Felix was clothed in a red gown. He was kneeling before a camera sitting on a tripod his hands tied behind his back. There was a group of men watching with keen interest. They wore checkered headscarf's partially covering their thickly bearded faces. But their dark eyes were clearly visible and an aura of evil was about them.

A man with a kaffiyeh completely hiding his features stepped forward. He was dressed completely in black only his eyes could be seen. A large scimitar was in his hand and it glinted as it reflected the bright lights illuminating the scene.

He faced the camera and addressed the viewers. "We, the servants of Allah, come forward today to rid the world of another infidel. This is the answer to the Crusader who has been causing the followers of Mohammed to turn from their faith. From this man comes the worst of lies and for that he must die."

As he moved closer raising the knife to Felix's throat horror rushed upon him as he realized this man was about to cut off his head; and there was absolutely nothing he could do to stop him. The audience appeared now to be lusting for his blood. As the knife touched his throat he started and woke up.

The scene had now been repeated several times on the international news media by the radical Moslem group called ISIS or ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant). The terrorists had again displayed a victim of their butchery for the world to see.

Felix was a sensitive man and the scene always forced him to look away not wanting to see the horror on the victim's face.

Felix is in his late fifties with graying dark hair, medium height and build. He is a Christian and has been for over 30 years understanding well what the Bible teaches having read it through each of his years since coming to the Lord.

As he watches the news every night Felix has become more aware than ever of the deteriorating state of the world around him. Not only does he see glimpses of people about to be beheaded but also school shootings, work shootings, al-Qaeda attacks; pornography and sexual immorality; morality it seems is at a low ebb. Russia is invading territories returning to the cold war era; Hamas is borrowing tunnels into Israel and shooting up synagogues; whole towns are being exterminated as ISIS murders entire populations. Unusual weather patterns are wreaking havoc with droughts and mega-storms. There is pestilence with the Ebola virus out of control in Africa; and there are new strains of bacteria that antibiotics cannot touch.

It seems to Felix that the last day events described in Bible prophesy are unfolding before his eyes. Deep down he feels these events are trumpeting that time is short, and he becomes acutely aware that the opportunity for the world to turn to Christ is closing. There may not be many more days left and this weighs on his heart.

Felix is also distressed as he looks at the Church today. There are so many divisions and segments; so many denominations; so many cults; so many voices presenting messages that tickle the ear ignoring the central truths of the Bible. They present messages of Easy Believism, Cheap Grace, a Prosperity Gospel that downplays personal responsibility and the need to follow after the Lord in obedience and purity of heart.

Felix ponders these things often as he takes his daily walk in the woods close to his home. He finds the woods a place of solitude where he senses God's presence more intimately in the natural surroundings of his creation. There are a few places along the way where he stops to sit down. His favorite is a log overlooking the Creek that runs through. Here he relaxes offering praise and thanksgiving; and here he is drawn deeper into meditation and prayer.


****************************


During his devotional this morning Felix found himself reading the account of Elijah confronting the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. The account goes as follows(1):

He told Ahab to summon the people from all over Israel to meet him on Mount Carmel. He said, "bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table."

So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him."

But the people said nothing.

Then Elijah said to them, "I am the only one of the Lord's prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. Get two bulls for us. Let Baal's prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire "he is God."

Then all the people said, "What you say is good."

Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire." So they took the bull given them and prepared it.

Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. "Baal, answer us!" they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.

At noon Elijah began to taunt them. "Shout louder!" he said. "Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened." So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.

Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come here to me." They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down. Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, "Your name shall be Israel." With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed. He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, "Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood."

"Do it again," he said, and they did it again.

"Do it a third time," he ordered, and they did it the third time. The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.

At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."

Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.

When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The Lord-he is God! The Lord-he is God!"

Felix thought about the story as he did his walk that morning. He wonders what would happen if God were to do mighty and miraculous things today even as he did with Elijah; even as he did with Moses when he rescued his people from Egypt. What if God were to bring his message of salvation again today, confirming it with mighty signs and wonders, giving the world a last chance to respond to his calling.

