JOHN 3:16

"Murder, no
Adultery, no
Theft, no
He has committed none of such in deed."

"How about in the heart?" Galyphus asked, his cloth gleaming white.
"I'm afraid none of such," Paumytithus replied.

Yinsf sneered and cast a proud look around. His gaze landed on a nine year old. She was shaking profusely, and looked like a piece of rag in the hands of the giant.
"Rubbish! Who do they think I am?" Yinsf thought to himself, "I know they want me to bow down to them. I'll do none of such."

A firm grip on his upper arm brought him back from his thoughts. "Let's move on," said Paumytithus and calmly took Yinsf to the Second table. There was a longer queue, so they waited.

Yinsf had been a moralist while he was alive in the human body. A firm believer in the doctrines of his religion. He upheld and taught the tenets of his religion faithfully. He had been a good man, known by all and sundry in the little community. Everything had gone on well, peacefully at that, in the village until a man, Mr Solomon, his wife, Ruth and their scrawny little boy Titus had come to their town.
They preached about a certain Jesus, claiming Him as the Son of God who came to earth, lived for 33years, was killed on a cross, and buried. According to them, this Jesus rose again from the grave after 3days. And they also claimed that Jesus died for the sins of the world and that whosoever believes this their preaching, and believed in Jesus too, such person will be saved from God's wrath.

"FALSE! There is only one God, but I don't believe it is the same God with yours," he had shouted in the town hall where the whole village had gathered. "The only real god sent his messenger with his ways of doing things to us. We believe only in that god and don't want your own. We have it all written down in the King's house. The rules of our god and the consequences of disobeying them. And the greatest disobedience is to stop believing in this our god," he continued and turning to face the villagers "Remember that anyone who stops believing in our god will be killed. We will burn you alive. That is what our god has told us."

In spite of his warning, many foolish villagers had forsaken their religion and followed Mr Solomon's preaching. Some were killed, but the richer or more influential villagers who had also converted were spared. Although he, Yinsf, was secretly plotting on how to get them killed.

Eight months after the town hall meeting, he had fallen ill and had remained so for about 6weeks. Solomon had been requesting for an opportunity to visit him and pray for him, but he refused. Once, he had returned his plea saying, "I will rather die than allow you to commit my health to your Jesus. He is not god. I refuse."
He had overheard his youngest son telling Mr Solomon what he had said and the rascal had replied, "Lord, forgive him and reveal Yourself in truth to him."
Few minutes later, he had fallen asleep and on waking, he saw himself here with these funny looking giants and a sea of humans.

Once again, he was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard, "Dishonour of parents, disobedience to ruling authorities, coveting of another's possessions.... Hmmmm.... None," the creature said looking up at him.

Paumytithus muttered something under his breath and dragged him away, out of the large hall and down a corridor.
He had to confess wherever he was, this was the most amazing place he has ever seen. It was awe-inspiring and breathtaking.

Few minutes later, they stopped at a giant bronze door and Paumytithus rapped thrice on the door with his heavy knuckles. He looked down at him as they waited and for the first time in a long while, Yinsf felt like a young boy who was lost and alone on a beach far away from home.
Soon the door swung open and Yinsf was overwhelmed by a certain presence. He could not feel or touch anything but he just knew that he was in the presence of a mighty unseen being.
He bowed his head and shut his eyes tightly, "Please, i'm sorry."
Almost immediately, he could hear it clearly, "Are you asking him for forgiveness? The One in whom you do not believe?" It was a dark voice.

"Yinsf Mohida, chief," said Paumytithus
"Guilty on all counts," a voice spoke loud and clear.
"Give me justice sir. What are my wrongdoings? " Yusuf asked fearfully.

"Your sins are not imaginary transgressions," the voice said and then paused as if waiting for a reaction from Yinsf and when there was none, it continued "Your sins against the First table are: unbelief, doubt, despair, hatred, ignorance of God, misuse of His Name, ingratitude towards God, neglect of His word, trodding under foot the Son of God, counting the blood of the covenant an unholy thing, spiting the Spirit of grace...."

"Say no more... " Yinsf could bear it to longer. He was already on his knees, head bowed and shaking profusely
"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God," the voice said.

"Is it too late? I'm a fool..." Yinsf said amidst sobs. He was now lying flat on his face. Fear gripped him.

"Christ, the Son of God, was given not for the righteous, but for sinners. Do not delude yourself any longer into thinking that you're holy. If you had no sin, indeed you will not need Christ.
Because your transgressions are multiplied and your own efforts at self-righteousness have proved a hindrance rather than a furtherance, therefore Christ the Son of God gave himself for your sins.
To believe this is eternal life.
Yinsf, do you believe?"

"Yes, I believe... I really do believe... I've always wanted to believe, but I was stubborn... I believe... I do believe... Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the only True God.... " Yinsf cried

"And by his stripes you're healed... " Natu, his wife said and bent over with a wet towel to wipe his forehead.
Yinsf could not open his eyes fully, rays of sunshine streaming through the wooden louvres hurt his eyes. Natu stretched towards the window and closed it.
"How long have you believed?" Yinsf
asked, exhausted.
"Since the first day I heard him speak. I was afraid of you. I didn't want to die... I was the one who shared my new faith with Waryu. I was the one who led her to Christ. When I saw your boldness in handing over your third wife to be killed, I was too afraid to talk. I was ashamed that I led Waryu to Christ, but she died before me for the same cause. I was fearful." Natu replied

"I'm sorry," tears filled Yinsf's eyes. He wasn't bold. He had only succumbed to the pressure of other chiefs. He had never been part of a murder. His dearly beloved third wife had been killed for her faith. Now he was left with Natu only. His first wife had died shortly after been struck down with the same fever he was now having.
But his fever only led him to Christ.

He looked up at Natu. "It will be fine. If we'll be killed, then we'll die together. I now believe."
He turned and stared at the other open window and said loudly, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

He has heard that being said by Mr Solomon for about Ten months now. He had crammed those words. Now they had meaning to him.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

***

This is fiction. Key Verse: John 3:16