THE VISITOR

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.

~Revelation 12:11a NKJV

Jenny was expecting a visitor, so as moonbeams danced through the curtains, she welcomed the day.

She opened her Bible, which was to her the best love letter ever. “Speak to me, Lord,” she whispered. Jenny’s thoughts meandered to the Bible study she’d attended two days before. The leader had asked God to enable them to reach someone trapped in a cult that week. 

“My Jesus, I am expecting a visitor,” Jenny said, “but am I prepared should You choose to send this visitor today?”

DOUBTS DISPELLED

Doubts invaded her thinking. How could she think expecting a visitor was a good idea? Could she say anything that would break the mental chains of a cult? Jenny expressed her deepest fear in thoughts too scary to speak aloud. What if this person’s mindset draws me into cult thinking, and they try to convert me? Could they trick me?

Jenny read Romans 8:35-39 as a prayer, “I am Yours, Lord Jesus. Nothing can separate me from Your love. Not tribulation, distress, persecution, or any trial. I am Yours forever. Keep me with Your love.” Jenny balled her hand into a fist, as if holding an imaginary sword, “I am more than a conqueror because You love me. I am ready, and expecting a visitor is good!”

TREASURED TARRY TIME

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or sword? … Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

~Romans 8:35, 37 NKJV

As Jenny heard the birds beginning their morning songs, she knew she must begin her chores, but she lingered a little while still, enjoying the spiritual embrace of her Beloved Jesus. He must take center stage. Only He was adequate to quell her fears, and she needed Him, but her desire to tarry with Him went deeper than her need. She loved Him, and she treasured their one-on-one times.

Jenny felt the Lord nudging her that the visitor would indeed come to her door that day. “What if I don’t do an adequate job of sharing who You are?” Jenny asked. She was educated, but she knew the cult was too.

Within her spirit, Jenny heard, Are you willing for Me to speak My love through you? She turned to Ephesians, “Speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15a KJV). She spoke the Scripture aloud several times, reminding herself to be patient and focused on her mission.

“I’M READY; SEND ME.”

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things, into Him, who is the head–Christ.

~Ephesians 4:15 NKJV

Jenny took one last sip of cocoa and nodded, “I’m ready, Lord. Send me.”

Even though she had just prayed, the knock at the door startled her. She peered out of the curtains.

Two ladies, one older and one younger, both impeccably dressed, stood with heels together. The elder lady had an erect posture and held a flyer and what appeared to be a Bible. She touched the younger lady with an elbow. Instinctively, the younger lady straightened her posture, smiled mechanically, and looked for affirmation from her mentor.

Instinctively, Jenny knew which lady was ready to receive her Beloved Jesus’ love.

“Hello, ma’am. We are from . . .” said the elder lady.

“I’ve been expecting you.”

“You’ve been . . . expecting us? Oh, I didn’t know you were on the schedule. Let me check my records.”

“You will find nothing written there,” Jenny said. “We prayed in our Bible study group for God to send you this week, and here you are.”

QUIZZED

The elderly lady cleared her throat and proceeded to quiz Jenny about her beliefs. What did the Bible say about Heaven and Hell? What would the end-time scenario look like? How did she know for sure the Trinity was a correct belief? On and on she went, scarcely allowing Jenny to answer and challenging every answer she offered. Jenny felt bombarded. Then it dawned on her that this was a trap. She knew love did not operate this way, so she owed the cult leader no answer. She definitely did not need to answer argumentative questions. Besides, every time Jenny thought she was making inroads, the older woman would turn to her iPad and search there, so Jenny felt she was engaging in a discussion with informants. To try to answer was futile.

Help me, Lord, Jenny prayed. A Scripture verse came to her mind, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony” (Revelation 12:11a KJV).

QUESTIONING THE QUESTIONER

“Ma’am, please put the iPad away,” Jenny said. “It’s doing you no good, and it’s distracting me. Let’s just talk. Besides, I have a question for you.”

The elder lady rubbed her hands together and smiled, “Ahh! What’s your question?”

“How do you know your god loves you?”

The older woman shifted her feet, looked at her iPad, and then looked around.

“Please,” Jenny said, “I want to know how you feel personally, so don’t look for an answer from the iPad.”

She shrugged, “I guess I don’t know if God loves me.”

THE GOD OF LOVE

“I know the answer to most of the questions you’ve asked me,” Jenny said, “but what’s important is that we know with certainty that God loves us. My God loves you as much as He loves me. May I share?”

“Yes, please.” It was the younger lady who spoke.

Jenny turned to the younger lady. “And because you’ve asked, let me help you to find whom you seek.” Jenny motioned for the younger lady’s hands. She willingly laid her hands in Jenny’s.

“Jesus Christ, God’s Son, loves you so much that He sent you to my door.”

The elder lady circled around the younger lady, pacing nervously. “Don’t listen to her!”

Jenny made eye contact with the younger lady. “My friends and I asked God to send you to someone’s door, and He did. I’m so glad you’re here!”

The younger lady teared up.

CORE MESSAGE

“My Beloved Jesus proved His love for you by dying on the cross and rising again to pay the penalty of death for sins. He says, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’ (John 14:6 NKJV). It is Jesus you’re seeking, and He wants to give you a life worth living, and a place in Heaven when you die.”

“She doesn’t believe the way we do,” the elder touted at the younger, “Stop listening!” She held a hand towards Jenny, “Stop it right now! You’re confusing her!”

DECISIONS

“Do you believe what I’m saying?” Jenny asked. “Ever since I asked Jesus to come into my heart, I’ve had a peace I never felt before.”

“I said, don’t listen to her,” the older lady shouted, shoving the younger lady, breaking the union of hands.

Jenny held her hands back out, “Do you want my Jesus to come into your life?”

The younger lady nodded slightly.

“You are crazy,” the older woman yelled. She pulled the younger lady’s arm, “Go back to the car. Now!” The younger hesitated. The elder lady grasped her under the arm and escorted her away.

GOODBYES

“Turn away from the group you are following and turn to Jesus Christ!” Jenny said. “Please come again. I’ll be waiting.”

The younger lady nodded ever so slightly as the older woman whisked her into the car. Jenny waved goodbye. The younger lady returned the wave, but secretly, her hand bent only at the wrist, two fingers lifted, head forward, but her eyes looking toward Jenny.

A tear trickled down Jenny’s new friend’s cheek as the car roared out of the driveway.

CONTINUED PRAYER

Jenny had been expecting a visit, and God answered her prayer. Freedom, Jenny hoped, would follow as other Christian friends witnessed where she had left off. She prayed that both ladies would break from the chains of cult living, and that her new friend would hold onto Jesus’ nail-scarred, glory-infused hands, even if she were still in the cult when she did so.

EXPECTING A VISITOR IS EVERY BRIDE’S MISSION

Bride of Christ, be expecting a visitor too, for witnessing about our Beloved Jesus is our ultimate objective. Be prepared to share Christ’s love with those whom Jesus plans to send your way. May our Bridegroom find us sharing His story when He comes.

Who is Beloved Jesus calling you to witness to? How can you best reach them?

My Bridegroom Jesus, help me to welcome longing souls, sharing Your story with everyone You send my way. Give me power through Your Holy Spirit so I can achieve this goal.

Your Bride,

Genre: Creative non-fiction

Copyright 2018; revised 2023: Expecting a Visitor: Diane Virginia Cunio: All Rights Reserved