“Aaron, there’s something that you need to remember about these people that were brought back to life. They all died again, eventually. Jesus lives on forever, and so do believers in their next life—that’s the thing called eternal life.”
“Eternal life?”
“It’s the body, Aaron. It’s only a tent, a shell that carries something. The something lives on in heaven or hell while the tent returns to dust. This is what people don’t believe, and that’s why I say if you could see what I see, you would believe. There are angels and there are demons. There is good and evil. And there seems to be some kind of battle going on. I don’t fully understand it but—”
“But, Churchie, I do believe there’s more to life than what we see. It’s just that I never got into the church scene. As my mum would say, it’s just not my cup of tea.”
“So do you believe you will spend eternity with God?
“If you mean go to heaven, I would say yes, but I don’t say that with confidence.”
“But you can know for certain, Aaron.”
Aaron sensed movement. He looked up to see someone coming out of the main entrance, but it was only someone coming out for a smoke.
“Don’t know about that, Churchie.”
“What’s that, Aaron?”
“That you can know for certain.”
“Oh, you can, Aaron.”
Aaron watched the ants again. They just went about their job. They all had a role to play, just doing their part in cleaning up the mess of the world. There was no uncertainty there—they knew their purpose and went about it. Humans were different: most had no idea of their purpose in life. Knowing for certain where you end up when you die must tie in with knowing for certain why you were here in the first place.
<°)))><
The Rev stood there looking at the two bodies.
Kathy and James had formally identified Mackenzie. The other person was yet to be identified and the authorities were unsure if his body should remain in the room. But there wasn’t much credence being paid to what was about to happen so they left the body there.
They all looked to the Rev as if to say it was his show now.
The Rev watched as Kathy and James sat down. The mortuary attendant stood in the background, her white coat blending in with the white walls. The Rev nodded to himself and walked over to the bodies. He stood between the two tables and placed a hand on each body.
“Lord, Father, I’m not sure how to go about this, but I know you are the giver and taker of life. You have put on my heart that you want to restore these people to life.” He bowed his head and waited on the Spirit. He prayed softly.
“Holy Spirit, you are invited into this place. Holy Spirit, you are welcomed into this place.” The Rev repeated these words a number of times. He then paused and waited in the stillness of the Lord.
And the Spirit came.
“Father, God, I cry out for the souls of these people, restore them, bring them back to life now in Jesus name.” Peace came over him, and he felt in his heart that God had done something. He stared at the bodies for a few moments and then went and sat down. He looked over to Kathy and James, who were both staring at the bodies. He bowed his head and spoke to God.
“What happens now?” Kathy asked.
The Rev was silent. He whispered to Kathy. “I don’t know.”
They sat in silence. The bodies were still. The room seemed colder. They stared at the bodies, nothing. James let out a small dry cough that reverberated around the room, and then stood up to stretch his legs.
The Rev had his head bowed, still in silent prayer. He sensed movement and looked up to see James stretching. He bowed his head again. Doubt was trying to force its way in to the Rev’s head but he believed God had done something. The Rev was not going to entertain any thoughts of doubt. His God was a God of miracles. He looked up at James again.
James raised his eyebrows to the Rev and turned to look at his wife. “I think maybe we should go now. It’s getting a bit too cold in here.”
“Yes, I’m getting cold,” Kathy said. “Would it have happened by now?”
The Rev shrugged his shoulders. Were miracles instant? The Rev didn’t know. Faith could be short-lived. “You two go for now. I’ll stay a little longer.”
Kathy walked over to Mackenzie’s body. She turned and looked to the attendant, “Could I see her face one more time?”
The attendant came over and moved the sheet down to show Mackenzie’s face.
Kathy stared hard and gave her a kiss. She started sobbing. “Open your eyes, Mackenzie, open your eyes. Please.”
James came over to comfort her. “I think it’s time we left.” He helped Kathy to the door.
The Rev got up after they left. He walked over to the bodies and laid his hand on them again. “Father, open their eyes. Open their eyes to see Jesus.” He stood there for another ten minutes, then felt the presence of the attendant.
“Sir, I think you need to go now.”
The Rev nodded.
They walked towards the exit, and the attendant opened the door for the Rev. They both heard the sneeze at the same time, and looked back. Both bodies were moving, pushing the sheets away. The attendant screamed.
<°)))><
Aaron was looking at the cloud formation above the building. The clouds looked like cartoon thought bubbles. He lowered his gaze to see Kathy and James walking out of the building. He judged by their body language that nothing had happened. He sighed and turned to Churchie.
“What are you meant to believe, Churchie? Why would our hopes be built up like this?”
