The Influence (Supernatural Thriller)

by Matthew John Slick

  Mark nodded. “Okay. I’m following you.”

  “But, the thing I want you to realize is that truth also requires a mind. It can’t exist without a mind.”

  Sotare shifted in his seat as he studied Mark’s expression. “Are you following me?”

  Mark tilted his head and asked, “How does truth require a mind?”

  “Simple. Truths are statements about reality like when I said that we were both sitting here. Statements are sentences, communications. Such communications require minds.”

  “Okay, I see what you’re saying.”

  Sotare leaned forward. “But wait, there’s more.”

  Mark smiled courteously.

  “Think about this. It is always true that 2 + 2 = 4 which, incidentally, is a conceptual truth. Also, it is always true that something is what it is. It is always true that something cannot be both true and false at the same time and in the same way. Do you agree?”

  “Yes, that makes sense.”

  “These, among other absolutes, are universal truths. They are always true and are not dependent on people’s opinions or preferences for their validity; otherwise, these truths would change and wouldn’t be universal or absolute. Likewise, their truth is not dependent on when or where you are. 2 + 2 = 4 doesn’t become true at a certain time when before it wasn’t. 2 + 2 = 4 isn’t true if you’re on a mountain but not in a valley. It is absolute. Absolute truths that relate to reality are universal truths. But, if there are universal truths, doesn’t it follow that there is a universal mind since each truth statement only exists if a mind exists?”

  Mark sat up just a little straighter. “Whoa. That was good. I never thought of that.”

  “You see, Mark, I’m trying to show you that the very basis for truth, universal truths, the truths that support logical thought, even universal moral truths, require a universal mind. That mind is God. He is the necessary and foundational requirement for the nature of all universal and absolute truth.”

  Mark sat back in his seat and let the words sink in. “Deep stuff. I see you’ve been thinking about this for a while.”

  “For millennia,” said Sotare with a smile. “I just wanted to reach you where you were at. I know that as an engineer you work with truth in physics, mechanics, and mathematics. You use logic a great deal and you depend on truths being there so you can build on them. I wanted to show you that without knowing it, you were depending on God, but you were never acknowledging him.”

  Mark raised his eyebrows at the realization. “I’ll admit I’ve never thought of that before.” He stared out into the garden as he contemplated the conversation. The foliage made him remember why he was there, which brought his mind back to Jacob’s death, to pain, and finally to suffering. He looked at Sotare.

  “What about suffering? What if it is absolutely true that someone is dying of cancer? Does that mean that God is somehow in the cancer, bringing it about?”

  “No. It means that you know the truth that someone is dying of cancer. It means that things such as that unfortunate reality can be absolutely known.”

  Mark was busily sorting through the sequence of logical concepts. It was taxing, but he was able to follow. A leaf fell behind Sotare. Mark focused on it, watching its rhythmic swaying motion towards the ground. Then another fell and another. He watched them until they had finished their descent then turned his attention back to the discussion.

  “And what does all of this lead us to?”

  “Why, Mark, it leads us to truth and to God.” Sotare smiled slightly and sat back.

  Mark slumped his shoulders a bit. “You’re not getting off that easily. You just said before that God is unchangeable and that whatever he tells us is always true or absolute, or something like that.”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay. Then where does God speak to us, so that we might know his truth?”

  Sotare narrowed his eyes. “That is a great question, Mark. If God encompasses the universe, then how would you, a mere man, recognize his words? What words would he use? What language would he speak? What form would he take? He is so magnificent that if he were to manifest even a sliver of his greatness, you would be destroyed.”

  “Then God is unknowable.”

  “That would seem to make sense, but the truth is, he is knowable. For example, we can know that he exists and that he is true and absolute.”

  Mark realized he was in a battle of wits with Sotare, and he felt very inadequate. But Mark wasn’t dumb, and he also knew that Sotare was engaging him for a reason. He suspected that ultimately this dialogue would lead to more answers.

  “Okay, God is knowable, at least to some degree. But that still does not answer the question I asked. Where does God speak to us so that we might know his truth?”

  “Let me answer by asking you something. Does it seem logical to you that if God is going to communicate to us, he would have to lower himself to our level to do so?”

  “Okay, that makes sense. So, did he speak out of heaven or inspire someone or some people with his words?”

  “More or less. But, in actuality, he did something even greater than inspiring someone and speaking out of heaven. He came from heaven.” Sotare stopped and stared straight into Mark’s eyes. “He did something more profound, more absolute.”

  Mark returned Sotare’s gaze, knowing that he wanted him to think. Sotare sat silently, waiting. Then Mark finally said, “So, are you saying that he became one of us?”

  “Yes.”

  It was Mark’s turn to stare into Sotare’s eyes. “How is that possible?”

  Sotare took a breath. “It is possible because God is God. All he would have to do is voluntarily limit himself to a human level. He would be, so to speak, both God and man at the same time.”

  Mark tightened his lips, cocked his head, and said. “Then who is he?”

  “Don’t you know?”

