Riven - Jerry B. Jenkins [175]
“And that’s the key. You have to believe it and put your faith in Jesus and what He did for you. That’s how people become friends of God.”
“I’ve got to think about this.”
“Of course you do. And as I said, I’ve got some things for you to read, including several verses.” Thomas tore the sheet off his yellow pad and jockeyed it through the slot.
Brady sat studying it. “Bible verses, huh? So I look these up, and—”
“Yes, this is on you. I’m not going to do your homework for you. You have a lot of good and legitimate questions about what it all means, but if I was the best evangelist or salesman in the world, it wouldn’t matter. No one can talk you into this. Just ask God to reveal Himself to you. If He’s for real, and I know He is, how could He not answer a prayer like that?”
Brady narrowed his eyes at Thomas. “Did He really tell you to tell me He loved me?”
Thomas held up a hand. “He did. And let me be clear. He’s never spoken to me like that before, and frankly, I don’t expect Him to again. But I believe He compelled me to pray for you from the first day I saw you here. I was frustrated because I didn’t know what He wanted me to do about you and I didn’t know if I’d ever get the chance to talk to you. What was I supposed to do? Actually, I think He took pity on me and let me have that morsel of what is in His heart. It may have been as much for me as for you.”
“But He really told you that and to tell me about it?” Brady held the scribbled sheet in his cuffed hands. “I’m gonna check all this out. And I hope to talk with you again.”
“I hope so too, Brady.”
60
Death Row
Brady had a strange feeling as he was returned to his cell and uncuffed. He had hoped the chaplain could send the Bible and the other stuff with his escorting officers, but it looked like those would come later. Meanwhile, all he had to look at was the yellow sheet with the list of Bible references.
He should have been happy, he knew. He wanted with all his heart to believe Reverend Carey was right, and who was he to argue with a minister about the Bible? But happiness was no longer part of his vocabulary. Oh, if he could avoid hell and be forgiven and become a friend of God, yes, that would have to make him feel better. But none of this, at least so far, had dented the blackness that had invaded his mind and heart and soul the instant he snuffed out the life of Katie North. And he was sure it shouldn’t. He didn’t deserve to ever smile again after what he had done.
Every minute of every day the wickedness of it all seemed to crouch at the door of Brady’s mind, waiting to pounce and overwhelm him. Regardless what else he thought about, he could hold it at bay for only so long.
This list, already wrinkling and creasing and softening from the oils in his hands, gave him something to look forward to besides counts and meals and TV shows and third-day showers and his hour a day out of his house. None of that really appealed anyway, but even the thought of being able to look up verses and read them and study them and think about them . . . well, if nothing else, maybe that would allow Brady to hold off the evil for a little while.
Adamsville
Though it was clear to Thomas that Grace was at least in the beginning stages of regressing, she was still up and about and seemed to rally with his report of the conversation with Brady Darby. She had always been proud of Thomas’s gift of recall, and she insisted on every detail.
When he finished, her eyes were bright. “Let’s call the church,” she said. “Get people to pray.”
Within an hour, Thomas had gained commitments from the prayer chain, the women’s group, the men’s ministry, and even the youth group to pray for a prisoner. He didn’t dare say which prisoner, because if anyone told the wrong person, the press would have a field day. As it was, if this man became a believer, it was bound to get out, and everyone in the press and the public would weigh in with his or her opinion of Brady Darby