Eating the Fruit of Lies

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Eating the Fruit of Lies Page 8

by Sandra Thompson Williams


  Now when people who do not know the true and living God divorce, it’s not a great surprise, because they were never trusting in God. But baby, I’m here to tell you that Ahaz was not a heathen King. He was King of Judah. The long line of children you saw in your dream were children of Christians. Ahaz let the influence of the heathens cause him to do this great evil. The church has let the influence of Hollywood and wicked movies tell them that they should divorce their partners and find true pleasure elsewhere. Remember David, all that is in the world is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life. You can only be influenced by these things if you stop reading God’s word and stop praying.”

  David rested his face in his hands. When he looked up again, he hesitated to speak.

  “Aunt Tillie,” he said, “Why do you think my Dad left my mother?”

  “Oh baby, I’m sure he was having a mid-life crisis. The devil will do whatever he can to break up a Christian home. The church has gotten too comfortable with traditions. We pray as if this is a time of peace. We are in a battle every day. We have to pray before we see the trouble. We’re in a silent war. The trouble is, the church is the one silent and the enemy can sneak in easily. The enemy attacked when your father wasn’t looking. He was at a point in his life where his prayers and Bible study should have increased. Instead his appetite to satisfy flesh took over. When people are hungry, they will eat anything. The Prophet Hosea says, “They have eaten the Fruit of Lies because they trusted in their own way.” Aunt Tillie just shook her head and was quiet for a moment.

  David seemed overwhelmed by everything she revealed to him. “Fruit of Lies? Is there really any hope then, Aunt Tillie? I mean what can I do to change the way things are going?”

  “Baby, God’s not looking for you to save the world, he sent Jesus to do that. But you have an assignment to go after the ones he has shown you,” she said.

  “What about the children, Aunt Tillie? Lately, I’ve seen my own sister’s face in line to be sacrificed with the others. I keep trying to reach her in the dream,” he said with exasperation; “but I’m never close enough. Just when I think I’ve got her, she - I don’t know,” he said with a hung down head.

  “Baby, don’t you know through the Holy Spirit that you have the power to snatch her from the fire?” she said with confidence.

  “Honey, remember this,” she said looking into his eyes, “a prayer warrior is always one step ahead of the devil.”

  His deep frown soon turned into a huge smile as he realized and remembered that he had authority over the enemy.

  When David left Aunt Tillie’s that night, he felt like a soldier who had just completed boot camp. He felt he was ready to do battle. He was determined to set aside his own personal agenda in order to be totally used by God, to accomplish his mission. He could hear the scripture, “I’m confident of this very thing that He that has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

  He tidied up his apartment a bit when he got home. He removed his parent’s wedding album from the paper bag and placed it carefully beneath the altar in his prayer room. He didn’t know what the outcome was going to be, but he was sure that God was going to do something to turn the hearts of his people around.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  The next work day, there was serious counseling to be done. David would be meeting with Darlene Smith for session three. From the moment she entered his office that Tuesday morning he knew that things had gotten worse. He recognized the spirit of depression by the way she carried herself. Her mood was cooperative but nonchalant. He wanted so much to chase that spirit of depression away, by sharing the love and hope of Jesus Christ. But even though this was a Christian counseling organization, there were limitations placed on spirituality. They also had to clinically treat their patients according to state regulations.

  “Are you going to share the results of my test from the last session?” Darlene asked.

  “Yes, I am,” David said, still closely observing her behavior. “Are you anxious to know my findings?” he asked.

  “Well, I just, well, for lack of a better term, want to find a quick fix for my situation,” she said.

  “That’s interesting,” David said. “I don’t think the situation happened overnight.”

  “Of course not!” she said defensively.

  “Yet, you would like an overnight fix,” he continued. She was silent and stared out the window.

  David retrieved some papers from his bottom right drawer. “First of all,” he said, “you’re a loyal wife and a concerned parent. You are a very analytical person,” he continued. “Things either work for you or they don’t. You like things orderly. You don’t stagger in the middle of the road. You like direct answers. You wish people would treat you the way you treat them. You’re very proud of your Christian upbringing and the direction you have chosen as a career. You expect two plus two to equal four. You expect hydrogen plus oxygen to produce water and you expect the person you give your love to, to give you back that same love. Am I right so far?” he asked. Darlene nodded her head.

  “Yet when conditions are favorable for one result, but they produce something else, you feel your world is falling apart, because that’s not the way you were raised. That’s not the way you studied it and that’s just not fair. You see, Darlene, in a perfect world all things would work correctly and all people would act right. But we live in an imperfect world. Your mind has had some difficulty processing data that doesn’t make sense and the reaction has shown through your body’s health. Sometimes it’s weight loss and sometimes it’s weight gain. We can’t really fool ourselves into thinking that everything is alright for very long. Our senses are stronger than our bodies. Our intellect is difficult to override. You need to tell yourself the truth no matter how painful it may be. Now that I’ve given you my official report for the record, may I give you the unofficial report?”

