Jebediah Smalls was a God-fearing man, a Bible-reading man. A preaching man. When his daughter disgraced him by getting pregnant, he bade her leave the family home so that his younger daughter would not bear witness to the burgeoning belly that would come of her sinful ways. When his homeless, jobless, pregnant daughter had an abortion, Jebediah Smalls disowned her.

Some said that Jebediah Smalls was unforgiving, but Jebediah knew better than that. If something offends thee, cast it out. God’s will, plain and simple. Jebediah had only to deliver it.

And walking so righteously on the path, Jebediah did become more confident of his ability to know God’s will. Call him a prophet, if you will. Call him a disciple, call him a messenger. Jebediah knew the Lord. He prayed to him every night. And come daylight, Jebediah was unrelenting in his evangelism. Some said Jebediah Smalls was prideful, but Jebediah knew better than that. His gift, his calling, was to mete out God’s word. To hide that light under a bushel would be blasphemous. Right there in the gospel, brother. You can read it yourself.

And so when the day came that Jebediah Smalls’ light was extinguished, when he entered that eternal darkness to see the blazing glory at the end of the tunnel, he walked proudly toward the light, a man of no regrets, a man who fully expected to be welcomed by all the angels on high and by our Lord Almighty God.

And Jebediah Smalls did walk joyfully into the Throne Room and up the steps leading to the Throne of God, the Seat of Judgment.

Unfortunately for Jebediah Smalls, he was no longer sitting on it.

Copyright 2006 Amy Frushour Kelly. All rights reserved.

Reproduction by any means prohibited without prior written consent.