City Revelation (A Story)

Thirty-six year old Mark strode down a busy sidewalk one morning in New York City. The air was slightly chilly so Mark zipped his jacket up tightly. He had every aspect of a rich person. There was the fifty dollar tie, hundred dollar shirt and slacks. His blonde hair was neatly gelled to the right and everything about him was neat and orderly. His ninety dollar briefcase was no exception either.
Mark checked his watch, “Ten minutes late,” he muttered. A black limousine pulled up at the curb. The scruffy looking driver got out and opened the passenger door. “I’m really sorry sir, I didn’t mean to be late, and you see the traffic…” “That’s alright.” Mark interrupted, “Your forgiven, just don’t do it again!” The limousine driver sighed with relief, “Oh thank-you so much sir! I can’t even begin to...” Mark cut the driver off by clearing his throat. The limousine driver jumped, “Oh, right, your briefcase!” Marks luggage was placed in the limo’s trunk and a little while later they sped off down the road.
“Am I driving you to the Twin Towers sir?” The driver asked. Mark nodded, “Of course! That’s where I work isn’t it?” The Limousine driver nodded. “Please,” Mark sighed, exasperated, “don’t let me get there late!” It was silent for a couple minutes then the driver said casually, “so, are you a Christian?” Mark laughed uneasily then rolled his eyes, “I most certainly am not!” He sniffed importantly and continued, “I’m just too busy to be a Christian and besides, I am a good person right?” The driver sighed, “That’s what most say.” Mark tightened his lip and turned to the window and stared out, “Good.” The limousine pulled up to a curb and came to a stop, “Here you are sir” the driver said. Mike nodded, “Thank-you.” A homeless person walked by and Mark quickly handed him a twenty dollar bill. The hobo yelled for joy and took off running. Mark turned to the driver and said smugly, “You see, I’m a good person.” Mark checked his watch. He was five minutes early. As Mike walked into the building he frowned, if he was such a good person, then why was he trying to convince himself so much?
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Mark checked his watch for the second time as he briskly walked down a hall. Abigail, a fellow co-worker strode by him and waved. “Hey Mark! Remember, we have a big meeting today!” Mark nodded, “A huge meeting with the boss, I can’t forget! See you then.”
Mark came to the elevators. Someone had just entered the only available one. “Hey! Hold that elevator!” Mark called running to it. The man in the elevator jumped and opened the door. Mark hopped in and turned apologetically, “Sorry to startle you.” The man shook his head, “Ah! That’s fine! It’s one way to awake a tired man.” He yawned, “What floor do you need to get on?” “I get off at the eighty fifth floor.” “Really?” the man extended his hand, “The name’s Henry, and I believe you’re Mark?” “How do you know?” Mark asked. “I’m your new business partner.” Mark nodded and shook Henry’s hand, “Nice to meet you.” “So, how’s life as a successful stock broker?” Henry asked clearing his throat. “Not too different except fancier clothes, houses, and cars.” Mark grinned. Henry shifted his feet uncomfortably. Mark laughed awkwardly, “I’m kidding.” The elevator doors opened. “Here’s our office.” Mark said sweeping his arms melodramatically. Henry turned and looked into his new office.
“Elegant” was the first word that entered his mind. A couch stood against the wall to the left and to right there was a vending machine and a restroom. In the center of the room on the ground were an Arabian carpet and two desks standing in front of a big window. Mark grinned again, “I’m sure that you’ll find the staplers here are really fancy.” Henry strolled over to the large window. “I’m kidding.” Mark chuckled. “We can see for miles.” Henry said in awe. “We are higher than most skyscrapers.” Mark grinned.
