Risen

Craig Patterson looked at the door in front of him and sighed deeply. Not again, he thought to himself. Not now. Why does he do this? After six years you’d think it wouldn’t bother me anymore. But somehow it never gets any easier.

The dejected employee glanced at the name written on the semi-transparent door. Alexander Reed. There’s a name I’ll never forget. I wonder how many lives he has ruined – and all for a stupid management position. At one time Craig was convinced that his hard work and productivity would earn him the job as Project Lead, but over time he learned that the world didn’t work that way. At least, it never had for him.

Craig still remembered when Reed had been hired. He was so incompetent that Craig was convinced he wouldn’t last a week, but Reed had other plans. Over the course of two years the junior developer lied, cheated, and backstabbed his way into the lead job. Once he had the coveted position he took great delight in tormenting his former co-workers. His actions had devastated the department and drove out all the best talent, causing productivity to plummet. In return Reed blamed his underlings for the problem and managed to get hefty bonuses and sizable raises. It was as if he had the Midas touch – everything he did turned out well. And there’s nothing I can do about it, Craig thought.

After pausing to gather his thoughts he knocked on his boss’s door. “Come in,” a voice on the other side growled.

Craig sighed and pushed open the door. Inside was a spacious, well-decorated office. An oak desk took up most of the room and a state-of-the-art computer rested on its surface. Behind the desk was a large window through which Craig could see the setting sun.

What – the sun is setting? Craig glanced at his watch and saw that it was nearly eight thirty. He winced. I promised myself last year I would stop working all these late hours! Where did I go wrong?

The man behind the desk snapped at Craig. “I’m not paying you to daydream! Sit down.”

You’re not paying me overtime at all, you know, Craig thought. Years of experience had taught him it was useless to protest, however, so he simply sat down and silently looked at his boss.

“This isn’t going to work,” his boss said angrily. “You are way behind. The license module was supposed to be finished three weeks ago! Have you even started on it?”

“Look,” Craig protested. “You just gave me that assignment this morning! I’ve gotten a good start but it’s a major undertaking. It’ll take at least a month for me to write it by myself.”

“That’s not good enough!” his boss barked. “You’re not pulling your load.”

“We’re seriously understaffed! Half the team has already quit and no one has been hired in months. We need more resources. If I had someone else to work with I could get it done a lot sooner.”

His boss shook his head. “You need to take your job more seriously. I could just fire you, you know. You and your lousy co-workers couldn’t code yourself out of a paper bag.”

Craig knew that was not true. He also knew he would get fired if he protested, so he did not respond. Instead he merely asked, “So what do you want us to do?”

“What do you think I want you to do? Are you stupid or something? I want the license module done and I want it done now. If it is not done by Monday then I’m going to fire all of you. Chimpanzees could do a better job than you guys. Maybe that’s what we’ll use to replace you losers.”

Craig frowned. “But today is Friday! I’ve been working 16-hour days for the past three months. Besides, I’m on vacation for the next week. I’ve got to use my vacation time now or I’ll lose it. Tomorrow morning I’m catching a flight to -”

“Well you can forget that,” his boss barked. “You are going to be in here at six in the morning tomorrow or you are fired. End of story.”

“I’m not coming in,” Craig said quietly.

“Then you’re through,” his boss replied. “Get out of here and don’t come back.”

* * * * *

A half-hour later Craig left the building for the last time. In his arms he carried a small brown box that contained the few personal effects he had kept in his cubicle. By now the sun had set and the parking lot was dark. Craig made his way to his aging car and dumped the box in the back seat.

Before leaving he took one last look around. The parking lot was almost entirely empty, save for vehicles that belonged to the janitorial staff. He did not see his boss’s new sports car anywhere. He probably went home right after he fired me. Come to think of it, he’s not usually here this late. I wonder if he’s going home to celebrate. Maybe he carves a little notch into the headboard of his bed every time he ruins someone else’s life. Or maybe I’m just losing my mind.

Craig got into his car and began the long drive home. Well, on the bright side, at least I don’t have to work for Reed anymore. I knew this would happen eventually. And I also won’t have to make this long commute.

