See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that forsakes the living God. (Hebrews 3:12)
Sigmund Marx closed his eyes for the last time. As he labored through his final breaths, a sinister voice spoke to his mind.
“I hate you. You are loved by the One who keeps me in chains, so I hurt him by claiming you. You thought you were in control, but here you are listening to my voice, to the one who could never exist.
“So why reveal myself now? Because you can do nothing from that bed. By not choosing a side, you chose me, and now you’re mine forever, and my pain is yours. My father and I will feed on you through eternity.”
Sigmund understood the words but could only moan.
“Oh, I have so much to tell you. Do you remember that high school teacher who told you about life with God, paradise, and all that rot? You decided it would be nice if it were true, but if it wasn’t, you’d waste your life sacrificing pleasures.
“That was me. I planted that fear of a wasted life. You were so gullible. You exchanged heaven for a few miserable years on earth. People called you learned, but that’s just stupid. And now you join the ranks I’ve outsmarted through history.
“You were loved by God, you had authority over us, and you gave it all away for me. I take particular pleasure that, through all the years you served me, you never guessed I was there. Ha.
“Now I want you to know the name of the one who bested you. My name is Unbelief.”
Prayer: Mighty Jesus, let me never yield to doubt.