“That’s not enough, I know. It doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface, but… it just seems like everything’s been spinning out of control over the past few days, and I guess it’s made me take a long, hard look at my life and what I’ve really accomplished, and how much of it has been just so worthless — useless — self-centered.
“I was reading in the Bible on the flight home from Israel on Sunday, and I came across a verse I’d never read before, or at least I’d never noticed it before—1 Timothy 5:8, where Paul basically says if a man doesn’t love and care for his own family, he’s denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. And I’ve got to tell you, Mom, that for the first time in my life it began to dawn on me how much pain I’ve been causing you. I felt so ashamed, and I started making plans to come down here.”
Jon paused a moment, seeming to steady his emotions. He was looking at the floor, but then, suddenly, he looked up and stared straight into her eyes.
“Mom, did you know that Jesus, when He was dying on the cross, said to one of His best friends, ‘Take care of My mother’?”
Ruth shook her head, trying to steady her own emotions.
“He did, which is more than I can say for myself. But that’s what was so amazing about Jesus. He never became fogged, even in death. He loved His mom like He loved everyone else. All the time. Sacrificially. Even when it hurt. He wanted to take care of her, to make sure she was okay, even when He couldn’t be with her. And He said to His friends, ‘This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.’
“That’s why Paul said in Romans, ‘God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’ We don’t deserve God’s love. I certainly don’t. But the amazing thing is that God loves us anyway. No matter who we are. No matter what we’ve done. If we accept His free gift of salvation through faith in Christ’s death and resurrection, then God promises to forgive us, adopt us into His family, and let us go to heaven. He gives us the power to start living like He did and loving like He loved.
“Mom, I know you thought I was crazy for becoming a Christian. I know that’s not what you and Dad brought me up to believe. But I just need to sit here and confess to you that just because I’m a Christian doesn’t mean I get it all. I don’t. Obviously, I don’t. I have no idea how to love like Jesus loved. I don’t know how to love you that way. I don’t know how to love Erin that way. But I want to learn. Mom, I want to learn. I want to change. I want God to change me. And I had to start by coming here.”
Ruth Bennett had no idea what to say. Her hands trembled. Her head was spinning. She was afraid if she moved she might just wake up and find Jon gone and all this a dream. Fortunately, Jon cleared his throat and wiped his eyes. Apparently he was not quite done.
“The best I can do right now is ask you to forgive me, Mom, and to ask you to pray that God would accelerate what He’s already started in me. But I’m afraid I can’t stay here. There’s something I need to do.”
Why? What was he talking about? Where was he going? The expression on her face obviously gave her away, and Jon began to explain.
“I believe ‘The Ezekiel Option’ is going to come true, but the prophecy only tells us so much. Things may get a lot worse before they get better.”
“What are you saying, Jon?”
“I’m saying there’s a chance to get Erin out of Russia alive, before all hell breaks loose. It’s a slim chance, but I’m going to take it.”
“Meaning what?” Ruth demanded, the fear once again rising within her.
“I wish I could tell you, but…”
“Don’t tell me you’re going to Russia.”
“Mom, I can’t say what I’m doing. But I don’t want to lie to you. There’s a real chance I won’t be coming home. And I didn’t want to leave without asking your forgiveness, and telling you how much I love you.”
She wasn’t sure whether she was going to cry or scream at him. But one way or another, she was about to lose it. She reached over, grabbed Jon, and wrapped her arms around him.
“I forgive you for what you’ve done in the past, Jon, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate what you’ve said….” It was all she could do to finish her sentence. “But I don’t know if I can forgive you if you walk out that door right now. I mean, what am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to go on? You’re all I have, Jon. Your father’s dead. My sister’s dead. Without you, I’m all alone.”
Her tears began to soak into Jon’s shoulder. But she couldn’t stop.
“I hear you, Mom, and I wish there was another way,” Jon said softly. “But I have to do this.”
“Why? It’s suicide, Jon. Does being a Christian mean committing suicide?”
“Mom, it’s dangerous — I concede that — but it’s not suicide. It’s love. I love Erin. I don’t know what’s going to happen over there. Neither do you. But I wouldn’t go if I didn’t believe there was a real chance of getting her out alive. And when you’re doing what God wants you to do, there’s always hope.
“And that’s what I want for you, Mom. To have that kind of hope. To know that God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. To know that you’re forgiven through what Christ did on the cross for you. To know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you’re part of God’s family and that you’re going to be with me and Erin in heaven for all of eternity, no matter what happens.
“Believe me, Mom, there’s nothing Erin and I would love more than for you to give your life to Christ. Jesus said, ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.’ Jesus wants to be part of your life, Mom. To give you a hope that never disappoints. As a gift. Because He loves you. But only you can make that choice. Only you can decide to ask Christ to save you and give you eternal life. And time is running out.”
49
“Mr. President, you need to see this.”
Marsha Kirkpatrick turned up the television in the Oval Office. A press conference was just under way in the Kremlin with Russian foreign minister Andrei Zyuganov.
“I can now confirm what many of you in the media have been speculating on for the last few hours,” Zyuganov began. “As you know, for the past several days our security services have been engaged in a massive investigation into the plot to assassinate Czar Gogolov. I am pleased to report that we finally have a major break in this case.
“After intense questioning by the FSB, the three suspects being held in connection to this horrific crime have confessed to being agents of the Israeli intelligence service known as the Mossad. Thus far they have only given us their names and their levels of seniority within the Mossad. They refuse to cooperate further until they have a meeting with legal counsel from the Israeli government.”
A buzz rippled through the press corps.
“About an hour ago,” Zyuganov continued, “the Russian Federation made official contact with the office of the Israeli prime minister, passing along the Mossad officers’ request for legal counsel. We have given the government of Israel seventy-two hours to respond. If they fail to respond, the Russian Federation will have no choice but to give the Israeli agents fast-track trials, which, given the enormity of the evidence already compiled against them, would likely lead to rasstral—execution by firing squad.”