When he sat down at his usual spot he prayed, "Lord, why not, why not do a similar thing today as you did back in the days of Elijah. Surely these are needy times; evil is rampant and the enemy has brought deception even upon your people in the Church. We are divided by so many voices preaching so many different things. Unite us O Lord. Bring correction, bring conviction and grant grace for repentance. Do a mighty work today confirming your message with signs and wonders. Give the world one last chance to see and believe, to respond to your call and come."

The Lord heard Felix's prayer and decided to grant it in way he did not expect. As Felix sat with fixed gaze looking out over the water he noticed a bright spot on the far side some distance away. It was a small fuzzy area blurring the outer bank. He rubbed his eyes and looked again - it did not go away. As he watched trying to figure out what it was it began to move. It moved upon the water and started to come closer. To his amazement it began to take the form of a man; and the man was walking across the water towards him.

His clothes were gleaming white and his face shown brightly. Felix felt a surge of panic. "What on earth is happening here?" and felt an urge to run but couldn't move. He sat frozen to the log.

The figure was at the near bank now and started to ascend. Just as he reached the top he stopped not more than a dozen feet away. Looking at Felix he smiled and said, "Don't be afraid Felix, it is me, I am Jesus. Peace be with you. I have come in answer to your prayer".

"I have heard you and I see the cry of your heart for the world today. I am going to grant your request and give the world one last great sign with the opportunity to turn to me before all things are brought to a close. I am going to make you my instrument to bring this about. You will perform mighty healings in my name as a confirmation of my message to the world. I am giving you the power to heal the sick, to open the eyes of the blind, to make the lame walk; these great signs will follow you as you bring my message to the world. Now go in the power I give you. Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit within and do not fear for I will be with you."

Then the figure vanished before him. Felix sat stunned and silent, still looking at the place where he had stood. His heart was pounding. He wondered if this really happened. "Was I hallucinating? Was this a dream? Did Jesus really just appear to me?"

He sat for some time more with his thoughts streaming through his head. He finally got up and walked slowly to the spot where Jesus had stood. He looked down and saw a cross lying on the very spot. It was about 8 inches tall made of plain wood. He knew it was not there before - Jesus had left it as a sign.

He picked it up and an inner peace engulfed him. Now he knew the vision was real - he was certain of it. He held the cross firmly and pressed it to his chest. "Yes Lord", he said, "I will go". "And I trust you to guide me; to enable me to do your will. I will do as you ask."


**************************


Felix walked home in a daze. He entered the house and sat down still holding the cross. Then he thought of his wife who was in bed suffering from the flu. This year the outbreak was especially bad and her case was severe.

Without saying anything about what had just happened he went over and touched her forehead with the cross saying, "Sylvia, the Lord Jesus heals you of the flu". She looked up surprised and a bit stunned but before she could say anything she immediately felt her head clear, the aches and pains go away and the fever disappear.

"What did you do", she said, "everything just cleared in my head and my fever and pains are gone!"

He told her what had just happened in the woods. A moment ago she would have laughed in disbelief but now seeing the cross in his hand and experiencing the healing in her body, she looked up in total amazement.

"Praise God!" she said, "Praise God! Praise God! Thank you Jesus!" lifting her hands in the air.

Felix joined in and after some moments of praise and thanksgiving they just sat quietly looking at each other. "What do I do now?" Felix asked, "Where do I go from here?".

"To church", she said, "We know many there who are in need of healing".

Felix and Sylvia had been married some 30 years raising two sons and a daughter and now as empty nesters enjoyed their 5 grandchildren as they often got together for family dinners.

The week passed slowly as they anticipated what would happen on Sunday. And when Sunday finally arrived Felix placed the cross in his coat pocket and off they went.

As they entered church and sat down in their usual spot Felix wondered how he should proceed. He prayed for the Lord to give him guidance. As it turned out when the worship part of the service ended, the pastor asked for anyone who needed healing to come forward for prayer.

Felix knew his time had come. He immediately got up, walked over to the pastor, Tim Cannon, and spoke to him asking if he could share something wonderful that had just happened to him during the week.

