“Yes, Mr. President. He will be in Washington before we arrive and will attend the services in the East Room tomorrow.”
“Good. No business tomorrow. I want to devote that day to exactly what I ask the people to do unless there is an absolute national security emergency. Be sure that word is put out, no appointments, no phone calls. I need that whole day. Cancel everything.”
“On Saturday morning, I want to address all of this, and I need the vice president. He has to be involved from now on in case something happens to me.”
“Tom, get with Troy Steed and Eric Besserman. I want to be in a position to make decisions Saturday on our military preparation both here and abroad, how we bring our European allies in, and how we deal with individual nations in the Middle East. I want to know who we can trust and involve and who we must confront. We have to be on board with Israel on all of this, particularly on how we deal with Iran. I will need to meet with the Attorney General, the Joint Chiefs and with the Survival Commission. Keep it all as confidential as possible. Make sure everyone understands this is national security ‘eyes only’ stuff.”
“Yes, Mr. President,” Knight responded. “That will be an ambitious agenda.”
“It will, but we don’t have time to wait. It may be an interesting day for another reason as God answers the prayers raised tomorrow,” the president replied with obvious excitement in his voice. “If the people really take this seriously, I know in my heart that God will move and we will be able to see that movement.”
“Speaking of tomorrow, Mr. President, how do you want to deal with the ITN request to broadcast the Whitehouse service?”
“Have you asked the Bookseller?”
“I have not,” Knight answered.
“Well, then let’s go ask,” the president said, leaving his office for the passenger quarters to find where he was seated.
As he approached, he saw the Bookseller in serious conversation with George Murphy and heard Murphy ask, “Do you believe we are living in what the Bible describes as the last days?”
The group stood as the president approached, and he quickly said, “No, no, please stay seated, and if you don’t mind I would really like to hear the answer to that question Mr. White. Please continue,” the president said, sitting and listening intently.
Ignoring the president’s presence and focusing on George Murphy, the Bookseller continued. “Mr. Murphy, how could I know what Jesus said He didn’t know, and what difference would it make anyway?”
“You are going to have to help me on that one,” Murphy answered.
“Well, Jesus said that no one knows the day or hour, not the angels or even Himself, only the Father.28 If He doesn’t know, then I certainly don’t. One thing you can be sure of is that when any of those self-appointed prophets tell us the end is coming on a date that is certain, it won’t. They don’t know either, but why should it matter if you knew for certain that the end was coming tomorrow and Jesus would be returning at 4:30 in the afternoon?”
“I can tell you how it matters,” Murphy responded quickly. “If I knew Jesus was coming back at 4:30 tomorrow afternoon, I would address things in my life and get ready to face Him.”
“I am sure you would if that were possible, which is precisely why you won’t know the day or time,” the Bookseller responded. “If you knew, you would believe that you could live any way you wanted until near the end, and then decide to change your life. Think about that. If you were God, would you want people to know your schedule so they could ignore you until the end? How foolish. God is not like that, and He isn’t looking for a bunch of last minute ‘conversions’ where people live like hell and then grab for the ‘golden ring’ of fire insurance at the last minute. Do you really believe that Jesus suffered all He did on the cross for a bunch of last minute ‘me too’ commitments?”
Pausing to give Murphy time to find the answer, he continued. “Jesus’ answer to your question is to live every day like He would return. He said you ‘must be ready because the Son of Man will come at a time when you do not expect Him.’29 He said we must ‘keep watch and pray,’30 and that when He returns we are expected to be found actively involved in His business.31 I often think of the character in one of the old religious novels written about those involved in the crucifixion. It tells the story of a follower of Jesus who was always looking up wherever he went. Finally, the main character in the book asks in frustration, ‘why are you always looking up?’ The answer? ‘Because He may return today.’ That is how Christians are told to live. We are to live every day expecting His return that day.”
“But Jesus gave us signs of the end times, and we should not ignore them,” the president interjected.
“He did, but do you honestly believe that as president there is anything you as a man could do to speed those days or change God’s plan? If you do, you are a fool.”
The group became quiet waiting for the president’s response, astounded that the Bookseller would dare to say something like that to him.
“You are obviously correct,” the president responded humbly in a low tone. “I am so thankful that God has given us someone in these difficult days who will speak for Him without fear of the audience. For me, that affirms your words can be trusted.”
“If I ever consider my audience, I am no longer God’s servant,” the Bookseller responded.
“Mr. President, you must be like any other Believer and seek God and obey, leaving the consequences to Him. The fact that you are the president does not change that. You have no different assignment than any other Believer on this plane. We all are to listen for God’s voice and when we hear we are to obey.”32 For you as president, however, there will be a higher standard for to whom much is given, much is required.”33
There was more silence as the little assembled group took in what they had just heard. George Murphy wrote furiously, making notes knowing that what he had just witnessed was important and wanted to be prepared to report it accurately someday when the mysterious crisis passed — if it passed.
“Mr. White, I came out here to ask you a question about tomorrow,” the president said breaking the silence. “ITN has asked to broadcast live the Whitehouse service. Should we do that?”
“Have you prayed?” the Bookseller responded.
“Well, no. I was simply going to ask you your opinion.”
“Nothing without prayer, Mr. President, if you truly want God’s leadership and blessing,34 Let’s take some time to pray and discuss this later. I don’t know how to answer you without asking God for guidance.” And so they stopped and prayed.
“I don’t have a definite direction yet, Mr. President,” the Bookseller said when the prayers ended. “I am sorry, but that decision will have to wait.”
“Of course, I understand. I don’t either.”
“I have a question,” Murphy said, changing the subject. “What miracle do you expect in answer to tomorrow’s prayer? I know that there have been miracles in Williams as people who should not recover do and quickly, but what is the miracle you are all going to be praying for tomorrow?”
“I am not praying for miracles tomorrow,” the Bookseller answered. “You have this all wrong. An answer to prayer is never a miracle. An answer to a prayer in God’s will is what we should expect because that is what is promised.35 If it takes what the world defines as a miracle for the prayer to be answered, that will happen, but it is wrong to call it a miracle. Nothing is impossible for God, so nothing is a miracle to God.36 They are only miracles to man.”
“Have I confused you?”
“You have,” Murphy responded.
“Tomorrow as we pray, I am expecting God to answer our prayers within His will; whatever it takes, because He is God. You can label the answer anything