  Mark thought for a moment more as he tried to think about who or what might be the conclusion of Sotare’s leading questions. “I would guess that God has manifested himself in many forms and in many ways. I would say that he is found in every religion since so many religions point to God.”

  “What if those various religions contradict each other about who God is? Can they all be true?”

  “I suppose not, not totally, maybe partially. But don’t they all seek the one true God?”

  “No.”

  Mark raised both eyebrows. “They don’t?”

  “No.”

  “People in these religions are very sincere. Doesn’t that count for something?”

  “No.”

  “What do you mean, ‘no’? Are you telling me that millions upon millions of sincere seekers of God are all wrong?”

  “No, not all. But being sincere doesn’t make you okay with God.”

  Mark shook his head. “That’s ridiculous. I can’t accept that.”

  “That is correct, you can’t.”

  Mark dropped his shoulders, frustrated yet again. “Wait, that isn’t fair. There are just too many people all over the world who are sincerely trying to find God. You can’t possibly tell me that because they don’t have the exact right truth, or are born in a place where they can’t know the right truth, that they’re all somehow wrong and going to hell.”

  “Why can’t I tell you that?”

  “Wait, is that what you’re saying?”

  “Not exactly. But, Mark, remember, do not subject truth to your feelings. You must be willing to accept the fact that what you want and what you desire have no bearing on what is true, no matter how much you don’t like it.”

  “Sorry, Sotare, but I just can’t accept the idea that God rejects people even if they are sincerely trying to find him.”

  “Then why not walk away? You can close your ears. You can stop listening if you don’t like what is being said. It’s your choice.”

  “I’m glad to know I have a choice. But still, this is about what is fair. It is wrong to condemn sincere people for b
elieving a few things wrong. That isn’t right.”

  “Who said?”

  “Well, me. It just isn’t right.”

  “And who are you to say what is and isn’t right?”

  “Come on, this is silly. It’s common sense.”

  “It is?”

  “Would you stop that? Why don’t you talk to me instead of answering everything with a question?”

  “All right, then. Tell me about what is fair.”

  Mark settled down for a bit, finally feeling he was getting the upper hand, if only a little. “Sincere people shouldn’t be condemned for innocently believing in something false if they are really trying to find the truth. It just isn’t right to say otherwise.”

  “Would you say that sincerity lies within a person’s heart?”

  “Yes,” replied Mark, cautiously already suspecting a trap.

  “Then if you are appealing to sincerity, are you not appealing to what is in you, to something good in you, to something worthy in you, that somehow merits favor with God?”

  “Well, yes. I mean, that is only fair.”

  “Then, Mark, you are really being prideful because you are appealing to self-value, to self-worth, to something good in you in order to merit favor with the Almighty. That is pride, is it not?”

  Mark found himself trapped. It was an unpleasant experience. But it didn’t stop him from resisting.

  “No, pride isn’t the same thing as sincerity.”

  “I didn’t say it was. But when you appeal to something in yourself that you think is of value so as to be worthy enough before God to be accepted by him, then that is pride because you’re appealing to the goodness in yourself as a reason that God should accept you. That, Mark, is exactly what pride is.”

  Mark shook his head slowly without saying anything. Sotare continued.

  “Your idea of what is fair and what is fair according to God are two different things. You are appealing to what is in a person as a standard to judge what God should and shouldn’t do. But that is wrong. God judges all people by the same standard: his own holy, perfect standard. That is why everyone falls short, no matter how sincere they claim to be.”

  “Then God needs to not have such a strict and impossible standard.”

  “I see. So you want God to judge people by a standard that is less than perfect?”

  Mark shook his head in disagreement. “Well, no, but they believe in God. Isn’t that enough?”

  “No. The devil believes in God, too. It doesn’t help him any.”

  Mark stopped. Sotare watched him.

  “But…” Mark paused. “But they believe in God.”

  “Which God?”

  “The only God.”

  “And who is that?”

  Mark shook his head. “This is a bunch of crap. Look, people have faith in God, whichever God they believe in. That is good enough.”

  “Faith is only as good as who you put it in. If you put faith in something false, then it is the same as no faith at all. So if people put their trust, their faith, in false gods, then it is the same has having no faith at all.”

  “I just can’t accept that.”

  Sotare smiled.

  “Why are you smiling?”

  “Because you’re right. You can’t accept it. You don’t want to. It isn’t an issue of what is right. It’s an issue of what you like and don’t like.”

  Mark exhaled strongly in frustration as he rubbed the palms of his hands on his thighs. “If it weren’t for you being an angel and everything I’ve seen, I’d just bail on this whole conversation and walk away.”

  “Exactly. You’d run. You don’t like the truth, so you would want to find something else more comfortable and you’d leave.”

  Mark’s face adopted a straight, bland expression. “You’re making me angry.”

  “Good.”

  “Good?”

  “Yes, good. Absolute truth does that to people.”

  Mark shook his head and looked at the ground. He clenched his jaw for a moment and released it. Sotare continued. “Be a man and face the truth whether you like it or not.”

  Mark looked up at him straight in the eye. “You’re trying to make me angry, why?”

  “I’m trying to make you see. Sometimes it means we have to be strong not only to deliver truth, but to accept it.”