  “I don’t understand,” she said, looking puzzled.

  “Darlene, your problem is more spiritual than it is natural. Let me explain,” he said standing up and walking to the front of his desk to be closer to her. “Do you believe that God wants your marriage to succeed? Think carefully before you answer.”

  Her eyes widened and she shifted in her seat as she tried to ponder his question. After a few seconds of silence, she sat up very directly and looked him in the eyes.

  “Absolutely,” she said.

  “Do you believe,” asked David, “that there is an enemy who very strongly desires your marriage to fail?”

  “I never thought about it that way, but yes I do,” she answered.

  “Whose side are you leaning on in this war?” he asked her.

  “I’m on God’s side,” she said strongly.

  “Then repeat after me. My marriage, come on, my marriage.”

  “My marriage,” she said, repeating after him.

  “Will succeed because God wants it to succeed.” She repeated his sentence with a new found boldness.

  “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” David continued.

  “I can,” she said standing to her feet, “do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

  “No weapon formed against me shall prosper,” he said, sounding like a preacher.

  She repeated his last statement looking up toward the ceiling as if she saw someone there. Then a very large smile appeared, that he had not seen before. “You know what, I feel better,” she said.

  “If you will continue to confess this,” he said, “no matter how the situation appears now or even if it seems to worsen, things will change. Your entire situation will be turned around.” She seemed a different person, as she walked out the door. As soon as it closed he threw a punch in the air with his fist and said, “take that devil.”

  The feelings of victory he cherished for the next few hours were stolen after he returned home. The flashing light of the police car spelled trouble. He wondered what was happenin
g now, as he parked his car and hurried to his apartment. The problem was obviously connected to the new neighbors. David climbed the flight of stairs, not knowing what to expect. All was quiet in the hallways. He put his key in the door just as the officer opened the neighbor’s door. He was wearing a badge that read ‘Sheriff.’ David spoke to him, as their eyes met for that one second. The sheriff said “good evening” and started to descend the flight of stairs. There was no hint of what had summoned him. He would have to wait and ask Brenda the next time he saw her, he thought. Surely she wouldn’t mind answering a few questions from her concerned neighbor. He had barely made it to his bedroom, when he heard loud voices. They were muffled but it was obvious that they were angry. He wasn’t quite sure what he should do; knock on the door, call the police or pray. Then he remembered that he was in a spiritual war. He quickly undressed and prepared for bed. But instead of going to bed, he went into the prayer room and prayed.

  He prayed a fervent prayer for the marriage of the McCains. He also prayed for the Smiths and for his sister. Finally he prayed for his parents. In his prayer, he rebuked the enemy and every device being used against the people of God. He had not eaten since yesterday evening but was not particularly hungry. He was fasting because he knew this would strengthen the prayer life he so desperately needed. He wasn’t sure when the voices had calmed down to where he couldn’t hear them.

  After prayer, he saw that an hour had passed. Although he had worked at the office later than usual, he saw that it was still only 8:30 p.m. He felt forces drawing him to the television but he resisted and grabbed his Bible instead. He clearly heard II Corinthians 4:8 in his spiritual ear. He found the passage and read it aloud.

  “We are troubled on every side but not distressed, we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” Reading aloud helped to drown out the other voice that he heard. The tormenting voice that said, ‘why are you choosing to be unhappy?’ Who do you think you are? What makes you think God is using you? You can’t really make a difference in people’s lives. You should be doing things that will make you happy.

  He continued to read II Corinthians 4:16-18 and resist the voice. “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen; but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

  He was enjoying reading the scriptures as they seemed to add strength to his soul. Yet for some unexplained reason, a great heaviness of sleep overcame him.

  David stood to his feet and applauded. His sister’s solo was beautiful! She had sung with such conviction, that she was moved with tears herself. He thought he had heard the song before, but was not sure. Such simple words. “From generation to generation, thou hast been our dwelling place. Will you now restore us with your mercy and your grace? Lord, break we now all images that don’t reflect your love, we turn from selfish pleasures and seek Thy face above.”

  “Sing it again,” David shouted. He wasn’t sure if she heard him above the applause of the audience. He looked around and saw weary faces now applauding his sister. Both men and women. Her song caused not only applause, but people were dropping to their knees in what appeared to be an open act of repentance. David was shocked. Had this one song brought about a conviction so great that there was a mass repentance? He looked among the crowd for familiar faces.

  His eyes continued to search the room until he found someone that looked a lot like his mother. He could only see the profile because she was turned around talking to someone. They were so far in the back that he wasn’t sure if they had heard Stephanie’s song. David waved his arms in the air to try to get her attention. “You need to hear Steph’s song!” he yelled. “Mom, did you hear Steph’s song?” Then he began to weep. Exhausted from trying to get his mother to hear Steph’s song, he turned again to his sister and said, “Please sing it again.” The melodious voice of this teenager again caused a hush over everyone there as she began, “Lord from generation to generation thou hast been our dwelling place.” David joined in with his voice to sing the next line.

