left behind. Previously, Iâd found that thought quite overwhelming and depressing, but sitting there with Jay and everyone else, so flushed and excited, I started to believe that maybe we could do it after all. It was sort of the same feeling Iâd had at the peace rally, but now the feeling was stronger, more focussed. It was God who would grant us the strength and the courage to take on this fight. As long as we had faith in Jesus, He would take care of us. Heâd show us the way. Our job was to be the best we could be, as perfect as we could be, for Him.
Everyone was nodding and murmuring, âAmen.â
The pastor swept his gaze around the room. âI canât hear you!â
âAmen! Hallelujah !â Some people jumped up and punched the air.
âI canât hear you!â
âAMEN! HALLELUJAH! PRAISE THE LORD!â
Jay jumped up and pulled me with him, and I shouted out too, because everyone else did, and we made such a joyful noise the roof nearly blew off, and suddenly everyone started to sing a song about Jesus coming back.
I whispered to Jay, âJesus is coming back ?â
âYeah, of course.â Jay grinned at my surprise, and swung my hand. âThe Bible says so.â
âOh,â I said. âOkay.â
The song peaked in a crescendo of whoops and applause, and before I knew it, Jay had pulled me into a quick hug, then released me. âIâll ⦠Iâll get us some hot chocolate,â he said, blushing, and dashed off. I was still blinking after him when Elliot came over. He wasnât scowling, but he did look stern. âBridie.â
I clutched at the back of my chair; it was really hot in the basement. I tried to think of something to say. âElliot,â I blurted. âCould I ask you something? About Jesus?â That sounded weird, spoken out loud. Probably not so much to Elliot, though. I plunged on. âYou know how Christians talk about Jesus dying for our sins? What does that mean?â
Elliot scratched his chin and rubbed his hand thoughtfully across his forehead. âWeâre all sinners, Bridie,â he said. âWeâre all stained by sin.â
âWhat, even little babies?â
âThe whole human race. Weâve all broken Godâs laws. Sins have to be paid for, sins have to be punished. When Jesus died, He paid for all our sins, forever. So when you accept Christ as your saviour, youâre given eternal life.â
âSo you go to heaven?â
âMore than that. When Jesus returns to rule over the earth forever, youâll live forever with Him.â
âBut ⦠how did Jesus pay?â
âWith His life, Bridie. He died so that we can live.â
âI donât get it. Why did He have to die?â
âHeâs the sacrifice. He took the punishment.â
âGodâs punishment?â
âYes.â
âSo if Jesus hadnât died, weâd all be punished? God would punish us? Weâd go to hell?â
âHell isnât ⦠some people think hell is an actual place. Some people think hell is the state of being denied Godâs presence. And heaven is the opposite; itâs being in Godâs presence always.Itâs the eternal bliss of being with God.â
âSending us to hell doesnât sound like a very loving thing to do.â
âGod is our father, Bridie. Doesnât your father punish you when you do the wrong thing? How else do you learn?â
âI donât have a father.â
There was a pause. âIâm sorry to hear that, Bridie.â
âWell,â I said awkwardly. âThatâs okay.â We looked away from each other; Elliot frowned at the crush around the cake and drink table. I said in a rush, âJay seems well.â
Elliotâs mouth tightened. âHe isnât.â
âWhat ⦠whatâs happened?â
âWe just found out. His eye is permanently