This Present Darkness

by Frank E. Peretti

something

“Can you figure this town, Kate?” he said finally. “It’s like some kind of disease. Everybody’s got the same weird disease around here.”

She was a doll and she had real grit too.

A bit sexist

In the shadow of fear and suspicion, life here was gradually losing its joy and simplicity, and no one seemed to know why or how.

“Well, if the Word of God would change then I’d change, but I guess the Lord won’t back down from what He says, and you know where that leaves me.”

“I preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and there are plenty who appreciate it. Just where is this wedge you’re talking about?”

Apparently Jesus was misguided. He could have kept a lot of friends by wilting and just playing politics.”

“But you want to be crucified!”

“I don’t call that love, Hank.” “I love you all, Alf. That’s why I give you your medicine, and that goes especially for Lou.”

“Jesus!” he heard his mind cry out. “Help me!” His next thought, a tiny, instant flash, must have come from the Lord: “Rebuke it! You have the authority.”

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.

I understand that sometimes the truth of God’s Word can become a divider, an irritation, a stone of stumbling. But that’s only because it remains unchanged, uncompromising, and steadfast. And what better reason could there be to build our lives on such an immovable foundation? To violate the Word of God is only to destroy ourselves, our joy, our peace, our happiness.

His strength is not in his own sword, but in the saints of God. Somewhere somebody is praying!”

we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Suddenly he knew he was not in prison any longer, not really. The gospel of Jesus Christ was not imprisoned, and he and Marshall were now two of the freest men in the world.

He could feel the blade resonating with the worship of the saints, and he could sense the power of God’s presence.