A Lost Woman

A Lost Woman

Chapter 1: The Professing Christian

Marianne strode through the small town square, her reputation preceding her like a shadow that grew longer with each passing year. To many, she was the shining example of civic engagement. Her environmental efforts had earned her local acclaim—planting trees, organizing recycling drives, and cleaning up local parks. Whenever there was an awards banquet or a community meeting, her name was always mentioned, her contribution always applauded.

But beneath the surface of her public image, there was something hollow.

She professed to be a Christian. She wore a delicate cross necklace, prominently displayed, and often spoke of the good she had done as evidence of her faith. But those who knew the depths of Scripture, particularly those grounded in the King James Bible, could discern the difference between genuine faith and the works-based salvation she clung to. Marianne wasn’t saved. She was a Pharisee—wrapped in the traditions of men, seeking approval not from God, but from her peers.

Chapter 2: The Encounter

Ten years ago, a young man named Daniel had crossed paths with Marianne. At the time, Daniel was lost—spiritually wandering, trying to find meaning. His life had been a series of trials, and in a moment of desperation, he had reached out to her. Knowing her public reputation as a helpful figure and her professed Christianity, he sent her a heartfelt message.

“I need guidance,” he had written. “I don’t know where to turn.”

Marianne never replied.

The silence from her was deafening. Daniel had been seeking someone, anyone, who could direct him toward truth. But Marianne’s indifference left him alone in his struggle. It was only years later that Daniel encountered a man preaching from the King James Bible on a street corner. Through this man’s boldness and conviction, Daniel finally heard the gospel of salvation by grace through faith, not of works, and it changed his life forever. He became a KJV-believing Christian, rooted firmly in the truth of God’s Word.

Chapter 3: A Decade of Silence

Marianne, meanwhile, continued to bask in the praise of the townsfolk. She attended community events, spoke at environmental rallies, and smiled politely when the local atheists complimented her.

“You’re such a good person,” they would say. “If there’s a heaven, you’ll surely be there.”

She loved their approval. The atheists respected her because she upheld their worldview of morality without the cross of Christ. She provided them with the assurance they wanted, but not through the only means that mattered—the finished work of Jesus.

Years passed. Her husband died, and as time wore on, her generation began to fade away. The recognition she had sought for so long began to feel empty. When her health started to decline, she found herself reaching out to people from her past.

One day, she contacted Daniel.

Chapter 4: The Conversation

They met at a small café on the edge of town. Marianne looked older, frailer, but still carried herself with an air of importance.

“I’ve seen you’ve been active,” she said, referring to Daniel’s street preaching and online ministry. “But you’re too extreme.”

Daniel sipped his coffee, unfazed. “What do you mean by extreme?”

“There’s no King James church here. You shouldn’t be out there without some kind of approval. A real church should endorse you.”

He leaned forward. “Marianne, you’re clinging to the traditions of men. You think a local church’s approval is what makes a man’s ministry valid? Paul preached Christ and Him crucified. That’s the foundation. Not the approval of man.”

She shifted uncomfortably. “I just don’t see how you can be right when everyone else disagrees with you.”

“That’s exactly what the Pharisees said to Jesus.”

Her face hardened. “I don’t have to listen to this.”

Chapter 5: The Truth She Rejected

Daniel watched her leave, his heart heavy but resolved. He knew she wouldn’t change. She had spent her life building her identity on works and human approval, and she wasn’t willing to tear that foundation down to accept the truth.

Marianne continued her life, attending social events and maintaining her image until her health deteriorated beyond recovery. She passed away quietly in her sleep.

Chapter 6: The Awakening

The moment her eyes opened, she knew something was wrong. She wasn’t in the peaceful afterlife she had imagined. Instead, she found herself surrounded by torment, the cries of the damned echoing endlessly.

“No!” she screamed. “I did good! I helped people!”

A voice, chilling and final, responded: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.”

Marianne fell to her knees, weeping. Her earthly achievements meant nothing here. She had rejected the gospel, and now the weight of that decision crushed her soul.

Chapter 7: The Great Tribulation

Meanwhile, on Earth, the world had descended into chaos. The Great Tribulation—the worst time in human history—had begun. Natural disasters, wars, and famine plagued the nations. Daniel and the other believers faced persecution but stood firm in their faith.

He knew that his mission wasn’t over. Though society had crumbled around him, he continued to preach Christ to those willing to listen. Each day, he risked his life, knowing that the gospel was worth it.

Many mocked him. Some threatened him. But others, seeing the signs of the times and the truth in the Scriptures, began to listen.

Epilogue

Marianne’s legacy in the town faded quickly after her death. The atheists who had once praised her moved on, seeking new figures to uphold their worldview. Her works, so revered in life, had no eternal value.

But Daniel continued to proclaim the truth, knowing that salvation came only through the cross of Christ, and that endurance in the face of tribulation would lead to eternal glory.