  “Well, you’re pissing me off.”

  “Would you prefer I tell you what you want to hear so you feel better about yourself and everyone else? Maybe we can go into the house and sit in a comfortable chair and I can tell you how wonderful you are.”

  Mark let out a single long exhalation and balled his hands into fists. He looked out of the gazebo at some bushes, anything to focus his mind away from the immediate topic. He shook his head again and said, “You’re being rude.”

  “It is not my intention to be rude. But, Mark, I perceive you as a strong man who desires the facts even if it is uncomfortable. This is how you do your engineering work and this is why you’re good at it. You don’t hide from the tough problems. You don’t ignore them and hope they go away. You face them. You grumble a little, but you tackle them and solve them. You can’t do that by ignoring what isn’t easy. And, as you already know, you can’t do that with finding real truth either.”

  By now Mark was staring intently at Sotare. The angel was obviously right and Mark knew it. He did tackle problems head on. He did enjoy the challenge. Why should he be any different here?

  “You’re a good engineer because you’re strong enough to face difficulties and not be undone by them.”

  Sotare’s affirming words had calmed Mark a bit. Sotare could see that he was reaching him. “There is much more to this than you know, Mark.”

  “Apparently,” said Mark cynically.

  Sotare smiled.

  “You’re good at frustrating me. You keep giving me cryptic answers and not telling me the whole truth. This is difficult and I don’t like it.”

  “I don’t blame you for being frustrated. But, you’ll understand later.”

  “I don’t care for being kept in the dark.” He thought for a moment about everything that had happened in the past couple of days and he knew that there was a great deal he needed to learn. He pondered the idea of Sotare being a demonic deception, but it just didn’t fit. He reasoned that if he were being tricked, he would be told things that he liked rather than disliked. Then he had an idea.

  “Are you being so blunt with me in order to convince me that you are from God?”

  “Partly, and also because you’re a man.”

  “What?”

  “Be a man, Mark. Face the truth; embrace it. Leave childish things behind. Don’t seek to be coddled and babied with easy words and comfortable feelings. Those things aren’t wrong in themselves, but if that is how you carry yourself through life, then you’ll never know the real truth that surrounds you. You’ll only find what you want to find, what is comfortable, and what tickles your ears. That is how people abide in self deception, by not facing the difficult truths around them.”

  “Does truth have to be so hard?”

  “No, Mark. It is people who are difficult. Truth is just that, truth. It corresponds to reality. But as you already know, sometimes difficulties are necessary so you might learn greater truths.”

  Mark pinched his lips together and exhaled forcefully through his nostrils. He looked out at the bushes again.

  “All right,” said Mark carefully, not knowing if he would get a straight answer, “Tell me, which religion is true?”

  Sotare smiled, “Well, I guess you could say that none of them are.”

  ***

  Towards the edge of The Cavern a terror-demon sat gnawing on a rotting tangled carcass. Its strong arms moved under its wings, which had been brought around to conceal the carcass from others. Another creature approached, obviously looking for an opportunity to steal the gruesome remains. The first growled threateningly at the approaching challenger and arched its back, se
nding the intruder into the shadows. Resuming its meal, it gnawed on some small bones, crushing them in its powerful jaws. It snapped another and was about to swallow the fragments when, quite unexpectedly, a rift in space opened next to it. In a single motion, it jumped through. The rip closed.

  Above John’s house, the fabric of space twisted open and the creature fell into the sky. It opened its wings and gaining its bearings, it hovered as it surveyed the area, looking for angels. Seeing none, it glided down through the roof and into the kitchen to rest on the floor. It quickly assessed its environment and tuned in to the sounds coming from the living room. In a kind of smooth, swinging motion it walked towards the living room; in so doing, its left side passed through the refrigerator and then the edge of the doorjamb. Stopping just beyond it, the demon stared at Kathy with black, empty eyes.

  She had settled into watching television and was flipping through the channels. A cold chill brushed across her face and she automatically tucked the comforter tighter around her chin. She glanced at the thermostat and thought about turning it up. She was comfortable, but the room was definitely colder.

  She threw the comforter aside, marched to the thermostat, and turned the gauge up a few degrees. Before she returned to the couch, she retrieved another blanket from a nearby closet. The extra layer helped. But the room grew colder still.

  The demon had short arms that ended in bony hands and long talons. Its ribcage was easily visible through the thin skin of its chest, and small gaping holes resembling unhealed wounds revealed rotting internal tissues. Its face was a distorted deep-red mass of translucent skin draped over protruding bones. Eye sockets were dark and deeply set. Two small horns angled up in the top of its skull and a gash revealed what looked like decomposed brain matter. From its mouth, long sharp teeth forced its lips apart, allowing thick green drool to drip from its chin. It let its wings drag on the floor as it drew closer to examine the woman. It positioned itself between her and the television so that as Kathy watched the TV she was looking directly into its eyes. The creature stared back and moved closer. Kathy shifted under the blanket, getting more comfortable. The demon shifted as well, causing their eyes to meet again. It tilted its head slightly to the left and then straightened.