Christiana

by Jim Pappas

  "A man there was,

  though some did count him mad,

  The more he cast away,

  the more he had."

  Then they all gave good heed, wondering what good Gaius would say. So he sat still awhile, and then replied thus:

  "He that bestows his goods upon the poor,

  Shall have as much again and ten times more."

  Then said Joseph, "I dare say, sir. I did not think you would figure that one out so quickly!"

  "Oh," said Gaius with a smile, "I have been trained up in this way a good long while. Nothing teaches like experience, you know. I have learned of my Lord to be kind, and have found by experience that I have always gained thereby. As Holy Scripture says,

  'There is that scatters,

  yet increases;

  and there is that withholds more than is meet,

  but it tends to poverty.'

  And again it says that,

  'There is that makes himself rich,

  yet hath nothing;

  there is that makes himself poor,

  yet hath great riches'."

  Then Samuel whispered to Christiana and said, "Mother, this is a very good man's house. Let us stay here a long while. And let my brother Matthew be married to Mercy before we go any farther."

  "Shhh. Hush, child," answered Christiana quickly. But not before those good words had come to the sharp ears of Mr. Gaius, who answered, "I heard that wise whisper. And a right fine idea it is too!"

  "A fine idea when the time comes," answered the protective mother.

  "When the time comes! My dear Christiana! 'Tis plain as the nose on . . . on, uh . . . now let me see. Ah! Mr. Honest has a fine Roman nose. 'Tis as plain as the nose on Mr. Honest's face that the flower has budded, blossomed, and is in danger of wilting."

  "Flower?" queried Samuel.

  "We speak of a blossom that never grows old, Mr. Gaius," returned Christiana. "It rather grows more lovely with age."

  "Blossom?"

  "Well, Madam! Pray tell, how sweet does a rose have to be before we can share its perfume with our guests? 'Tis plain as Old-honest's nose that . . ."

  "Rose?"

  Now at this point, Gaius' speech was interrupted by gales of laughter from Phoebe who was being royally entertained by James' brand of animated humor.

  "Why, look at these two young couples, Christiana. They are so taken with each other's company that they haven't heard a word we've said. 'Tis time for action and only action will do. Therefore, I . . ."

  But before Christiana could veto the motion, or Gaius could make it, Matthew turned away from Mercy and said, "A hem! A hem. Uh, excuse me, please."

  "Yes?" answered Gaius in mid-speech while the whole company went silent. All turned and gave heed to Matthew (or I should say nearly all, for James and Phoebe, lost in their own world, had withdrawn to a corner and seemed to be discussing something of grave import).

  Then said Matthew, "I am sorry to interrupt whatever you were saying, dear host. But I . . . that is, Mercy . . . Well I mean us . . . er, rather we, - have an announcement to make."

  Matthew: "We have an announcement to make"

  Then Gaius and Christiana looked at each other questioningly and said simultaneously, "Oh?"

  "Yes. We, with my mother's permission of course, are . . . uh . . . engaged."

  "Engaged!" sputtered Samuel.

  "S . . . since when?" stammered Christiana.

  "Well," answered Matthew, casting a loving glance at Mercy who blushed and lowered her head, "we discussed it while you and Mr. Gaius were talking over by the fire. Perhaps we should have told you earlier. I'm sorry."

  "Sorry!" said Gaius and Christiana as one voice.

  "I knew the time was right!" exclaimed Gaius triumphantly.

  "I knew they would discover it on their own," responded Christiana confidently.

  Then said Christiana and Gaius in joyful unison, "We were both right!"

  Meanwhile James and Phoebe, oblivious to any but themselves, were still talking intently in the corner.

  "Might we stay here for a time, Mother?" requested Matthew. "And might we be married in your home, Mr. Gaius?"

  "Yes. Yes, of course we can stay!" answered Christiana enthusiastically. "We would love to stay!"

  "My home is yours for as long as you need, Matthew," answered Gaius with his face beaming. Then, after casting a quick glance at James and Phoebe who neither saw nor heard him, he added, "and we are certainly happy to have weddings here. Indeed, it takes our hearts back to the gate of Eden where God blessed our first parents and sent them into the garden for their first Sabbath together. Have you exchanged tokens yet?"

  "Well, this all came up rather suddenly so I still need to get a ring. But Mercy has given me hers."

  "What is it, Matthew?" asked Christiana, curiously.

  "'Tis this!" announced he, holding forth a small golden key that glowed softly in the candle light. Yea, some that were present reported that it seemed to glow warmly of its own accord.

  "What key is this, Mercy?" asked Christiana.

  "'Tis the key to my heart," answered Mercy shyly.

  "'Tis also called the key of promise," added Matthew proudly. "'Twas with this key that my father blinded the eyes of giant Despair and so lived to pray another day."

  "Where did you get it, Mercy?" asked Christiana.

