There Must Be Something More

85 | The Holy Spirit Really Spoke To Me

"I'm in," I said, barging inside the Grace Club room. My heart crashed in my chest. I thought my head was going to explode from nervousness and exhaustion of running all the way from the third floor library then through the halls.

Meredith looked up from her Bible and raised her eyebrows. "Barging in other people's room is rude, you know."

I ignored her statement. "I'm in!"

She stared at me.

"Hey--"

"Please try coming again," she said, "this time you should knock."

"Seriously? You're still going to care about a little--"

She stared at me.

I sighed.

I went back outside and knocked on the door, feeling a little shameful and silly. Meredith opened the door this time and smiled at me.

"Hello. Welcome to Grace Club," she said.

"I'm in!" I said again.

"Please, come in," Meredith said, making way for me.

I sighed. She wasn't getting it. I said thank you when I stepped inside. Trey was dozing off on a beanbag chair with his back against the wall and his head lolled back in a deep sleep. He was snoring.

"Meredith, I change my mind. I'll fight for Christianity." I said. I looked at her with such zeal and enthusiasm.

Slowly she grinned and hugged me. "Yay!"

"Hey, what's with all the noise?" Trey complained, squinting at us. The dark circles under his eyes were obvious. His hair a bird's nest.

"Charlie has decided to fight for Christianity!" Meredith announced gleefully. She clapped her hands in much ado; excited about the things happening.

Trey's eyes boggled. He stood up groggily and scratched his head. "Is this for real?"

"Yeah, dude!" I said, clapping him on the back. He staggered at the gesture.

Trey grinned and tackled me in a hug. "Alright!"

"But how did you come to this conclusion? I mean, what's the story? What happened?"

"First of all, Coach Anderson kicked me out of baseball," I told him.

He frowned. "What? Why? You're the star player!"

"He didn't want me defending the Christian faith. He even congratulated me when he thought I left it. And that's when I realized it was useless to be part of something if you don't defend it from people who try to disprove it." I said. And then I smiled. "And... the Holy Spirit really spoke to me in this one. I mean, He always does, and this is one of those times. He said to fight the good fight of faith, the faith that I proclaimed in the presence of many witnesses. And one of those witnesses is Principal Powell."

Meredith nodded. Trey did too.

Then she started tearing up. "I'm just glad you're back, Charlie. I really hate to lose a friend."

Trey did too. "Me too. I thought I was going to have a new best friend. And I didn't want a new best friend!"

I laughed, shaking my head.

Then Meredith suddenly looked concerned. "So, what about your scholarship?"

"I don't know," I admitted. "Although I do admit I'm hoping Coach snaps out of it. That he realizes I have the right to defend my faith. That this whole thing about kicking me out because I don't believe like he does is ridiculous."

"We'll pray for God's will to be done in this situation," Trey said. Then he smiled wistfully. "I'm really going to miss seeing you in the field, man."

"Hey, we can still play in our neighborhood's diamond."

"And what about Samuel?" Meredith asked.

I shrugged. "Honestly... I didn't feel like talking to him about this... decision of mine. I was afraid of what he'd say. I'm getting really concerned about him. He doesn't believe at all that there's scientific data and historical evidence for Jesus. I mean, I haven't seen one yet, but I guess that's how it is--that's why Jesus says faith is the evidence of things not seen. If we have enough faith, we'll receive what the Holy Spirit promises--that there's concrete evidence for the existence of Jesus."

"Let's pray continually for him," Meredith said. She smiled. "He'll be alright. I know God will intervene."

I smiled. "I love that kind of faith."

"Pray without ceasing," Trey said.

"So, how do we begin this thing? I mean, I'd like to be able to hand out gospel tracts before the end of the semester," I said.

"Right away," Meredith said. "As you may not have known, I know a certain someone who might just be able to help us out. He's actually studying for his master's degree in Biblical Studies at Macon Christian University."

I got curious. I looked at her. "Who?"

She smiled.

----------

"An investigation?" Steven said. He looked at us with inevitable intrigue. He folded his arms in front of his chest and stared. His casual leaning onto his front doorframe made him even more intimidating.

"More like a research," I tried to explain. "I mean, our principal asked for it. And I'm pretty glad he did. That way we could present the truth and people wouldn't have anything to say once the evidence is in."

"Oh, they will have something to say," he snapped. "They always do." Then he snapped his fingers, wagging one. "And by the way, I'd like to talk to you about that."

"So, can you help us out?" Trey asked.

Steven looked uncertain. "Look, honestly I'm still learning. Although I know quite a few points in the evidence and credibility of Christianity. I can tell you a few things, but my knowledge will be limited."

"That's okay," Meredith prompted.

"Tell you what," Steven invited. "I think you coming to my university yourselves will be a better idea. You could talk to our professors."

"That's great!" Meredith exclaimed. We all nodded in agreement.

"And?" I said.

"And what?" Steven asked obliviously.

"What you said," I said, "about people always having something to say."

"Yeah," he said. "Even with all the evidence, they will question the logic behind our belief. Now that's beyond evidence. Scientific data and historical evidence is the easy part. The existential questions will be the best shot. They'll be asking why God allows people to suffer and stuff like that.

"Are you guys sure about this?"

I hesitated for a moment. And then I was reminded about the Word I received from the Holy Spirit.

"Definitely," I said. I shook my head, in awe. "I thought about not doing it too, but the Holy Spirit really spoke to me. And I can't say no."

Steven smiled. "That's right. You shouldn't. And thank the Lord for that."

I couldn't have agreed more.