Carol and Jim had been invited to tea at the vicarage, Ed's way of making sure that the Marksons arrived on time, or actually arrived, Jim suspected. The time was amiable and Jim had felt less out of his environment than he had on previous occasions, he was actually beginning to like Ed Fielding. They entered the church through the vestry, and the back row seemed so far away, so this time they settled down on the front row with Mrs. Fielding, Angela. Ed stood at the dais and turned the small wireless microphone that he wore, on, and then coughed. The church hubbub abated and people quickly found their seats, and the little music group prepared themselves to play.
“Good evening, and welcome to Saint Andrews Church, a special welcome if you are visiting us for the first time. Also a special welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Markson, Jim and Carol, Jim will be sharing something of the exciting discoveries of the last few months and the effect it has had on him. That's a little later, so let's start by worshipping our magnificent God, in song, number 475, 'Above All Things'. Again Jim enjoyed the singing, and felt energised by it. There were church notices, prayers and a song by a local singer, then there was a period of about twenty minutes during which several songs were sung, and then Ed introduced Jim, “Jim Markson, whom I think most of you have by now met, has consented to speak to us tonight, a suitable subject for Advent Sunday, a new beginning. Please welcome Jim Markson.”
Jim rose from his seat to a smattering of applause, as he arrived at the small free-standing lectern, he said, “Please no applause, I may be rubbish,” there was a ripple of laughs across the church. Jim delivered his, by now, well rehearsed account of how the 'Revelation' was made and the amazement as the five watched the first of the so called 'God Tapes', and then moved on to how it had affected him personally.
“One thing that has surprised me,” started Jim, “is how little this discovery has affected the world, I had truly expected that there would be queues at church doors, and whole nations converting to Christianity. But that has not happened, the Prime Minister of Israel said to me that as a nation they would have to reappraise their position, but as far as I know the State of Israel has made no moves in any direction other than worship the Ark of the Covenant that we recovered. The team that is, as we speak, wading through the recordings, seems to be analysing them as some kind of threat, rather than a spiritual experience. I know people who have been deeply affected by the 'Revelation', our dear friend Professor Owen Gwilliam, a life-long atheist has embraced the Christian faith. My dear wife Carol, has been least affected of any of us, she has just accepted it as if it were expected, whilst it has left me in a state of confusion.”
“Another thing that has surprised me, is the lack of action from the Christian churches, again I had expected massif crusades, where the church got its message out. At least I expected the church to be explaining the things that were being discovered. I feel that my confusion is from a lack of knowledge about what our discoveries mean. Yes, I now believe in my mind that God exists, but my heart continues as an atheist, so I ask, what do I do now?” Your vicar Ed, tells me that I have to accept Jesus Christ as my Saviour, but what does that mean and involve? Is my belief that God exists, enough to save me, and if it is, save me from what?”
“I have done quite a lot of reading and research since the discovery and hearing God's words, saying that this is man's last chance. The more I research the more confused I get as to what will happen, one prophet says that there will be a seven day period called the 'tribulation', Bible scholars tell me that those seven days are actually years, and so it goes on, with several other figures mentioned in the Bible. If people are to be saved, they need a clear message about what is happening or about to happen. Thank you for listening.”
“Well, you have given us a great deal to think about Jim,” said Ed, “and I want to make this one hundred percent clear, Jesus Himself said this, in John fourteen verse six, 'Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.' That means that no one, yes that's no one, can be saved unless they accept Jesus, Jim. You ask 'saved from what' my answer is from your sin, none of us is perfect, can you say Jim that you have been totally, one hundred percent honest in your thoughts, your deeds, and you words, all of your life? I certainly can't, and unless we are actually totally wrong free, we cannot go to heaven, or pass to the New Earth, we will perish when the end comes, and as you have so aptly proved, Jim, it seems to be ending very soon.”
The service ended with another song, but Jim did not join in this time, he was too deep in his own thoughts, he did not know if he looked like it, but he felt as if the blood had drained from his face. After the service, the usual ceremony of speaking to almost every one of the congregation progressed, and someone pushed a cup of tea into his hand. He noticed someone hovering in the background; they seemed to be waiting for a chance to accost Jim. When Jim, Carol and Ed were almost the only ones left the lurker approached Jim as he was returning his half-empty cup to the table.
“Mr. Markson,” the woman said as she approached, “God has given me a word for you,” she said, “He says you are my instrument, but are not saved, turn quickly and your house will follow.” The woman turned and walked from the church without another word.
“Who was that,” Jim called to the vicar.
“That's Jean Hazelden, she's a bit of a prophetess,” said Ed, “and I have to say that she is rarely off the mark. What did she say?”
Jim repeated what the woman had said as close to verbatim as he could, but added, “She seems a bit weird.”
“Well, we thought that at first,” explained Ed, “but we have learned to listen to what she says. When she started attending here, after she'd moved into that white painted cottage on the extreme east of the village, she frightened of quite a few people. Everyone accepts her now and she really has God's ear.”
“You know Ed,” said Jim, “six months ago I would have thought her crazy.”