The Kingdom Land by Bart Tuma Read Free Book Online

you
don’t mind, and I think you’d tell me if you did, what happened
last night?”
    â€œ You mean to my face. That’s a long
story that you wouldn’t want to hear.”
    â€œ Fair enough,” John picked up his
tablespoon and stirred his coffee for no reason than to give Erik
some time to think.
    â€œ Well what about meeting with
Christ, and I take it that’s who you’re referring to when you said
Him?”
    Erik had to answer. He had asked the
first question and he had questions that needed answers. “Yeah, I
mean Christ,” and he stared straight forward. He was trying to
figure out if he should go on or not. Was
this a man he should trust? Everything was
new to Erik.
    John let him be and continued to stir his coffee.
    â€œ I think all that sugar is probably
dissolved by now,” Erik broke the silence between them.
    â€œ Never can be too sure.”
    â€œ You must think I’m a nut or
something, sitting here all beat up, and then not really answering
your question when I’m the one that started this conversation.” The
silence didn’t last long this time.
    â€œ It was Christ. I think. I’ve sat in
church every Sunday my aunt and uncle could get me there, but last
night was the first time I really spoke with Him. He seemed to be
there and be a Him, a person, rather than a sermon.”
    â€œ What did you two have to talk
about?”
    â€œ Nothing really, and everything. I
got in this dumb fight over some dumb girl that I thought I’d like
to get to know. She made it obvious she didn’t want anything to do
with me. After I got literally thrown out of the bar, I didn’t have
any place to go. I parked in my old pickup in the middle of a
prairie in the middle of no where, and I asked Him for help and to
forgive me for avoiding Him for so long.”
    â€œ Sounds like the right place to
start. Do you think Christ heard you?” John asked.
    â€œ I know He did. I can’t explain it,
but I know He did.
    â€œ Before last night I thought I knew
about God. He was up there in heaven somewhere. I thought I knew
about Christians; that they were just dreamers. But now, it’s
different. I sat there in my pickup and He was there with me.
There’s a lot I need to rethink, and I don’t know where to start. I
just know things are different.”
    Erik had turned straight ahead staring into his
coffee as he spoke. “I guess the most amazing fact was I was
actually talking to Him. I’ve known about Him for years, but last
night was the first night I actually talked with Him. And then–I
don’t even know how to explain it, but He answered me. There
weren’t any actual words, but I know He was there, and His arms
seemed to wrap me in His warmth. It’s strange, but I know He was
there.” Erik continued to look down, but he no longer talked.
    â€œ I’m sure He was, Erik.” He heard
John’s words, but still didn’t look at him. “Anytime anyone admits
they need His help and turns to Him, He’ll be there. When a person
admits they need Him, He answers them just like He did for you. We
all need Him, and without Him it’s hopeless. We think we can get by
okay without Him, but we keep coming to dead ends. Sounds to me
like that fight was your dead end.”
    â€œ The fight made me realize some
things. I’ve lived on empty dreams, and never faced the facts. I
used to think Christians were dreamers, but I did the same thing,
but my dreams were empty. I had to admit I’m just a nobody, and
last night that was pretty clear.”
    â€œ Maybe before you felt like a
nobody, but now you’re God’s child.” John quickly corrected
Erik.
    Erik swiveled his stool back to John. Erik no longer
held back, asking question he had asked himself in the middle of no
where in the ‘54 Chevy pickup. The more he talked the easier it
became.
    â€œ I’ve been to church