Esdras did it. He accepted the offer and killed his daughters in the faith. Hmmm. So how is it going to end?
I stand there, bated breath, as I stare at the stiff, cold bodies of my two girls lying before me.
I’m done. I actually did it.
I killed them.
A wave of shock engulfs me for a moment.
Goodness gracious me! I just killed a human being… wait, sorry, I just killed two human beings!
Never in all my forty-two years of life did I ever think I would find myself in such a situation. That I would be the cause of someone’s death. Much less two.
And not just any two people. Two of my daughters in the Lord! Two beautiful daughters of God. My goodness!!
Then, a wave of sadness follows.
Those two lifeless bodies once housed beautiful souls. Two wonderful young women who were so helpful, so pleasant, so sweet…
Memories of me and them moving together immediately flash through my brain…
Memories of us praying fervently together, asking the Spirit to bless the works of our hands every time we got ready to evangelize to others. Memories of us speaking to people about their need for the Saviour of the world. Memories of us talking about vulnerable aspects of our lives: me telling them about my wife abandoning me after I became a follower of Jesus, them telling me about all their struggles in life…
So many memories rushing through.
Good Lord, what have I done?! I’ve killed two innocent, wonderful daughters of God for no good reason!
Regret begins to seep in.
Maybe… maybe this was a terrible idea after all. Maybe I let my emotions have the better part of me and I accepted this without thinking. Maybe I should have…
No! No! Wait! Stop!
I vigorously shake my head to shake myself out of my muddled state of mind.
Come back down to reality, Esdras! Come back down!
I take a deep breath and remind myself of everything I said before I left the cell.
This was the right thing to do.
As I stand there right now, they’re probably locked in the arms of Jesus in the sweetest embrace ever. They’re happy. Happier than they ever were on this earth. Pulling the trigger on them might have seemed cruel, but remember, they’re now where they deserve to be: with the One who loves them more than life itself.
So stop with the guilt, Esdras. You did the necessary thing. You gave them the ultimate freedom.
So now it’s time for yours.
Finally. After so many months of hell on earth, it’s finally time for me to walk out those doors and get back to real, proper life. There’s a lot of work to be done. People out there need Jesus and-
“GRAB HIM!!!”
Before I can finish my thoughts, two strong soldiers descend upon me and grab me by the shoulders, roughly dragging me.
Panic and fright immediately take over. What the heck is going on?
Struggling with them, I demand, “What are you doing? Why are you holding me like this? Haven’t I killed the girls? What’s the problem?”
They ignore me and drag me to the point where the corpses of the girls lie. I struggle with them for a moment before one of them lets a boot fly into my abdomen.
“OOOOOOOOOOWWW!” I scream in agony, keeling over from the impact of that kick.
What is going on? Where is this sudden aggression coming from? I did what I was instructed to do. What’s their problem?
Then the two of them hold each hand and pull hard, leaving me stretched. I cry out in more pain; they’re yanking so hard, my shoulders could easily pop out of their sockets.
And then, another soldier standing back grabs a rifle.
And aims it straight in my direction.
My eyes widen in fright as I see this.
Horror overload!
But, but, how can this be happening?
Why are they doing this?
I don’t understand!!
“No! Stop!” I scream frantically. “I killed the girls! This wasn’t part of the plan! You said you’d free me if I shot them! Stop!”
“Stupid man!” the soldiers sneer as they continue to keep me stretched out wide. The soldier with the rifle has it aimed squarely at my forehead.
Oh my God! I can’t believe this!
I signed a deal with the devil! I should have known this wouldn’t inure to my benefit in any way. How could I have believed these evil men would do something good for me?
How could I have believed they would honestly and truthfully keep their end of the bargain and let me go?
It was a trap! A freaking trap! And goodness me, I fell into it! So easily!
Good Lord, what was I thinking?
Oh God, I wish I had just said no to the head prison guard. This was a terrible choice…
The rifle is cocked.
This can’t be happening! It just can’t be happening!
“NOOOO! THIS ISN’T RIGHT! THIS ISN’T FAIR…. NO! PLEASE, NO… NOOOOOO–”
Silence, as five bullets crash through Esdras’ brain.
THE END
Sigh. Pastor Esdras, you really made the wrong choice. Signing a deal with the devil is never a wise idea; he’s not got your interest at heart. Sad end to the man of God. Jesus wasn’t joking when He said that he who tries to save his life will lose it; this is a typical example.
Thanks for reading, and continue to enjoy yourself around the State!