The tired developer merged his car onto the freeway. As he drove down the nearly-deserted highway his mind began to wander. I wonder what will happen to the rest of the team? There’s no way they’ll be able to get it done by Monday. Reed will fire them, I suppose, and then blame the missed deadlines on them. He’s always gotten away with it in the past. Upper management will never blame one of their own for the problems they cause. I’ve seen it so many times before. It’s just a wonder that the company has been able to stay in business. Who would be dumb enough to buy stuff from us?

When Craig finally got to his apartment building he checked his mail. There was nothing of interest. No job offers. No response from any recruiters. I’ve been looking for another job for six months and have found nothing, and now I have no job. I don’t know what I’m going to do.

Craig walked inside, turned on the light, and looked around. The apartment was a mess. He kept meaning to clean it up, but he had been working so many hours that he just hadn’t had the time. By the time he got home each night he was exhausted. I guess I’ve got time now, he thought wryly.

He thought about heating up a frozen dinner but he just wasn’t hungry. The stress and trials of the past few years weighed heavy on him. As much as he hated his job it at least paid the bills. Now that was gone. I just don’t feel well. I’m so tired. Maybe I just need some rest.

Craig sat down on the couch and turned on the TV. He spent a few minutes flipping through the channels but didn’t find anything interesting. Five hundred channels and nothing to watch, he thought tiredly. Now what do I do?

As he looked around the room his eye caught sight of a small picture lying on a bookcase. The photograph was four years old and showed him, his brother, and his ex-wife standing in front of a large building in southern California. They had all gone to the E3 Expo that year and had a wonderful time. It was one of the happiest weeks of his life.

The developer shook his head bitterly. Then when I got home I found out my wife had been having an affair. When I confronted her she divorced me and took everything I had. Since then my life has only gotten worse. He had been tempted to burn that picture many times, but the image captured the last moment he and his brother had actually enjoyed each other’s company. After the divorce things just weren’t the same anymore.

He looked at the clock and saw to his surprise that it was after ten o’clock. He decided to go to bed. I do have to catch a flight tomorrow morning. I don’t really feel like going on vacation, but it’s already paid for so I might as well go. Oh well. Maybe it’ll do me some good.

Craig took a shower and went to bed. He set his alarm clock for six in the morning and was asleep within minutes.

* * * * *

It was the sun that woke him up. Brilliant rays of white light filled his room, bringing him back from a very deep sleep. Craig yawned, rubbed his eyes, and sat up. He looked to the right and saw that the light was streaming through curtains that apparently covered a large window.

I bet I’ve missed my flight! Craig thought. Oh man. I must have been so tired that I overslept and didn’t hear the alarm clock go off. Oh well. I didn’t really want to go anyway. The plane tickets were bought with frequent flyer miles, so it’s not like I really lost anything.

As he slowly woke up a thought hit him. Wait a minute. I don’t have curtains! The window in my bedroom has blinds. In fact, there aren’t even any curtains in my entire house. As Craig started to get out of bed he suddenly realized something he should have noticed earlier – he was not in his bedroom. Gone was his bed, nightstand, bookcase, chest of drawers, and TV set. Gone were the clothes he had strewn haphazardly around the room, along with the computer game posters he had taped to the wall. Even the room itself was a different size.

“Woah,” Craig said aloud. He got out of bed and just stood still and looked. The room he was in was far larger than his tiny bedroom at home. The blue carpet under his feet was thick and soft. The room was well-furnished; just at a glance Craig saw a bed, a desk, several bookcases, a large wardrobe, a table, and a set of chairs. The room was tastefully decorated, with hand-carved furnishings that were made of some rare wood. Amazingly beautiful paintings adorned the wall.

One painting in particular grabbed his attention. Craig walked up to it so he could examine it closely. The work of art depicted a large, grassy field. Tall, slender trees lined the edge of the field, and low purple mountains could be seen in the distance. The sun was rising, splashing brilliant oranges and pinks all over the sky. Between the trees and the mountains he could see a beautiful village. It was gorgeous – like something from a dream.

Then he noticed that the painting was alive. The grass was gently moving, as if being blown by a wind. The same invisible wind was gently causing the trees to sway. Even the clouds were rolling along.

