Beloved Physician by Al Lacy Read Free Book Online

antagonism well up inside her, but said nothing.
    Mabel dropped the washcloth into the bucket of water, hurried out the door, and into the hall. As she headed toward the front door, she said in a whisper, “Please, dear Lord, let them get somewhere with Cassandra.”
    On Sunday, the Logans fully enjoyed the teaching and preaching and the fellowship of the solid Christians in the church. That evening after the service, they had Pastor and Mrs. Shane to their home for a light snack.
    While they were sitting together at the dining room table and enjoying the food Tharyn had prepared, Dr. Dane said, “I noticed that Mabel Downing was alone in both services today. She must be having a hard time with her niece, trying to get her to come to church.”
    Pastor Shane and Peggy exchanged glances; then the pastor nodded and looked at the doctor. “Yes, she is.
Quite
a hard time. Peggy and I went to the Downing house yesterday morning and talked to Cassandra.”
    “Oh, you did?”
    “Yes, but that girl’s heart is hard when it comes to the things of the Lord. She was not impolite at that point, but she made it clear that she wants nothing to do with our church or the Bible, and she flat told us she is an atheist.”
    “Oh, I see,” said Dr. Dane.
    “This has to be very difficult for Mabel,” put in Tharyn.
    Peggy nodded. “That it is, Tharyn. We’ve known that Mabel was having a hard time with Cassandra ever since she came to live with her. Mabel winced with pain when Cassandra told us that she believes when people die, they simply pass out of existence; there is no heaven and there is no hell.”
    Pastor Shane sipped his coffee and placed the cup in its saucer. “We both gave her a lot of Scripture concerning God’s existence and used common sense to go with it, but the girl refused to pay any heed to either. I went ahead and preached the gospel to her, wanting to plant the seed of the Word in her heart and mind. She would not respond at all. When we were about to leave, she did get somewhat impolite and told us she didn’t want us talking about it to her ever again.”
    “Poor Mabel was so embarrassed,” said Peggy. “My heart really went out to her.”
    Dr. Dane sighed. “Well, Tharyn and I will be praying for Cassandra, that the Lord will use the Scriptures the two of you gave her to open her eyes to the truth. I’m sure Mabel has been planting the seed of the Word in the girl’s heart, too.”
    The pastor nodded. “Without a doubt. She’s obviously very burdened for her. And please pray for Mabel. This situation is indeed extremely hard for her.”
    “We certainly will hold Mabel before the Lord, too, Pastor,” said Dr. Dane.
    On Monday afternoon, Mabel had Cassandra in the sewing room with her. She was doing some necessary sewing and was attempting to teach her niece how to sew at the same time.
    Though Cassandra was not the least bit interested, she acted as if she was.
    In between comments about sewing, Mabel talked about Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, what He did for sinners in His crucifixion,and His resurrection after He had died on the cross. When Mabel had brought up Jesus and His crucifixion for the fifth or sixth time, Cassandra said, “Aunt Mabel, I very much appreciate your taking me into your home, and am deeply grateful, but please don’t talk to me about your religion.”
    Mabel’s eyebrows arched. “Religion? Have I mentioned religion?”
    “Well, yes. You keep talking about God and Jesus and that kind of thing.”
    “Honey, I’ve been talking to you about salvation. You don’t need religion, but you need salvation, and that salvation comes only by repenting of your sin, believing on Jesus, and receiving Him into your heart as your own personal Saviour.”
    Cassandra drew a breath of air through her nose and let it out the same way. “Aunt Mabel, I don’t believe in God, so I certainly don’t believe in the Son of God. When somebody dies, they don’t come back from the dead. I do