Tim Cannon was in his late twenties, new to the ministry having just graduated five years earlier. He was lead pastor of a small independent church whose numbers were only in the sixties.

Felix was well known to Pastor Tim since he had served on the Board of Deacons and was very involved in church activities.

The pastor consented. Felix turned to the congregation and proceeded to relate the story of his encounter with Jesus. "Jesus", he continued, "has decided to do a work in these last days that will draw all people to himself. He will bring healing as a mighty sign to those in need who turn their hearts to Him. Holding up the cross he approached the person closest to him - it was a woman. He touched her head with the cross and said, "Sister, Jesus heals you".

She immediately felt a warmth flow though her body and knew a healing had occurred. The hip which had bothered her for ages no longer hurt and felt mended. The next person was suffering from the flu; she too was immediately healed. From person to person Felix continued down the line and after each touch the person raised hands in praise and thanksgiving, sensing healing flow though their body.

When the last person had been touched the pastor asked if anyone would like to share a testimony.

To the amazement of everyone each person was ecstatic as they shared what had just happened to them. Some with obvious symptoms found immediate relief - the colds and flu, the allergy sufferers; those with faulty limbs and joints. Others suffering from less obvious symptoms - cancer, organ failure and various internal degenerations shared that they felt a sense of healing flow though their body but confirmation would have to await their next doctor's visit. The lady with the hip problem started to walk around with joy and jubilation, "The pain is gone", she said, "I can walk without pain, my hip has been healed!" All with outward symptoms proclaimed their healings also.

The testimonies produced spontaneous praise and thanksgiving throughout the congregation. People were on their feet shouting praise with raised arms; some jumping with ecstasy; others were lying face down or kneeling. It was chaotic but at the same time wonderful and exhilarating.

After several minutes the pastor quieted things and brought order. The service continued but it was unlike any service that had come before. There was a special anointing upon pastor Tim as he delivered a powerful message. The service finally concluded and people retired to their homes with great joy and expectation wondering what the next week would bring.

Word got around and the next Sunday saw many new faces in the congregation. Again after the worship service had concluded, pastor asked for those needing healing to come forward. There was an air of expectation as a great number did.

Felix came forward as before, the pastor allowing him to take over at this point. He shared once again what had happened to him in the woods the week before for the benefit of the new people present. There were a least twice as many kneeling for prayer now as before. But since he did not know the newcomers, he felt the need to share the salvation message first.

After describing his initial encounter Felix continued, "Jesus spoke to me that we are living in the last days; that we are in the end times; and that He wants to give mankind a last chance to receive salvation before the consummation of all things. The message is this: Salvation can only be found in one name and that is the name of Jesus. For the Bible says, 'Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.'(2) And the Bible continues, 'all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.'(3) So repent then, asking forgiveness as you turn to Jesus, so that your sins may be wiped out and times of refreshing may come. You will then receive the Holy Spirit as you call on his name. If you do this just now you will be healed as I pray for you."

Felix proceeded to go down the line as before touching the cross to each forehead saying, "The Lord Jesus heals you". And with each that received there was an immediate response of exultation and praise.

But there were some who did not receive healing and did not respond. Conversations later showed that they were the ones who were holding back. They did not submit to the call to come to Christ. Others confessed that they were not walking faithfully with the Lord - they were harboring sin in their hearts that they were not willing to let go. Many were steeped in "Cheap Grace" or "Easy Believism". They gave intellectual ascent to Jesus as savior but were not willing to go the next step in following after Him in obedience. Now they were seeing first hand God's dissatisfaction with them as he differentiated between those whose hearts were turned to him and those who were not. There was no denying it. Through this very real event God was pointing his finger showing them what they must do. And all who submitted and repented found healing.

Also present were the skeptics, not being in Christ, they simply wanted to test to see if all this was real. They came forward suspiciously. Their hearts were far from Christ. They were comfortable with their lives and did not intend to change a thing. These also did not find healing. But many, after testimonies of healing came forth, did have a change of heart. They reached out in faith and repentance and were healed.

