Free The Redeemer by Linda Rios Brook Page A

negative number and a positive number of the same value cancel each other out to equal zero. I hear it works the same way in spiritual matters, so the normally negative water for me was zeroed out by the positive aura in the same space.”
    Satan’s eyes glazed over, but I continued my explanation.
    “And so I was neither hurt by the one nor helped by the other.”
    “In other words you still equal zero.”
    My head drooped again, but I dared not defend myself.
    “Shall I go back to the earth, sir?”
    “Forget it. I’ve got another job for you.”
    Satan walked over to his mirror and flexed his biceps.
    “I live to serve.” I bowed my head.
    He turned around and admired his backside.
    “There’s no one like me, you know,” he said flicking his tail for effect.
    “I’ve said that many times, sir.”
    “You’re not just saying it—you mean it, right?”
    “Um, well, yes,” I babbled. “To be sure.”
    Where’s he going with this?
    “I’ve decided to call Jesus out,” he said as he continued to look approvingly at himself in the mirror.
    “Your Evilness, whatever do you mean?”
    “Just what I said.” He started boxing with his reflection. “Did you think I’d let Him steal what’s mine?” He whirled around and punched at me. “I can take Him, you know.”
    “I’m sure you can, Your Highness,” I dodged the uppercut. “What kind of fight are you expecting—and when?” The disbelief must have been all over my face.
    “Soon. And it doesn’t matter; I’m ready. Don’t ever doubt me.”
    “It’s not that I don’t think you could win in an even match,” I scrambled, “because I certainly do, but have you considered that, although you are mighty to be feared, Jesus is Adonai—Son of Yahweh, omnipotent, King of kings, God of gods, Lion of Judah…”
    He glared at me. “He can’t use His powers.”
    “I don’t understand.”
    “Of course you don’t, because you give God too much credit. He’s not as all-knowing as you think. God fenced Himself in from the beginning. He was foolish to think humanity could stand up against me when He put Adam and Even in charge of the earth; He set the rules of engagement. That pair lost it as humans; Jesus can only take it back as a human. If He uses His supernatural ability for His own advantage, I win.”
    Should I tell him Jesus blew on a bird and it came back to life?
    “Mighty one, do you suppose there could be a loophole in the rules?”
    “Like?”
    “Um, well, is there some way Jesus could do something like, oh, I don’t know, say, like bringing a dead bird back to life? Could He do it without violating any authorized use of His power?”
    When Satan didn’t answer right away, I knew I was on to something. I pressed in.
    “For example, remember how Moses could do all those miraculous things: hail, frogs, plague, etc. How did he do it since he wasn’t God and couldn’t call upon any supernatural ability?”
    Satan looked at me as if I were too simple-minded to live.
    “Take a guess.” He went back to punching the air.
    Of course! I should have known! Ruah Ha Kadosh.
    “Do you mean Ruah Ha Kadosh could do something miraculous through Jesus, and it wouldn’t be the same as Jesus doing it on His own?”
    Satan didn’t answer. I knew I must be right.
    All the same, I was beginning to worry about Jesus. I didn’t know how He might be at anger management. Satan does know how to push buttons. If Jesus lost His temper, He might respond to Satan’s challenge out of reflex, jump the gun so to speak, and blast him to microbes instead of allowing Ruah Ha Kadosh to take the initiative.
    “Cancel your appointments for the next month. You’re going to coach me,” Satan said. “Not that I need it. One on one, He doesn’t have a chance.” He punched the air again. “You can see that, right?”
    “Clear as crystal, mighty one.”
    “It’s the talking part I want to practice. I haven’t had a worthy debate opponent since”—he paused