The Last Honorable Gladiator
The Ledger by Steven Manchester is a gritty contemporary Christian novel that is powerfully written with a clear message at its’ heart – God is with us, always – even if we don’t feel His presence. Even if we don’t acknowledge Him. God will never leave us alone.
“It’s difficult to watch our children make horrible mistakes and not intervene” are words spoken by God in the novel. He is our heavenly Father. The same words can be true of earthly parents. We have to give our children space to grow. “I’m going to worry about my little girl for the rest of my days… It’s the price I have to pay for being a parent.”
The setting is within a state penitentiary in Mississippi. We follow three characters – a long-serving inmate; a long-serving officer; and an inspector of conditions – only one of them feels far from God and has a very black heart. The other two come to know God, realising “true pain is feeling distance from God.” Bodies may be imprisoned but souls can be free.
We all have free will. We all make choices and must live with the consequences. We see the pain caused to God when His children choose the wrong path but “I can’t give you free will and then force myself on you,” says God.
God longs for each of us to come to Him. Sometimes it is a dazzling Damascus-road experience, at other times it is a gentle Emmaus-road experience. “God don’t use a microwave when He’s cooking. He uses a crock-pot.” God never gives up on us.
Life within a prison imprisons all – officers and inmates alike. But the officers get to go home at night. Lines may become blurred but “the trick with this job is not to lose your humanity.” And most importantly “it’s an unwritten law in the joint…officers don’t beat on inmates. Inmates beat on inmates.”
We see a rich man die. “Moe died a wealthy man, and it had nothing to do with anything he accumulated… Always try to be a good man.” Riches are measured by our character, and by how much we love and are loved.
We must remember with our last breath it is never too late to come to God. “Is it too late for me and God?” While there is breath in our body, we can always say a ‘yes’ to Jesus. As evangelist George Miller said: “You can live without Jesus, but for goodness’ sake, do not die without Jesus.”
The Ledger is not a read for the faint hearted. It is set inside a prison. There are details of crimes and daily life that are not pleasant as it is a realistic read. The language is that of the criminal and not the King’s English – but there is love. The love of humanity. And the love of God.
The Ledger is a powerful book. Its content is not pleasant but the love of God is all-encompassing – and it is this love that remains long after the last page is read.
I will leave you with my favourite quote which is included in the book, and it is part of a speech by Mother Teresa:
“People are often unreasonable and self-centred. Forgive them anyway… The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have… For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.”
I received a free copy from the author. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
A word of warning: There are scenes and language that some readers may not like.
JULIA WILSON