  "From the Interpreter," answered she. "He gave it to me just for such a time."

  "Ah! So this is your secret."

  "Part of it, yes."

  "'Twas no doubt sent back for us at my husband's request," observed Christiana.

  "And what better time to bring it forth than at the giving of your promise, dear Mercy," said Gaius. "This is the key that saved dear Christian's life. And I doubt that its work is done. May God bless you both."

  "Thank you," answered Matthew and Mercy together.

  "Time for a cheer!" cried Joseph. "Ready? Hip, hip . . ."

  "Hold it! Halt! Er . . . uh . . . er, rather . . . uh, excuse me," interrupted James.

  "What's up James?" asked Joseph. "We were about to cheer Matthew's engagement."

  "Engagement?"

  "Yes."

  "To whom?"

  "To Mercy, of course! Where have you been?"

  "Well, I've been, er, uh . . . busy. Uh . . . congratulations, Matthew."

  "Thank you, James."

  "And to you, Miss Mercy."

  "Thank you, James."

  "Ready to join in now?" asked Joseph, a bit impatiently.

  "I, uh . . . almost. A hem. Mother?"

  "Yes, James?" answered Christiana, a bit puzzled over James' curious behavior.

  "I'm sorry to interrupt your cheer, but I . . . that is, Phoebe . . . I mean, us . . . er, rather we - have an announcement to make."

  "When it rains it pours, eh Great-heart?" whispered Old-honest.

  "Aye," answered Great-heart softly. "Perhaps we should build an ark."

  "What is it, James?" asked Christiana.

  "Well, us . . . I mean, we . . . that is, Phoebe and I have hit it off so well, and see so eye to eye on everything, that we, with your and Mr. Gaius' permission of course, want to be married."

  "What's going on here?" asked Samuel in utter astonishment.

  "We're about to gain two new sisters, cheer master," answered Joseph.

  "I know about Mercy. But who . . . ?"

  "Where have you put your eyes, lad? James hasn't seen, heard or felt anything else since he met her this afternoon."

  "Phoebe?"

  "Yes, Phoebe."

  "But, so soon? How can this be?"

  "I'll explain later. For now, join us in our cheer. Ready, Mother?"

  Christiana nodded as best she could in her state of shock.

  "Mr. Gaius?"

  Gaius nodded proudly and sent a quick wink to Phoebe who responded with a joyous smile. James, thinking the wink was for him, smiled broadly and gave Mr. Gaius the thumbs up sign.

  "Hip hip . . . " sh
outed Joseph.

  "Hurrah!" answered all.

  "Hip, hip . . . "

  "Hurrah!"

  "Hip, hip . . . "

  "Hurrah!"

  "Hurrah! Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!" shouted one and all. Then was there such a scene of hand-shaking and back-thumping as is seldom seen on this old earth. In the midst of it all, Christiana and Gaius sought each other out and said to each other, "I told you so." Then they both laughed and went to congratulate the newly engaged.

  And so, after a suitable period of engagement, the young couples were married. This, in accordance with the laws of Him who ordained that man should not be alone. After the weddings, which were events attended by many from far and wide (and I suspect by many an unseen angel), Gaius invited the party to stay with him for a good long time, which they did.

  The Marriage of Matthew and Mercy

  During their sojourn at the house of Gaius, Mercy, as was her custom, took up the ministry of that woman named Dorcas who was resurrected by Peter. She began by making coats and garments to give to the poor, by which she created no small amount of good will towards all pilgrims.

  Mercy making coats and garments to give to the poor

  Now one evening the men and patriarchs among them stayed up to engage in pleasant conversation. They spoke of prophets and kings, of things past and things to come, all to their edification and interest. But, lively and heated as the conversation was, Old-honest finally began to nod off. Then said Great-heart:

  "I say, sir!"

  "Hmm? Wha?" stammered the old gent with a start.

  "Are you getting drowsy so early?"

  "Who, me? No." answered Honest, rubbing his eyes.

  "Come, rub up, old boy. Here. I have a riddle that ought to keep you awake."

  Old Honest proposes a riddle

  "Eh? A riddle, do you say? (yawn) Very well, then. Let's hear it."

  Then said Great-heart:

  "'He that will kill

  must first be overcome;

  Who live abroad would,

  first must die at home.'

  "Do tell, Old-honest, of whom or of what do I speak?"

  "Hmmm," answered he. "'Tis a hard one indeed - hard to explain and harder still to practice. But come, dear landlord, let me pass the ball to you. Expound to us from thy great fount of wisdom and we shall sit as students at thy feet."

  "Oh, no. No, no, no," protested Gaius. "The ball was served into your court and it is your place to return it."

  "Hmm. All right then. Let me attempt to answer in verse," replied Old-honest,

  "He - first by grace must conquered be, -

  That sin would mortify;

  And he who comes to convince me

  Unto himself must die."

