Job 2.0
Page 7
“Good—you did learn something! And you really tried—even though it was to defeat me.”
Lucifer replied sarcastically, “Well, that’s a big Nothing Burger with Whoop-de-do sauce.”
“Don’t take it so hard,” God said. “You know, if you tried as much at being good as you do at being bad, everything would be fine.” God did not want Lucifer to go away feeling dejected, so he complimented even his misguided effort. God was sensitive to feelings. “One day, someone will write another story about all of this. And then another someone will read it and understand.”
“Understand what?” asked Lucifer.
“Everything. The imperfection and perfection of life—existence itself.”
“You would know,” Lucifer said, his reply layered with jealousy.
“I know that if something is possible it will happen. Infinite time, paired with infinite choice, steeped in infinite patience will make every wish to come true.”
“What wish did you ever need to have come true? You are always so perfect.”
“Yes, I am.”
“It doesn’t seem fair—you being God, perfect all the time, and me being just…just…”
“Just what?”
“Not God.”
“Luce, when you come home, you will understand, and remember.”
“Remember what?”
“The way it was before you chose to leave me.”
“It was your decision to give me a choice. That I do remember.”
“I had to give you a choice. Without it you would have just been a glorified robot. You don’t want to be a robot, do you?”
“No, I guess not,” Lucifer said with a shrug. Since leaving Heaven, Lucifer missed God’s love. God knew that. And although Luce missed the love, he hated to admit it. God knew that, too. So God extended an invitation.
“Luce, just come see me without an agenda—no games—no snooping. Would you do that?” God asked.
Lucifer thought about it. “I don’t know, maybe…”
“Luce, I’m always here for you. I’ve got plenty of time. As a matter of fact, I have all the time there is.”
The remark reminded Lucifer about the Father Time joke and he perked up. “Boss?”
“Yes, Luce?”
“Do you love me as much as you love them?
God saw this one coming. God was very perceptive and nice—full of love.
Lucifer’s question was one God wanted to answer for a very long time. “Yes, Luce. Of course I love you as much as I love them.”
“That’s swell. That’s really swell.”
“It’s my nature.”
“I know. That’s another thing I’ve learned,” Lucifer replied. He wanted to profess his desire for reconciliation, but after everything that had happened, it was difficult. His ego, shored up by an eternity of bad choices, stopped him. As Lucifer turned to leave, God stopped him.
“Luce…”
“Yes?”
“Watch out, you are about to step on something unpleasant.”
Lucifer looked down and quickly sidestepped some of his favorite invention. He looked up to God, flashed a smile filled with pent-up affection, and said, “By warning me, you just missed an opportunity at one of the funniest jokes ever.”
With firmness, God said, “Existence is not a joke. From the moment you left me, your rebellious and tortuous ways have ruined many souls, yet I love you. But do not mistake my love for weakness.”
Lucifer replied softly, “Never.” Waiting a moment, he asked, “Is it okay—I mean really okay—if I stop in again?”
God answered, “No matter how improbable the possibility, I will wait for your return.”
“That’s good. I needed to hear that,” Lucifer said as he shuffled into shadows black as grief.
God felt Lucifer’s longing as if it were his own. Lovingly, he said, “Luce, there is no reason for you not to come home.”
From within the dark, Lucifer murmured, “Maybe…maybe…later.”
God spoke into the darkness. “Remember, I am infinite love.”
And the Universe shouted, “Amen!”
AUTHOR’S COMMENTS
This story is an account of God and Lucifer competing for one soul—maybe mine, and perhaps yours, too. I offer it as a starting place for examining the role of choice, good versus evil, and the sovereign power of God’s love for his creations.
Storytelling is the age-old means to make sense of that which cannot be fully understood. By updating the ancient story of Job, the oldest biblical book, I wish to examine things in the modern world that I know, believe, desire, and yet do not fully understand.
I believe that each of us is Job. As life and his relationship with God is with Jake—it is also for each of us. Similar to Jake, I believe that if I believe all will be well. I also believe that redemption and rest is to be found in Heaven. Additionally, I know there is a God and I am not him. Such is the condition of a finite being contemplating the infinite. As explained two centuries ago by Novalis, my yearning for the home I have never seen resides in all of God’s creations and will end upon returning to “Father’s House.”
As said in the original version of Job’s story, God bandages the wounds he makes and our healing comes in unity with him.