  He sang so loudly that he woke himself up singing. Staring in the darkness at the ceiling, he immediately lost the beautiful melody.

  “What were those words?” he whispered into the silence. Not being able to find even a hint of the correct tune, he turned over again and fell back asleep.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  David found it difficult to keep his mind focused on his work that next day. He kept trying to remember Steph’s song. He had written down the parts he could remember. Every time he thought he had remembered a line, the words just didn’t sound right. The song he heard was so sincere, so beautiful, so convicting. He was about to leave for lunch when the phone rang at his desk.

  “Mr. Edwards,” he answered.

  “Hello son, how’s it going?” the voice asked on the other end. David was quite surprised to hear this cheerful voice calling him at the office.

  “I can’t complain,” he said. “How are you?”

  “Doing great son, listen, have you had lunch yet?” he asked.

  “No, I, well no I haven’t,” David answered hesitantly.

  “How about meeting your old man at the diner down the street? I think it’s called Cindy’s Diner. Hey, it’s my treat. I think we’re overdo for a talk. Can you meet me there by 12:30? It’s a quarter after now.”

  “Sure Dad,” David answered. I’ll be glad to see you. Take care.”

  He hung up the phone and fiddled around the office for about eight minutes. The diner was no more than 6 minutes away, if you walked. David figured walking could do him some good.

  When he arrived, his father was already seated at a corner booth that faced the entrance. It was exactly 12:30 and the diner was only half full. Mr. Edwards smiled and beckoned for him to come back there. “Thanks for coming son. I know it was a last minute invitation. How’ve you been?” he asked in a fatherly tone that was laden with guilt.

  “Are you and Rose talking again?”

  “We’ve never stopped talking Dad. We just have some issues that need working out,” David explained. “What about you?” David asked.

  “Well, your mother and I have been separated about two years now. I thought I should tell you that I’m going to file for divorce soon,” he said nervously.

  “How soon?” David asked, sensing an urgency in his father’s tone.

  “Next week,” his father answered. “I think it’s time to bring this prolonged situation to a halt. We need to move on with the rest of our lives.” The words seemed to sting David. He felt numb. He wanted to get up and walk out, but that would be childish. He said nothing at first. He turned his attention to the large picture window and watched the cars go by.

  “David, I know this couldn’t be a complete shock. After all, we’ve been separated for two years.” David turned to his father and looked him in the eyes.

  “Dad, do you think divorce is the answer?” he asked as nicely as he could. However there was a rather sharp edge to his tone.

  “Son, I don’t know what the answer is, but I can’t just continue to live like I’m living. After all, I’m not an old man. I do have some plans for my life that I’d like to follow.” He stopped talking, as a waitress approached his table. “What can I get you today?” she asked, while passing them two menus. “The special today is tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches and the fruit of the day. It’s only $4.50,” she said pulling a pad out of her white apron pocket.

  “That sounds good to me,” the elder Edwards said. “How about you David?”

  “I’d just like coffee,” he said. “I’m not very hungry.”

  She scribbled on her pad and asked Mr. Edwards what he’d like to drink.

  “I’
ll have a coke,” he said.

  “Would your plans happen to include a certain young woman you’ve been seen with lately?” David asked almost rhetorically.

  His father leaned in to get better eye contact with David.

  “Alright,” he said, “man to man, I think you’re mature enough to understand. Melanie and I are in love. We want to get married. She wants to maybe start a family with me. I know I’ve made some mistakes in the past, but I think things will go better for me, this second time around.”

  David did his best to hide his anger. Many things were going through his mind, especially Aunt Tillie’s words about getting in the face of God. His father knew the Bible as well as anyone. Since they were being so honest, he decided not to hold back.

  “Dad,” he said in a very calm voice that even surprised his father.

  “I’m willing to look over what your divorce will do to mom, to Steph or to me, if you can tell me honestly that you’ve gotten in the face of God and he has given you permission to remarry and abandon the vows you made to him 28 years ago. If you tell me that God is pleased with your decision, I’ll give you my blessing.”

  The waitress arrived with the coffee and coke just as David stood to leave.

  “I’m sorry I won’t be staying,” he said, as he headed toward the door. His father was too upset to try to stop him. He sat there and stirred his coke with a straw until he could gather his wits about him.

  David returned to the office and closed the door. He didn’t want to see anyone until he figured out what to do next. Should he tell his mother? No, that wouldn’t be wise. Besides it wasn’t his place to do it. He would continue to fight the spiritual war with the best weapon he knew about. He would increase his prayers to three times a day. He wished he had someone to talk to, but he was really too ashamed to tell anyone, even Aunt Tillie, that his father said he loved another woman.

  Feeling wounded and depressed, David left the office an hour earlier than usual. He went to the supermarket and bought the ingredients for homemade chili. It was really the only recipe he mastered while away at college. Somehow chili always made him feel better.

 

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