An Echo in the Darkness(137)

She wanted to weep. “I get lonely, too, Prometheus.”

“But you can always go to God, and he hears you.”

“He hears you, too,” she said tearfully, full of sorrow at what others were doing to him in the name of the Lord. “Don’t measure God by man. He loves you. He died for you.”

“Then why does he put me into temptation over and over again? I thought it was all over, but it’s not. I can’t close my mind off to the memories no matter how hard I try. Some things are always there to remind me. I find myself thinking my life was a lot less complicated when I wasn’t a Christian.”

“The Lord doesn’t tempt you. Satan does. He waits for the opportune time and knows exactly where you’re most vulnerable. For you, it’s the physical pleasures you experienced while practicing homosexuality. For those who persecute you, it’s pride. They think they’re better than you or their sin is less important. God doesn’t think as men think, Prometheus.”

She took his hands. “It says in Proverbs there are six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. How many of those sins do they commit who put stumbling blocks before you in your walk with the Lord? Don’t look to man for understanding or to yourself for what you need. God sees your pain and your struggle, and God will give you the strength to overcome it. God alone can do it.”

Prometheus let out his breath slowly and nodded. “I hear the Lord speak to me through you,” he said, greatly relieved. He lifted his head and smiled sadly. “You remind me of someone I once knew. She was one of the reasons I almost didn’t come back to this house.” His expression softened. “And, in a strange way, she was part of the reason I did.”

The Lord moved her heart. Prometheus had dropped his mask of happiness and revealed the struggle within himself. Could she do less?

She withdrew her hands from his. “Prometheus,” she said softly and lifted her veils.

He stared at her scars in revulsion and pity, and then his expression changed.

“O God, God!” he whispered hoarsely, recognizing her. He fell to his knees and put his arms around her hips, his head in her lap. “You can’t know how many times I’ve longed to speak with you again! You saw how I lived. You knew what I was. And still you loved me enough to share the Good News with me.”

She stroked Prometheus’ dark hair as though he were still a child. “God has always loved you, Prometheus. It was no accident we met. I never knew if the seeds I planted would take root in you until I saw you again a few weeks ago. Oh, what joy it was to know you’d accepted Jesus into your heart, too.”

Her hand stilled on his head. “You’ve planted seeds, too, Prometheus. Leave your friend to the Lord.” She stroked him again, feeling his muscles relax.

“Oh, my lady,” he said.

She smiled wistfully. “I just wanted you to know I struggle with the past as much as you.” How many seeds had she planted in Julia? And yet none had taken root.

Why, Lord? Why?

Prometheus raised his head and drew back from her, looking into her face. He took her hands and held them tightly. “Don’t lose hope. God is good, and he has just shown me he is sovereign.” He spoke with complete assurance, his face alight with joy. “You are here, alive. How else could that be except by his will?”

She cried then, her own need for encouragement breaking through the surface of her self-enforced calm.

And Prometheus, restored, rose up to comfort her.





35

Marcus entered his mother’s villa without knocking. As he came up the steps, a slave girl saw him and dropped the tray she carried and cried out, “Lord Marcus!” The sound of shattering pottery and crystal echoed across the peristyle. Frightened, she scrambled to pick up the shards of broken glass. “I’m sorry, my lord,” she said, her eyes wide. “I’m sorry. I didn’t expect to see you.”

“A pleasant surprise, I hope,” he said, smiling down at her. She blushed. He tried to remember her name and couldn’t. She was pretty, and he remembered his father had purchased her shortly after coming to Ephesus. “You’ve broken nothing of importance.”

Iulius came running down the upper corridor. “What’s happened? Is anyone hurt?” He saw Marcus and halted. “My lord!”

“It’s been a long time, Iulius,” he said and held out his hand.