Each week saw a repeat of the last. More people heard and more came. Soon there was not enough room to accommodate the numbers and an auditorium was rented. Each week hundreds were turning their hearts to the Lord and hundreds were healed.

When the news media heard about it they sent a team to cover the event. That evening the news devoted a large segment to the service and those in the coverage area watched in astonishment. The following week saw an enormous increase in the numbers attending.

Now the national news picked up on it and people from far and wide were pilgrimaging to the service. A stadium was rented and it was filled on the very first day.

At this point a decision was made to go to televised services. But would healings be had by people listening in on their television sets? It was unknown. The broadcast went forth, however, and healings did occur. As people responded to the call to come to Christ, and as they reached out their hands in faith toward the television set, they received healing. It was happening everywhere - in individual homes and work places; in shopping malls and restaurants; in every place that the event could be watched. It was astonishing. Miraculous healings beyond all bounds and expectations were occurring throughout the country and beyond.

People from many different backgrounds and faiths were tuning in. From every race and color, from every religious background: the Jew, the Moslem, the Hindu, the Buddhist and on and on; and all who turned their hearts to Jesus were healed.

It was global now. All around the world there were those of every race, creed, faith and conviction turning their hearts to Jesus and finding healing.

But now evil stirrings were afoot.


************************


Some hard liners of the Jewish and Moslem faiths were appalled that some of their sons and daughters, brothers and sisters far and wide were coming to Christ. This was strongly forbidden and those guilty would be ostracized, isolated and perhaps even killed.

Not only was there great upheaval in the religious community but the Healthcare Industry was aghast. Hospitals were clearing out; doctors and nurses had nothing to do; drug sales were plummeting; and unemployment in all sectors soaring.

The kingpins of the industry got together secretly to discuss the matter. They decided something must be done to stop this man. They could not stand by and watch their industry dissolve before their very eyes.

They came up with a plan. They would kidnap Felix and through radical Islamic contacts have him shipped off to Syria and the ISIS leadership.

And so it happened. While Felix was conducting a crusade in a major city he suddenly disappeared - he was nowhere to be found. He was last seen leaving his hotel to attend an event but never arrived.

Felix awoke from the drugs that had been given him and found himself clothed in a red gown. He was kneeling before a camera sitting on a tripod his hands tied behind his back. There was a group of men watching with keen interest. They wore checkered headscarf's partially covering their thickly bearded faces. But their dark eyes were clearly visible and an aura of evil was about them.

A man with a kaffiyeh completely hiding his features stepped forward. He was dressed completely in black only his eyes could be seen. A large scimitar was in his hand and it glinted as it reflected the bright lights illuminating the scene.

He faced the camera and addressed the viewers. "We, the servants of Allah, come forward today to rid the world of another infidel. This is the answer to the Crusader who has been causing the followers of Mohammed to turn from their faith. From this man comes the worst of lies and for that he must die."

As he moved closer raising the knife to Felix's throat horror rushed upon him - but he thought I must be dreaming as before. But as the knife touched his throat he did not wake up. This was not a dream.

Felix died there a martyr for the Lord.

Pastor Tim and Sylvia as well the rest of their small congregation were aghast as the watched the evening news that night with the image of Felix knelling before his slayer. The horror of being brutally beheaded was now about to happen to their beloved friend and fellow member. They sat petrified because there was absolutely nothing they could do.

They would grieve for Felix and his family for many weeks to come.




Epilog
-------

Felix was granted his prayer. He was mightily used by God to bring millions to Christ and salvation. But he never expected it to end this way. But then throughout Bible history the prophets of old were likewise persecuted and murdered. So this was no exception.

Would Felix have done differently had he known how it would end? Would any of us if we were in his place? It is a good question to ask ourselves. As Jesus went forth doing the will of the Father with full knowledge of His end, would we be willing to follow likewise?

(1) 1 Kings 18: 19-39 New International Version

(2) Acts 4:12

(3) Rom 3:23




Copyright 2015 - John Ambrose
All rights reserved
Second edition, 2015

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