Henry shuffled over to his desk and bowed his head for 40 seconds then looked up. “Praying?” Mark asked dryly. Henry nodded. “You’re a Christian then?” Mark questioned. “I am.” Henry responded, “Are you a believer?” “I am a believer in hard work but not an invisible God.” Mark said a little sharply. “Why aren’t you?” Henry prompted. “I’m just too busy.” Henry scratched his head and pulled back a lock of auburn hair, “Really?” Mark started writing, “It’s not like I want to put my whole trust in an invisible person anyways. Besides, He is just a myth.” Henry locked eyes with Mark, “God is not a myth.” Mark sighed, put his pen down and pushed back his chair, “So, if God is not a myth, I want you to prove it, show Him to me,” Mark furrowed his brow and said, “that is if you can.” Henry looked around then turned to Mark, “Can you see wind?” Mark shook his head, “No of course not.” Satisfied with the answer Henry continued, “But you know wind is real.” “Everyone knows that!” Mark retorted. “Really,” Henry said smiling, “Well prove it.” Mark was frowning, “Haven’t you heard of wind?” “Of course I have heard of it. I just don’t believe wind is real. Prove it to me.” Henry held out his hand. Mark was still frowning, “This is off the subject. Besides, I can’t show it to you. You can hear the wind blowing the trees and observe its destruction but you can’t see it.” “Precisely,” Henry nodded. “You can’t see God but you can see the works he has done in other people’s lives. He has restored broken relationships, healed wounded people, and sent His Son to die on the cross for every single person alive.” “I…” Marks voice faltered, “I will think of it later.” Henry softened his voice, “Don’t you see Mark? There might not be a ‘later’.”
Henry turned to the gigantic window and looked out. “Hey, Mark there isn’t an airport behind us right?” “No way,” Mark responded. “The airplanes would have a really hard time avoiding the buildings around here. Why are you asking?” Henry’s voice was urgent as he said, “There is a passenger plane flying really low and it’s headed our way.” Mark jumped up and peered out the window. “Is that pilot crazy?” he gasped, “The airliner will hit us!” Henry whirled around, “Where’s a phone?” “Mark picked up one and dialed 911. Henry suddenly leaped at the stock broker, “Down! There’s no time!” Both men fell to the floor as a great ball of fire shot through the window. “Take cover!” Henry roared but his voice was drowned out by a deafening explosion!
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Both men were flung backwards across the office building. Henry hit his head on the wall and shards of glass flew at them piercing Marks skin. He yelled out in terror and pain. Mark slowly got up and stumbled over to Henry who was lying on his back. The vending machine fell narrowly missing the two stock brokers. “Lord, God protect us.” Henry murmured. A wooden beam fell from the ceiling. “Now is not the time to pray!” Mark screamed, “We have to get out of here!” Mark ran to the elevator door, “Come on! This is our way of escaping!” “Mark!” Henry roared, “Above you!” Mark looked up and yelled in surprise as he dove to the left. The ceiling had given way in that area and collapsed in front of the elevator. Henry tried scrambling over the pile of rubble, “It’s no use!” He shouted, “The door is jammed and won’t open.” Mark shook his head in horror and backed up slowly. He tripped on something soft and warm. It was a dead body. Mark yelled and jumped back. “Now is not the time to panic!” Henry instructed, “We must remain calm.” Oh, I’m as calm as I can be!” Mark retorted sarcastically. Another explosion shot through the office. It flung Henry into the disfigured couch and Mark was tossed through the broken window, into the air spinning. Mark yelled and caught hold of the edge of the window sill. He hung in midair. Henry jumped up and shouted, “Hold on, I’m coming!” Mark gulped and looked down at the street which was about one thousand feet below him. “Keep us safe Lord.” Henry prayed as a reached for Mark who was still holding on for dear life. Henry cautiously leaned out the window and grabbed Mark by the belt. He was pulled to safety. “Thank you Lord.” Henry murmured under his breath. “Thank-you so much,” Mark said gratefully.
Below, a dozen Policemen and Firemen were scurrying around. A fireman with a megaphone shouted, “Everyone remain calm, to those who can; exit the building single file, and to those that are trapped; we are coming to get you.” Mark and Henry could barely make out the words. Mark turned to Henry and said dryly, “I think he said they’re coming.” “It may take a while,” Henry warned, “The tower could come down any minute now.” “What are you saying?” Mark questioned Henry incredulously. “I’m saying we may die in here,” Henry returned calmly. He turned to Mark, “Remember you said that you would ‘think of accepting Christ later’?” Mark nodded. Henry continued, “Well, we aren’t too well off right now and you may never get another ‘later’.” “We’re not gone just yet!” Mark said and ran to the window. He tried yelling to the officials below but his voice was drowned out in the many other people screaming and talking. Henry put his hand on Mark’s shoulder, “We are on the eighty fifth floor which is near the top of this skyscraper. We may get out alive if God sees fit, but, if you were to die, where would you go?” Mark looked at Henry with an expression of hopelessness, “I don’t know.” He began sobbing as Henry put his arms around him, “I don’t know!”
