The Perfect Stranger Page #6

you wouldn't be sitting

here talking with me either.

I wish I could say it

all makes sense now.

I wish I could say that.

More coffee ma'am?

No, this is fine.

I think we are ready for the bill.

Very good sir.

Even I don't like these things.

God doesn't like ties.

I'll note that

for future reference.

Can I have your autograph, sir?

Just in case?

Thank you very much, sir.

Thank you, Eduardo.

I wonder how much

that'll go for on EBay?

I like Eduardo.

He's a humble person.

You kept talking about

the gift of eternal life

...what's heaven like?

Heaven is a really cool place.

People's senses have been so dulled

by living in this broken world,

that you're not going to believe

all the sights, and sounds, smells

colors like you've never seen,

music like you've never heard.

There's a lot of activity, but an

overwhelming sense of peace.

Remember how you felt when you

stood next to the Grand Canyon -

just too awestruck to

possibly take it all in?

Yeah.

Well, heaven is like that...

...only infinitely more.

I feel stupid asking this, but are

the streets really made of gold?

Y'know, describing heaven

to you isn't exactly easy.

It's like describing

snow to the Aborigines -

there aren't many points of

reference for you to compare to.

Just know that what

the Bible says is true,

and it's far greater

than you can ever imagine.

And you're saying I don't have

to do anything to get there?

You're confusing

heaven with eternal life.

I thought they were the same thing.

They're not.

I'm not following you.

Eternal life isn't a place.

It's not even

primarily a length of time.

I am eternal life.

The Father is eternal life.

I'm still not sure I'm getting it.

Just as God is the

source of all physical life,

He's the source of

all spiritual life too.

Look at it this way -

God made your body to

need food, air, and water.

What happens when you

take those things away?

You die.

Right.

The same holds

true for your spirit.

God created your spirit

to be joined with him.

And without him, it's dies -

your spirit has no eternal life.

So when you say the Father

offers me eternal life...

He's offering you himself.

So what's heaven?

Heaven is the place where I am.

But people don't go to

heaven until they die.

True... but you can have

eternal life right now.

Eternal life doesn't begin

when you die,

eternal life begins the moment

you start trusting me.

...that's when I come

to live within you.

You. In me.

Me... the Holy Spirit...

Y'know, I never really understood

the whole Trinity thing...

...the Father, the Son,

The Holy Ghost-

Join the crowd. You weren't

meant to understand it.

Are you saying I'm incapable

of understanding it?

Yes.

God wouldn't be much of a God if

you could fully understand him.

People still haven't figured out

most of creation thing.

I'm still not totally comfortable

with God coming to live inside me.

I like the forgiveness part, but

this other thing...

it is the best part.

You need someone living inside you

who will love you,

and accept you,

want to be around you, even when

you dont feel good about yourself.

Sarah wants to be around me.

Just wait til she's fifteen.

You're bored Nikki.

You were made for

so much more than this.

You're so afraid God's gonna steal

your fun, but you've got it backwards

You're like a kid who doesn't

want to go to Disney World

because she's having too much

fun making mudpies by the curb.

There's no adventure quite

like being hooked up

with the Creator of the universe.

And your first step would be

to let Him guide you out of

the mess you are in at work.

A couple of months ago you found

out some partners in your law firm

were cooking the books on

the firm's billing hours.

You are not involved,

but you know your career would

be jeopardized if they were caught.

Well...

You want to leave, why don't you?

I can't quit.

Without my income, we wouldn't be

able to keep living in that house,

and Matt would kill me if

we had to move again.

There's other law firms -

maybe not as prestigious, but -

for sure with better hours.

I know Sarah

would appreciate that.

Those hours you work late are

hours you'll never get back with her.

She'll be fifteen before you know it.

I know... I just...

I just can't do that right now.

You need someone to give you

strength to make that decision,

because it really

will work out OK.

I know it doesn't

seem like it right now.

That's true.

Matt would be furious... then I'd be

mad at him for reacting that way

...and then he would start...

What if someone lived in you

that could love Matt, even

when he's upset at you?

That seems impossible.

Not with God it isn't.

Here, let me get this...

I owe you one.

Nikki, it's a gift.

I thought they went

through your hands.

No. The spikes were

driven through my wrist

to support the weight of my body.

Are you ready to go?

You and Carlo act like old friends.

We are.

How long have you been

coming to Pepino's?

First time.

And now for the

million dollar question...

what did you drive?

I didn't drive.

Of course you didn't.

You never told me

who sent the invitation?

Suppose this was your

idea from the beginning.

Actually it was yours.

Do you remember when

your dad went away,

and you asked God to come

tell you why it happened?

Not really.

Well I remembered.

And I've been planning

this dinner for a long time.

Will we get together

for dinner again?

That's up to you.

I'm not sure what that means.

Hand me one of your business cards.

That'll tell you how to reach me.

You better be getting home,

Matt's already asleep on the couch.

Matt? No, the game won't

be over for at least-

Tim got sick on the nachos and they

came home after the fourth inning.

Sarah's there, too.

She got scared in the tent and

Stephanie's mom brought her home.

I'm glad you showed up Nikki.

I've enjoyed our time together.

I have too.

Remember, Matt's on your side -

he just hasn't learned

how to show it very well yet.

Just give him time and love him.

Okay.

Give Sarah a big hug for me.

I will.

Thank you.

Until next time.

Hey.

Hey, I'm home.

I'm really sorry

about this morning.

Its okay.

We can talk about it tomorrow.

I'm going to go look in on

Sarah before I turn in.

All right. I'll be right up.

Revelation 3:
20

And Jesus said, "Here I am.

I stand at the door and knock;

If anyone hears my voice and opens

the door, I will come into them

and will dine with them,

and they with me."

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