Matthew 22:11-13

“Hey! It’s me, Donnie. I have something for you. Can you come over today?”

Ericka looked at her phone, contemplating whether she wanted to make time for this. Donnie had been introduced to her a few weeks ago by a friend. She didn’t think he was her type, but he persisted anyway. It was refreshing, yet a little annoying at times.

How many times can a person hear someone tell them, “I will never leave you”?

It was just something she wasn’t used to.

“I only have about an hour, then I have to go to work,” she texted back.

“That’s plenty of time,” he replied with an eager tone that came through even in text.

Ericka didn’t know why she agreed. When she arrived at Donnie’s house, her eyes nearly fell out of her head! His home was a sprawling mansion hidden behind a nine-foot wrought iron gate adorned with intricate designs of vines and birds.

She pulled up further, her bumper nearly touching the gate. As the gate slowly swung open, her eyes widened to see the massive house up close. Thoughts rushed through her mind as she took in the sights. Donnie didn’t look like he owned a house like this!

The polite voice on the intercom interrupted her internal questions. “Hello, how may I assist you?”

“Uh…” Ericka hesitated, “I was invited over by Donnie?”

“Wonderful! He’s been expecting you,” the voice replied cheerfully.

It felt like Ericka had to drive a mile just to get to the door. When she finally made it, Donnie was standing outside, his face lit up with excitement to see her.

“I hope you didn’t run into any trouble getting here,” Donnie said, helping her out of the car.

Ericka was too focused on the sights before her. There were fountains and hundreds of flowers planted around, bursting with colors so vibrant it was almost like she was seeing them for the first time.

“It was actually pretty easy to find,” she finally replied. “Who owns all of this?”

“I do,” Donnie admitted proudly. “Thank you for accepting the invitation.”

Ericka felt like she hit the jackpot! She didn’t care about how Donnie looked. If this was how he was living, she could learn to deal with him. Still focused on the exterior of the house and the garden area, Ericka didn’t even realize that Donnie was leading her to the front door. They were ten feet tall and elaborately designed. Ericka looked closely, running her fingers across the design.

“Was this handcrafted?” she asked, her fingers tracing the intricate carvings of mythical creatures intertwined with floral motifs.

“Yes, my son made it for me,” Donnie said, a note of pride in his voice.

“A son? Wait a minute. How old are you? You don’t look like you have a son old enough to do this!”

Ericka’s question hung in the air, mingling with a faint breeze that carried the scent of jasmine from the garden. Donnie chuckled, a warm, infectious sound that made Ericka’s initial apprehensions seem like a distant thought.

“I might look younger than I am,” Donnie replied with a wink. “Let’s just say I’ve been blessed.”

They stepped inside, and Ericka was immediately enveloped by the grandeur of the foyer. The ceiling soared high above, adorned with a crystal chandelier that scattered light across the polished marble floors like stars in a clear night sky. Paintings that looked centuries old graced the walls, each frame telling a story of heritage and timelessness.

Donnie noticed Ericka’s awe-struck expression and smiled. “It’s a lot to take in, I know. This place has been in my family for generations. Each piece you see has its own story.”

Ericka felt a mix of admiration and insignificance as she followed Donnie through the sprawling hallway. The air was cool and smelled faintly of old books and lemon polish. She couldn’t help but touch the surfaces as they passed—an ancient oak table here, a velvet-upholstered settee there.

“I must admit, I didn’t expect this,” Ericka confessed, her voice echoing slightly in the vast space.

Donnie paused before a large portrait of a stern-looking man in Victorian attire. “It’s not without its challenges and responsibilities. Everything you see comes with a story of struggle and triumph.”

As they approached a heavy wooden door at the end of the corridor, it creaked as he pushed it open, revealing a dimly lit room that contrasted sharply with the rest of the house’s opulence. Inside, the atmosphere was solemn, almost sacred, setting the stage for a revelation that Ericka could never have anticipated.

Donnie smiled warmly, shifting the tone to something more personal. “There is so much to tell you, but first I wanted to show you something.” He handed her a big purple box that shimmered in the sunlight, captivating Ericka’s attention. It was unlike anything she had seen before; the hues shifted with the light, mesmerizing and mysterious.

Ericka turned the box over in her hands, absorbed in its unique beauty. She didn’t notice the door opening or the older man who entered, looking like he might have been picked up from the men’s shelter north of Conway. It was only when the door closed behind him, releasing a tantalizing aroma into the air, that she glanced up.

“Oh my goodness! What is that? It smells… that smells fantastic!” Ericka exclaimed, her curiosity piqued not just by the box but now by the scent wafting through the air.

