by Darrell Case
Chapter 16
As he entered his office, Adam dreaded what he expected to find. Dr. Pear looked up from his seat as he walked in.
"I'm afraid he needs your services more than mine," the doctor said sadly, shaking his head.
"Will he recover, doctor?"
"I don't see how he can. He's been hanging on by a thread for years."
Robert Jr. came into the room. Ignoring Adam, he told the doctor he had arranged for an ambulance to transport his father home. The elderly man lay on the couch, his face frozen in a twisted grimace.
"If I might make a suggestion, Mr. Michaels," the doctor said to Robert Jr.
"Of course, Doctor. What is it?"
"We've done all we can for him on earth. I would advise him to prepare his soul for heaven."
Adam thought Robert Jr. was going to throw the doctor out. Then his shoulders, normally straight, suddenly slumped. Two attendants came in and lifted the ailing man onto the stretcher and carried him out, his son following just a few steps behind. When they were gone, Dr. Pear turned to Adam.
"Stay close, Reverend Wakefield, he really needs you."
Seeing Adam's shocked expression, he hurried to explain.
"He wasn't always this way. He changed after a train accident killed his wife and left him a cripple. He's been bitter ever since."
Adam's first visit to the house that afternoon was a disaster. Jr. was resigned to his father's death, nevertheless he refused to see Adam. Adam was finally able to persuade the butler to allow him in.
Robert Sr. had regained consciousness and lay propped up in bed, his pallor that of a dead man. As Adam walked into the room, the man caught a glimpse of him.
"You come to see if I'm dead yet?" he asked sarcastically. "Sorry to disappoint you, preacher."
"I came because I am concerned for your soul."
"My soul is beyond repair. Now get out and let me die in peace," he scowled.
"Let me pray with you."
"Get out! Jarvis!" he screamed, gasping and choking.
Instantly the butler came in.
"Get him out of here."
"Please come with me, Reverend," Jarvis said gently.
Adam returned to the Michaels' estate each day that week, sometimes with little or no success. The last two occasions he was allowed to pray for the dying man. The last time, he thought he saw a glint of tears in the old man's eyes. Robert had even softened to the point of thanking him for his visits.
At two o'clock Sunday morning, Adam awoke to a loud pounding at the front door. Throwing on his robe, he hurried down the stairs. Running from the servant's quarters, James beat him to the foyer.
Jarvis stood on the porch steps, his face drooping with sadness.
"Mr. Robert said for me to bring you right away," he said, his voice breaking. "Mr. Michaels, he won't last long."
Adam did not waste any time and dressed as quickly as possible. Within five minutes, they were on their way.
As soon as Adam was seated, Jarvis whipped the horses into a run. Adam silently prayed for the elderly man who had let bitterness rob him of joy in his life. Rounding a corner, Adam felt the carriage tip, then right itself. Jarvis did not even slow down. Jarring and bouncing, they charged into the circular drive. His face wet with tears, Robert ran out to meet them.
"Thank God you're here. Father has been calling for you the last hour!"
Jr., not a strong man on a normal day, walked ahead of them with shoulders slumped, his pale face showing signs of little or no sleep. His whole body seemed to tremble as he led Adam up the stairs.
"Thank you for calling me." he said, his voice soft.
On the top landing, Robert turned to face the minister.
"Father's a good man, Pastor. He hasn't always been this way. I remember when I was twelve, he took my whole class to the circus. He laughed harder at the clowns than we did."
As Robert ushered Adam into the room, Dr. Pear nodded to them, then rose from his chair beside the bed. Touching Adam's arm, he left the room and closed the door softly behind him.
Robert Sr. held his hand out to them. He smiled at the minister and his son, all signs of bitterness gone.
"Pastor, it's so good of you to come," he said, his voice clear and steady. "I don't have long on this old earth. I wanted to make amends."
Swallowing the lump in his throat, Adam took the frail man's hand in his. "Mr. Michaels, have you trusted Christ as your savior?"
"Yes, my young friend, I have. Many years ago, I was coming home late one night. It was raining and a man walked up to me and asked if he might share the shelter of my umbrella. I said of course. As we walked along, he asked if I had a shelter from the storm of life. Right there on the street, with the rain pouring off my umbrella, he opened his Bible and led me to Christ. As you may have guessed, this man was D. L. Moody. I became one of his most ardent supporters."
"What happened?" Adam asked softly.
"A train wreck in Ashtabula, Ohio. At least that was my excuse. I lost my beautiful Rachel that night." The man fell silent for a few moments as he recalled the night years before. "We were traveling with our friends, Philip Bliss, and his wife. Just before we crossed the bridge, Philip commented on how heavy the snow was falling. During the terrible crash, we were both thrown clear. Except for some deep cuts, he was unhurt. However, my legs were crushed. We both realized our wives were still in the burning wreckage. He went back and I tried to crawl in but someone stopped me. I have hated the Lord and myself for years. I felt like I died that night too. I have blamed everyone for my loss and made many mistakes. I've made peace with the Lord now, and I want to ask your forgiveness too." Tears flowed freely down his cheeks and a smile spread across his face.
Adam smiled. "How could I not forgive you when all of our sins are covered by the blood of Christ?"
"Thank you Pastor," Robert Sr. said, clasping Adam's hand in his. "Robert, my son," he said, holding out his other hand as his son took it. "I haven't been much of a father to you the last few years. I must ask your forgiveness also."
Hugging his father, sobs wracked Robert's body.
"I don't have much time left. I have asked the Lord to let me live enough to see my son saved before I die. Pastor, would you show him how?"
"I would be happy to," Adam said and opened his Bible. So it was in the early morning of December 25, 1882, as his father passed from life to death, that Robert Michaels Jr. passed from death to life.
RIVER OF FIRE