Must be an LCD picture frame, Craig thought to himself. That is really nice! I’ve never seen one that large before. The image must be at least three feet across! Who can afford a 36″ LCD TV just to show pictures?

At that moment he suddenly realized that he was no longer dressed in what he had gone to bed wearing the night before. Instead he was clothed in a beautiful white robe that was made of some incredibly soft material. His initials were monogrammed in gold thread in the upper-left-hand corner.

I don’t get it, he thought, bewildered. I don’t even know anyone that owns a bedroom like this! Where am I? What happened?

Craig walked over to a chair and sat down. “Let’s think this through,” he said aloud. “I know I went to bed last night in my own apartment. At least, I think that was last night. Could I be suffering from amnesia? Maybe my writing career finally took off and some rich guy invited me over to their house. Then I forgot everything that happened between the time I got fired and now.” He thought about that possibility for a moment, and then dismissed it. “Nah. Not likely. Don’t people with amnesia tend to remember their past but have no ability to form new memories? And besides, I feel fine. Better than fine, actually. If I’ve just had some major trauma that made me lose my memories I’m sure not feeling it.”

He thought some more. Could this be a hallucination? Or maybe I’m dreaming. Only this is far more real than any dream I’ve ever had. I’ve never even heard of a hallucination this vivid! And I can read the titles of those books on the shelf. Can you read books in a dream?

He shook his head. I have no idea what’s going on. Maybe I need more data. Craig stood up, walked over to the window, and opened the curtains. To his surprise the curtains had been hiding a pair of French doors that led out onto a balcony. Craig opened the door and stepped outside.

What he saw outside was unbelievable. Craig had never been much of an outdoorsman, as he preferred the comforts of home to the discomfort of nature, but he had never seen nature like this. The very air he was breathing was like a gentle perfume, more clean and rich than anything he had ever known. The colors were dazzling, and the light was so intoxicating that it almost seemed to be alive.

The bedroom was part of a large house – the largest house Craig had ever seen. The grounds surrounding the magnificent home were lush, green, and well-manicured. From his vantage point he could see elegant fountains, well-kept paths, and towering trees. The beauty stirred something deep inside him. Beyond the estate he saw gentle rolling hills, and in the distance a giant city.

He had never seen anything like that city before. It was a jewel of crystal and light, nestled in the distant hills. It’s like it radiates joy, he realized. He knew he had never seen it before but yet at the same time he felt like it was something familiar – something he had known his whole life.

“I feel like I’m home,” he said aloud.

“That’s because you are,” a feminine voice said beside him.

Craig whirled around and saw a young lady standing to his right. She was wearing a long, yellow dress and had short brown hair and a brilliant smile. “I’m glad to see you have risen!” she added.

“Um, hi,” Craig said uncertainly. “Do I know you?”

“No, but I know you, Craig Patterson. I have known you for many years. We’ve been waiting for you.”

Craig looked puzzled. “Are you one of our clients? You don’t use my software, do you?”

The lady laughed. “No, Craig, nothing like that. My name is Leann. I’m here to introduce you to your new life. The old things have passed away and all things are new.”

“Ok,” Craig said slowly. “So where am I? Whose house is this? I mean, the thing is, I don’t know how I got here. I’m kind of disoriented.”

Leann smiled. “This is your house, Craig. Today is your first day here. You haven’t been risen for very long.”

“My house?” Craig said, astonished. “How is that possible? I mean, I don’t even own a house! My wife got it in the divorce. I just live in a small apartment. Even if I did own a house it wouldn’t be anything this large. I’ve seen castles smaller than this!”

“And yet it is your house, Craig,” Leann said warmly. “This house, and this estate, and many other treasures all belong to you. They were crafted for your enjoyment.”

“But I don’t understand! There’s no way I could afford this.”

“True,” the lady agreed. “None of us could afford to pay the price of admission into this country. But we did not have to. Christ paid it all when He died on the cross. He took the punishment for our sins. He purchased God’s favor toward us. That is why we can be here. That is why you are here now. Jesus paid it all, and you trusted him.”

All at once Craig understood what was going on. The implications took his breath away. “Oh my goodness. You’ve got to be kidding me. You mean I’m dead?”