“I had some things whipped up for some guests,” Donnie explained. “We can go in and see what’s there, but I need you to open the box first.”

Ericka looked at Donnie, her expression a mix of confusion and a faint irritation at his insistence. “Wooow,” she said, her voice tinged with forced enthusiasm. “This is… different.”

“I had it made just for you,” Donnie beamed, clearly proud of his mysterious gift.

As they spoke, another person shuffled past—a woman who looked to be struggling with her own demons, her lips blistered, and eyes bloodshot. Ericka’s eyes narrowed slightly as she noticed the woman was wearing the same peculiar fabric that was in the box.

“I thought you said it was made just for me,” Ericka questioned, her tone laced with skepticism.

“It was,” Donnie insisted. “A lot of love, and suffering, went into having that available for you.”

Ericka’s gaze hardened as she scanned the area, noticing more individuals making their way to the door, each adorned in similar attire. “So why do they get one, too?” she asked, her voice carrying a sharp edge of accusation.

Donnie’s expression remained unfazed as he explained, “It’s a robe. You’ll need it to come inside.”

“Why can’t I just wear what I want?” Ericka challenged, her skepticism mounting.

“Well,” Donnie began, pausing to greet another passerby before returning his attention to Ericka. “I invited you here because I know you’re a special woman. I know that you’ve experienced a lot of hardship in your life, and I wanted to offer you a better one. With me.” He gestured broadly at the surroundings. “All that I have here would be yours. You don’t have to do anything; I already have help for that.”

Ericka couldn’t mask her skepticism. “There’s no way you’d be willing to take care of me for nothing. What’s the catch?” she asked, her instincts telling her that there was much more to this than a simple invitation.

“There is none. I just want to spend eternity with you. I love you,” Donnie declared, his eyes sincere.

“That sounds desperate. Besides, if you knew what I’ve done in my life, you wouldn’t want to be anywhere near me,” Ericka said, her arms crossed defensively. “I don’t want to wear this ugly robe anyway. Why can’t I just come in like this?”

“Well,” Donnie began, his smile gentle yet unwavering, “I have someone special I would like you to meet. Because he’s clean, I’ve given you something that will make you look like him.”

“It’s going to take a lot more than this robe to cover up what I’ve done,” Ericka grinned, half-mocking the simplicity of his solution.

Donnie smiled at her lovingly. “There is so much for you to learn, my dear.”

“I want to come in, but I’m not putting this on.”

“It’s the only way you’ll be able to come in, though.”

Ericka looked up and saw masses of people, all wearing the same robe, filing into the open door. There were people of all colors and backgrounds. Some skipped in with excitement; others were weeping so hard with joy. Ericka took it all in, her head swirling from all the people, before locking eyes with Donnie.

“Who are you for real?” she chided.

“I’m Donnie,” he laughed.

This time Ericka took a moment to calculate an appropriate question. “Is that short for something?”

“Actually, yes. It’s short for Adonai. I’ve been waiting to see you again and, this time, I want to invite you to live with me forever.”

“This is ridi—” Before Ericka could finish her sentence, she jumped as someone touched her foot. It was a woman, weeping so hard she could barely stand. The tattoo on the back of her neck was all too familiar. “Tiff?” Ericka was just hanging out with Tiffany the night before. She was shocked to see her like this. Tiffany was always scrappy, loved to fight. Ericka had never seen her like this before.

“Tiffany, get up girl! What are you doing?”

“E!” Tiffany greeted her, stumbling to her feet. “E, you have to come meet his son! I met him last night after I left you. I was riding home, and my brakes went out. I couldn’t stop. All I could do was cry, ‘Jesus, if you save me, I promise I’ll follow you.’”

“What?” Ericka held up her friend, “What happened?”

“I met him, E. All I know is two tires went flat and I was able to stop. I jumped out of the car and fell to my knees. Then he showed up. E, he saved my life. I know I’ve been doing wrong and I don’t deserve him, but I felt a love that I’ve never felt. You have to meet him!”

Tiffany pushed away from Ericka and ran the rest of the way until she disappeared behind the doors.

Adonai stood by with a soft smile on his face. “Ericka, I will never force you to come this way. It would have to be your decision.”

Ericka looked at the door, trying to see if she could spot Tiffany, but it was no use. There were too many people flooding in. She took in a deep breath and pushed the box into Adonai’s hands. It seemed like she stared at him for eternity. Clenching her jaw, Ericka took off the top and put on the robe.

Adonai smiled. “So much for you to learn. Good thing we have the time now.”

Matthew 22:11-14