CHAPTER 106

ASAPH OPENED HIS EYES and the white light dazzled his eyes.

Where am I?

He realized after a few seconds that he was in a hospital.

— Glad you woke up — said a young doctor — we were worried you wouldn't come out of the coma.

— How long was I unconscious?

— Thirteen hours, but I don't want you to think about it, the good thing is that everything will be fine.

Asaph felt that there was something strange.

— Doctor, I need to go to the bathroom, could you help me up?

— I'm afraid I can't do that at the moment.

He looked strangely at the young doctor.

— Why?

— I don't think you'll like to hear bad news.

— Bad news?

ASAPH STRESSED in his wheelchair to see his father in front of the altar of the church where he was pastor.

The church was full, but no one wanted to talk to the boy.

Asaph heard one sister whisper to another that he was in a wheelchair because of his sins.

No — he thought — my father once taught me that everything happens in our lives for a purpose...

Asaph asked a brother for the microphone and began:

— Good afternoon everyone — no one replied — I know you all had a very beautiful story with my father — people started talking to each other, no one was paying attention to him.

Her tears started to flow and suddenly Asaph screamed.

— Is this the God you serve?

The church was silent again, only one brother spoke:

— Your father didn't deserve a son like you.

Asaph smiled.

— You're right, I didn't deserve it, but God taught me something about it.

Everything has a purpose...

— And now I ask you, Is this the God you serve? The Jesus I've heard about all my life and run about all this time forgave a prostitute, forgave the blind man's sins, and healed him. And the woman at the well who had several husbands, did Jesus condemn her?

— I am openly a sinner, but what I did I tried to hide, even though I didn't think it was wrong, I knew it would hurt my father if I knew, and that's exactly what happened, but in your case it's blatantly open to the way you judge and condemn people. for not being like you.

The silence bothered even God.

— It's easy to judge people, Jesus, the same one they say they believe, but their actions don't say that, taught us that love is the greatest of commandments, but do you know what I saw when I walked in here? A bunch of Pharisees condemning Jesus for the simple fact that he loved sinners.

— The boy has gone mad — said a woman — he is comparing himself to Jesus.

— Quite the contrary, sister, I am the greatest of sinners, but that does not exclude me from the right to have a loving embrace from those who are said to speak in the name of Jesus, I'm sure none of you entered that door to thank Him, I guarantee that everyone, without exception, came here for the first time with their lives destroyed, addicted to alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, prostitution etc., did my father close the door on anyone? No, on the contrary, he put up with the faults of each one, many nights I saw him praying for each one here. But do you know what I see here? A bunch of sinners cowardly criticizing another sinner.

Asaph threw the microphone to the floor, pushed his wheelchair without waiting for anyone's help and started to leave the church when a child approached him, gently touched his arm and asked:

— Why are you angry?

That caught him off guard.

— I'm not mad, honey, just upset.

— Don't be sad, Jesus loves you.

The boy hugged him.