  "Bravo!" cried Gaius with a clap of his hands. "Right you are. Now, may I repeat your thoughts in words fit for a child?"

  "'Twas thus that our Lord Jesus did teach." answered the old man. But I'll warrant you, it requires no small genius to wrap heavenly dreams in earthly words as He did."

  "Let me make the attempt," offered Gaius. "What you have said is this: that until a boy or girl has fallen in love with Jesus, they have neither the will nor the desire to resist the evil that lies within."

  "Aye," agreed Honest. "Now, can you illustrate?"

  "Hmmm, yes. Let us represent sin as being composed of a stout cord."

  "Granted."

  "And suppose we have a child who is wrapped up in this cord tight as a mummy."

  "Aye. Go on."

  "Now. Here comes the devil with an evil look in his eye to snatch that child off to some dark and evil place. Can that child fight him off?"

  "Not all bound about by the cords of sin like that."

  "What does he need?"

  "He must be set free!"

  "Which means . . . ?"

  "He must be converted."

  "Ah! Right you are, Mr. Honest. He must be turned from the service of self to the service of Christ."

  "Agreed," answered Honest with a nod. "But pray tell, sir. How does such a change take place? Is the child swept up by some wave of overpowering emotion which leaves him free?"

  "Nay. A child who would be given a new heart must first see Jesus as He really is - a prince who is kind, merciful, full of love and compassion - one who longs to lead young lads or lassies into high adventures of victory."

  "So they read about, and hear about, and think about the Lord, and thus come to see Him as He really is. And then?"

  "They come to realize their helpless state and confess that they are bound about by the cords of their own wickedness."

  "Aye. And then?"

  "Then they say to their Master:

  Lord, as you are,

  I would like to be.

  Come, give me a new heart

  and make me just like thee."

  "Ah! They choose Jesus as Lord and Master! They ask Him to give them a new heart and forgive all of their sins."

  "Aye, Old-honest," agreed Gaius. "Aye. And then comes the most important part."

  "Which is?"

  "They must believe that he does forgive them. Not because they feel forgiven, but because He has promised."

  "Believing is achieving, eh?"

  "Indeed. Well said. Or as another has put it, 'believing is seeing'."

  "So, dear Gaius, let me see if I understand your process. 'We are sinners. We cannot atone for our past sins; we cannot change our hearts; we cannot make ourselves holy. But God promises to do all this for us through Christ. We believe that promise. We confess our sins and give ourselves to God. We choose to serve Him. And just as surely as we do this, God will fulfill His word to us. If we believe the promise . . . believe that we are forgiven and cleaned, God supplies the fact. We are made whole. It is so if we believe it is so'!"

  "Exactly," affirmed Gaius.

  "Wonderful words of life, these," said Great-heart.

  "Aye," agreed Honest. "But tell me, Mr. Gaius. When this choice is made, will there come some great wave of ecstasy?"

  "Perhaps so, perhaps no. It makes no difference; for feelings have no part in this matter. The choice in our mind is recorded in heaven and a new heart, with new desires and goals, is put within us. We must not wait to feel that we are made whole, but rather we must say, 'I believe it!; it is so, not because I feel it, but because God has promised!'"

  "Hear! Hear!" put in Great-heart. "Good words, these."

  "But do tell, dear Gaius," asked Honest. "I have known many who have come this far and then fallen back. How do we keep this new heart?"

  "Ah! A good question - but one with a simple answer."

  "Say on."

  "Now that we have given ourselves to Jesus, we must not draw back or take ourselves away from him."

  "Umm hmm."

  "Rather, day by day we must say, 'I am Christ's - I have given myself to Him.' We must ask Him to give us His Spirit and keep us by His power."

  "And," added Mr. Honest, "we must feed on Him."

  "Indeed," agreed Gaius. "'Tis a law of life that we become like that which we behold. Therefore, we must barricade the doors and windows of our souls against the sights and sounds of evil. We must instead open them wide to the words and works of Christ. We can also behold Him in nature, in His providential leadings, and in the promptings of His Spirit."

  "But what if we do not feel like beholding Him?"

  "We don't have to feel like it, dear Honest. We just have to do it! Are we not like warriors training for battle? Is not the word of God both our food and our weapon?"

  "Hear! Hear!" said Great-heart.

  Then continued Gaius, "The soldier does not complain about the discipline he must endure at boot camp - for he knows that it may one day save his life."

  "Aye."

  "Neither does the athlete grumble because he must run the same course a thousand times before the actual race."

  "Hmmm. Aye, true enough."'

  "Then shall we, the heirs of eternal life, murmur and compla
in because there is discipline involved in gaining an immortal inheritance?"

  "Nay!" declared Great-heart. "And, unlike the warrior and the athlete, the more of Christ's discipline we endure, the easier it becomes."