Leann laughed. “Oh Craig. Do you feel dead?”

“Not really,” he replied. “In fact, I feel more alive than I ever have.”

Leann nodded. “You have left behind the shadowlands. You no longer live in a world filled with darkness and doubt, where one man oppresses another for personal gain. You’re in God’s country now.”

“But if I’m in Heaven then I must have died. That’s how you get here, right?”

“It is true that your body has fallen asleep, waiting to be resurrected when Jesus returns. But do you not remember what Our Lord said? ‘He who lives and believes on Me shall never die.’ Death is not an option for those who look to Jesus to save them. Death did not come for you last night, Craig. Life did. Everlasting life.”

Craig looked around in amazement and wonder. “So this is Heaven.”

“A very small part of it,” Leann replied. “There is so much more here. It is an exceedingly vast country. The more you see the larger it will become.”

Craig smiled. “I can tell there’s more to it than just a harp and a cloud. This looks like a place I could really enjoy living in.”

“Of course!” Leann replied. “You were made to live here. You were a stranger on Earth, but now you are home. Surely you did not think that living in the presence of the Holy One would be boring, did you? Heaven is not a place where you will run out of things to do or grow tired of life. Even eternity cannot plumb the depths of the Infinite One.”

Craig simply looked around in wonder. The beauty was stunning. There was a sense of peace and joy in the air. He was deeply happy – more happy than he could ever remember being before.

“But I don’t understand,” Craig said at last. “I know I was saved and I understand that, but I don’t understand this house. I don’t know how much you know about me, but honestly, my life was not a success. I mean, pretty much everything I did failed! I knew a lot of really awesome people who did great things for God, but I was never one of them. My marriage bombed, my job bombed, and my life went nowhere. There is just no way I deserve all this.”

Leann smiled. “That is true, Craig. You don’t deserve it. But Jesus does not treat us the way we deserve. We don’t have to earn God’s favor. He gives us blessings because He delights to do so! You are saved by grace, not works, and your sins are forgiven. When God looks at you He does not see your failures. Instead He sees His Son and the perfect life He lived. God has taken Christ’s perfect life and given it to you! You have been credited for the things He has done.”

“But what about the whole treasure in Heaven thing?” Craig asked. “I don’t remember doing anything really spectacular. I kind of figured that if I didn’t lay up any treasures then I wouldn’t have any.”

“All God calls us to do is to be faithful,” Leann replied. “Each person is given their own set of challenges and opportunities. Some serve God through missions and others serve Him by writing software. While on Earth you were depressed because your life did not work out the way you had hoped. But you did not need to be cast down, Craig. God never called you to make sure everything turned out well. He simply asked you to be faithful.”

“But my life was such a disaster!” Craig insisted.

“There were indeed many times when you chose to sin,” Leann agreed. “But there were other times when you did the right thing even though you knew it would not end well for you. When you were obedient to God even though you knew it would make your life worse you honored God. That makes Him very pleased, for He delights in those who are faithful to Him. And did Jesus not say that when you are persecuted for His sake you should be exceedingly glad for ‘great is your reward in Heaven’?”

“But I was never martyred!” Craig protested. “It was nothing like that.”

“But you chose to live as a disciple of Christ in a world that hated him,” Leann replied. “Your life would have been much easier if you had lied, stolen, and cheated your way to the top, but you refused to do that. You were faithful to your wife even though she was never faithful to you. You worked hard even though others stole the credit for your accomplishments. Your righteousness cost you a great deal and yet you refused to give in. That means much to God.”

“Oh,” Craig replied.

“And now your testing is over. Your days of suffering have come to an end. In life you had endless trouble, but here you will have endless joy. You’re going to like it here.”

“I have no doubt of that,” Craig agreed, smiling. “Speaking of that, how did I get here? What killed me?”

“Heart attack,” Leann replied. “All of your job-related stress weakened your heart, and getting fired was the final straw. Your heart simply gave out.”

“Works for me!” Craig said. “So what do I do first?”

Leann smiled. “Would you like to meet Jesus?”

“Oh yes!” Craig replied. “There is nothing I would like more. Where is He?”

“Right this way,” Leann replied.