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Mark turned to Henry, “I think I’m ready. I want to give my life to Jesus.” Henry grinned broadly and said, “All you need to do is confess you’re a sinner and ask him into your heart.” Both men bowed their heads and a little while later Mark stood, a changed man. Henry closed his eyes and said, “Thank you Lord.” Mark was radiant with happiness. “I feel so different yet, in an ironic way, the same. I have never felt such, such...” Henry nodded, “you are filled with joy.” Mark smiled, “Yeah, that’s it.” “The devil had filled you with many thought he wanted you to think and now those are gone. You belong to Jesus now.” Henry said, then walked over to the window and peered out. Hundreds of people were sticking their heads out of windows and either screaming, yelling, or crying. Every now and again the two men would hear an occasional siren. Five floors below, smoke was bellowing and orange flames licked the debris with vengeance. Then he saw it. The mutilated airliner stuck out of the tower, large and anonymous. The whole top of the passenger plane had been shaved off and the interior of the airplane was exposed. Bodies were strewn everywhere, and was much too gruesome for Henry to keep looking. He closed in eyes in horror and turned to Mark. “It’s the plane isn’t it?” Mark sighed. Henry nodded sadly, “I can only pray that there was at least one Christian aboard the airplane that witnessed to the unbelievers there.” Henry paused and looked at Mark in despair, “They were all dead.” Mark ran his hand through his hair and said solemnly, “You know, I had heard the word ‘dead’ so many times and it had scared me, but now…” He looked around trying to think of what to say, “It’s like learning how to swim.” Henry raised an eyebrow. Mark continued, “You are at first afraid to enter deep water because you know you will drown, but once you learn how to remain above water, the fear goes away. There may be a small discomfort at the thought, but you no longer have fear as you once did.” Henry nodded knowingly, “The unbeliever is afraid of dying, but upon becoming a Christian, it just melts away because you realize God is the one in control and even if you die, there is a place far better than this world.”
Just then the room shook slightly and smoke started filling the office. “The fire, it’s going to engulf this room soon,” Henry said. Another small tremor rocked the office a little. “That is if the whole tower doesn’t collapse first.” Mark replied. Henry laughed dryly, “Thanks for the reminder.” Mark swallowed hard and turned to the window. He gasped, “Henry, were these here before?” On the floor near a flipped desk, there were two oxygen masks. “Well, look at that!” Henry said then boomed out, “Thank-you Lord!” “Amen to that!” Mark agreed placing one on. Once both masks were on, the two men leaned out the shattered window. “From what I can make out,” Mark said, his voice quavering as he craned his neck, “nearly the whole building is on fire and it’s climbing our way!” Henry tried to see through the smoke but couldn’t, “I wonder if the firemen can even get up here.” “The elevator is probably busted.” Mark answered, “Figures.” “Can we somehow climb down the building?” Henry questioned, raising his voice because the fire was getting closer. Mark looked out the window. It was almost a complete drop-off with a couple of window sills sticking out here and there. “Impossible.” Mark responded. The tower shuddered again. Henry whirled around to Mark, “It’s going to fall.” Mark looked out of the window one last time. The roar of the flames had been growing closer and closer every minute. He fell on his knees and Henry did the same, “Lord,” Henry prayed fervently, “We’re in your hands now.” He looked up, “I guess we always have been.” Beads of sweat clung to Mark’s forehead from exhaustion and heat. “I’m a little scared.” He confessed. Henry slapped his back, “We’ll be fine.” The skyscraper creaked and groaned loudly. Firemen and civilians rushed out of the building and with a final tremble, the boards and iron beams gave way. The room collapsed around the two stock brokers who were huddled together. Mark yelled in shock as the whole building buckled and fell down. An iron bar came down on Henry knocking him unconscious. Mark rolled away just in time. He fell under some furniture and got completely buried. He found it nearly impossible to breath. The skyscraper continued its freefall and time seemed to be in slow motion. Mark was lying flat on his back, his arms and legs bleeding, he lifted his head one last time as the debris suddenly hit the ground and stopped tumbling. Trumpets sounded as God called two of his children unto Him to dwell in Heaven forever.

1 John 1:9: If we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. NKJV

Acts 16:3a: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.

~~~~~~The End ~~~~~~

Thursday, July 30, 2009