The Time Has Come
“The Time Has Come” is episode #330 of the Adventures in Odyssey audio series. It was written and directed by Paul McCusker, and originally aired on September 2, 1995.
Summary
Despondent over his helplessness to influence the ominous events in Odyssey, Eugene creates a search program for the Imagination Station that lets him replay key moments of his life.
Plot
In the midst of the evil encompassing Odyssey, Eugene’s spiritual journey has been moving full steam ahead. He’s been stripped of everything he’s ever cared about: Whit is gone, Katrina has left Odyssey because of Eugene, and now Whit’s End has closed and is in the hands of Philip Glossman and Regis Blackgaard. Eugene wants to help in the battle, but Jack wisely points out that Eugene can’t. It’s a spiritual battle Eugene isn’t equipped to fight. Jack challenges Eugene. Jack says that if Eugene thinks over all his experiences in Odyssey, he’ll see that everything points to the inevitable: Sooner or later, Eugene must make a decision about Jesus Christ.
Fortunately, Eugene and the other employees of Whit’s End aren’t banned from the emporium. Thanks to Jason’s pleading and political connections, they have permission to come to the shop. So Eugene decides to use the Imagination Station’s data banks to “search” Odyssey’s history for any references about the mysterious mineral under Whit’s End.
To test his search program, Eugene decides to take Jack up on his challenge, to search through his own life in Odyssey. Eugene does, and he re-lives many scenes from his past that have pointed him toward Jesus Christ. Eugene comes out of the Imagination Station ready to say “yes” to the Lord’s call. And what begins as a tender moment of prayer between Jack and Eugene turns comical as Connie, Bernard, and Tom show up to share in Eugene’s decision. The only one missing is Whit. But even he is represented when, on the downstairs phone, he calls and leaves a message of encouragement on the answering machine. Finally, Eugene Meltsner becomes a new creation.
Discussion Questions
- Why did Eugene feel so disengaged from the battle for Odyssey?
- Why did Jack think that the only way Eugene could become effective in the fight was to become a Christian?
- Why was it so obvious to Eugene that after looking over his life, he needed to accept Christ?
Cast
Notes
Parents: This series, known as “Darkness Before Dawn” gets extremely intense in places, and is therefore not recommended for younger listeners.
- Trivia
- In place of the theme for this episode, we hear Eugene whistle those 7 very recognizable notes when unlocking the door at Whit's End.
- While talking with Eugene outside Whit's End, Bernard references his and Eugene's road trip — specifically, their experiences in Colorado and California.
- A scene from this episode is depicted briefly in the Adventures in Odyssey Jumpstart Comics.
- This episode flashes back to #51: “Connie, Part 1” and #157: “Last in a Long Line” before Eugene climbs into the Imagination Station. Once in the station, he sees a collage of scenes from the following episodes:
- #52: “Connie, Part 2”
- #136: “Back to Bethlehem, Part 2”
- #137: “Back to Bethlehem, Part 3”
- #212: “The Mortal Coil, Part 2”
- #232: “Thy Kingdom Come”
- #254: “Truth, Trivia and 'Trina”
- #266: “It Began with a Rabbit's Foot”
- #267: “It Ended with a Handshake”
- #274: “First-Hand Experience”
- #278: “The Fifth House on the Left, Part 1”
- #280: “Gone...”
- #294: “Unto Us a Child Is Born”
- #322: “The Turning Point”
- ...and finally, the episode that you're reading about, #330: “The Time Has Come”
- See Whit's Foreign Lines or this article to find out from where some of Whit's lines from this episode originate.
- Eugene's conversion in this episode was one of many that has happened in Adventures in Odyssey over the years. For a complete list of everyone who has been saved on the show, see this List of Conversions.
Quotes
Eugene Meltsner: Dear God: my new Father in heaven; I am uncharacteristically at a loss of words. So please accept my verbal fumblings as I finally respond to Your promptings.
Bernard Walton: Well, stuff me with feathers and call me a pillow!
Bernard Walton: You look about as happy as a man who invested a million dollars in eight track tapes.
Eugene Meltsner: I beg your pardon?
Bernard Walton: Eight track tapes! You know; in the 70's, they were tape... Oh, never mind. It's no good if you have to explain it!
Bernard Walton: Good grief, Eugene, after all we've been through, you don't think I know you by now?
Resources
- Episodes in Album 25: Darkness Before Dawn
- 1995 Season Episodes
- Episodes sorted alphabetically
- Episodes sorted chronologically
- Episodes hosted by Chris Anthony
- Episodes written by Paul McCusker
- Episodes directed by Paul McCusker
- Episodes produced by Dave Arnold
- Episodes with sound design by Dave Arnold
- Episodes with music by John Campbell
- Episodes recorded at Unknown
- Episodes engineered by Dave Arnold
- Episodes executive produced by Chuck Bolte
- Episodes in Platinum Collection
- Episodes in The Blackgaard Chronicles: The Battle Between Good and Evil Comes Home
- Episodes in Megapack
- Episodes with Empty intro
- Episodes with Narration wraps
- Episodes with Normal wraps
- Episodes with theme of Salvation
- The Blackgaard Chronicles Episodes
- Episodes that use the Imagination Station
- Episodes produced by Paul McCusker
- Episodes with promos
- Episodes with samples
- Episodes on CBD
- Episodes on iTunes
- Episodes on Amazon
- Episodes on AIOHQ
- Episodes on the Odyssey Library
- Episodes on the Odyssey Scoop
- Episodes on the Soda Fountain
- Episodes with Bernard Walton
- Episodes with Connie Kendall
- Episodes with Eugene Meltsner
- Episodes with Jack Allen
- Episodes with John Whittaker
- Episodes with Tom Riley
- Episodes depicted in the comics