them with difficulty. “Had a meeting with the devil.”

“What did he say?”

“He was a nice guy. Wanted to take all of us on a family vacation.”

“Don’t believe him, Dad. He’s a liar. He’ll say anything to deceive you. Only Jesus will tell you the truth.”

“Said we’d go canoeing and sit around the campfire – all of us, like old times….” Henry’s words trailed off. He slipped into another deep sleep.

A light appeared on Henry’s right. A figure of unimaginable brightness beckoned to him. “Trust in Me, Henry. I love you and will never leave you nor forsake you.”

“Tom told me I had to repent and surrender all of myself to You, Jesus.” The eyes of this man extending his open arms to Henry shone with the greatest love and compassion he’d ever known.

“Your son spoke truly to you. It’s a choice you must make, Henry.”

Satan waved at Henry from his left. “Hey! Remember me? Don’t forget everything that’s in store for you and your family on that vacation I promised you.” He waved his hand and a vision of a mountain lake opened before Henry. “Look familiar? This is that Adirondack lake you took your wife and kids to many years ago. You can visit it like you did then. Pretty isn’t it?”

A great yearning arose within Henry to relive those years when illness and the accompanying pain weren’t constant reminders of the advanced age he’d attained. For most of his life he’d rarely been sick. His tolerance for pain was high and nothing seemed to bother him. The work he’d done gave him great satisfaction, especially because of his love of gab and the friendships he’d made on the job. He hadn’t needed Jesus then, and his church hadn’t placed much importance on these things Tom had spoken about. Henry knew he’d sinned in his lifetime, but repentance was a word that didn’t mean much to him. And surrender? He’d done all right following the way he’d walked for so long.

The summer breeze blew across the lake, ruffling his hair. The sun caressed his skin with a warm glowing touch.

“The devil is the father of lies, Henry. It’s his native language. If you believe his deceptions you’ll regret it forever.” Sadness tinged the voice of Jesus.

“You have free will, my friend.” A slight smile played on Satan’s lips. Not only did he have a pleasant demeanor, he also gave the impression of someone who could be a colleague, a fellow Henry would like to know better and could hang out with.

The pain in Henry’s body receded as the morphine the nurse had administered took hold. He’d heard them say that making him comfortable was important. The choice before him loomed larger as he realized his body was shutting down. He hadn’t drunk any water for three days. He had no need.

Jesus didn’t say another word. He simply waited with outstretched arms. Heaven had never been foremost in Henry’s thoughts. He didn’t know much about it. Now he wondered: What would I even do there? If I go with Satan I’ll have plenty to keep me busy. It’ll be a real life.

Henry took a final gasp of air and exhaled his last. He walked toward Satan who put a clutching arm around his shoulders.

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