This was the study of Friday for D-Groups:
Matthew 19:16-
Does it sound familiar? The rich young man represents us, we might not be physically rich, but we are spiritually; but do we even have an idea of how much? Do we even care about things we can’t see? Is going to church for us like going to mass? We feel safe in our zone of comfort, but once God shakes you from your nest and you fall, into the unknown, into new things, into a cruel and cold world that will not hesitate in striking you down, how do we react? Do we blame the Lord for not letting us keep being lazy people? This rich young man said that he had kept all the commandments regarding his neighbor since he was young, now, there is reason to believe he did, because then the Lord would have known if otherwise, but then the Lord pierced deeper into the heart of this young man and found where his heart truly lay: his riches, his zone of comfort.
What is your zone of comfort? Kicking it, listening to music, watching movies, going to church because your parents take you or because you want to hang out with your friends…is this a way of living? Do we so undermine God’s salvation as to pretend we can just say: “alright God, I know I’m a sinner, come into my life, amen,” and then go back to the old ways, the ways of death? Isn’t it contradictory? We grow sad when we get out of our protecting bubble on our own, alone, exposed to the unknown. I was shaken from my nest, big time. A year and a half ago I came from my country, from my land, from my family, from my friends, from my house, from everything I hold dear and true and love…to come to another culture, another land, another family…I had everything I needed in my country, why leave? Because the Lord wanted to. He knew we’d grown cold, so he shook us from our cloud so that we might know who is really in charge. We make plans, we dream, we hope, we seek…but all is what we want, the Lord’s become nothing more than a name, a concept, some guy who died two thousand years ago for the world…more and more it sounds like a fairy tale doesn’t it? If you claim to have Christ in your heart…why aren’t you living so? Why aren’t you trying to discover what comes with the entire package?
Salvation
"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Phillipians 2:12).
Why would we care about God’s salvation? Why should we work to become more Christ-like? What motivates our lives? What do you think?
The word "work out" in the original Greek was used to express the hard work involved in digging out the hidden silver in silver mines, how constantly a miner had to dig and dig until the hidden treasure was found.
I like to find out the original words in Greek to know what the writers really wanted to say, the absolute power with which they charged their letters or books. In this case what Paul really said to those in the church of Philippi with this verse was how to discover what comes with salvation, not how to win it.. This verse is one of the most misinterpreted verses this days. Many take this verse to say that the Bible itself says we can lose our salvation and that with constant fear we must work with our own strength to keep it...
A gift is a gift. The person who gives you a gift never asks for it back. God gave us salvation when we decided to accept it. Paul told them to DEVELOP their salvation...because it is an entire package.
Salvation is not something to be kept there at home until the Lord comes back and then show it to Him and say: see, I am saved, I can enter. It is way more than that...but we cannot see that because we haven't even opened our gift.
We don't have the slightest idea of the position we have, the rank bestowed on us. Being a christian doesn't end with accepting Christ...just how we work in keeping our bodies fit and in shape, so we must shape our salvation, put it into work. Can you see now how this verse has nothing to do with either gaining or losing the salvation?
Salvation is not something static. It has to be in movement.
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:2). That's what renovation is for, that we might not be still, that we might be changed and dedicated to work in our salvation, not for it. That's why we work daily for a different life, one more attached to Him. Through renewal we grow more constantly and we start to see the things with the eyes of Christ, for we have his mind...or ought to reach it. The fear and trembling that it mentions is not one of fearing God will strike us with a thunder, but that respect, that honor due to Him we must give.
Have we found any silver yet? Have we even started digging? Do you have any idea of what God has stored for you both here and in heaven? and of what He expects from you? let us not waste more time and start digging now.
It sounds all pretty for me to put it this way, you know. Some of you might get all excited and say: “from now on, I’ll be a guy of prayer, I’ll do stuff, I’ll get right.” It’s nothing more than emotions. That’s why I don’t really like it when, with no offense, pastors ask people with Christ already in their hearts to raise their hands if they want to reconcile with Him again and “ask” the Holy Spirit again. There’s no such thing as “asking to come again,” no such thing as a lukewarm heart. Either you are hot or cold, but if you’re neither, beware. You’ve lost sensibility towards God’s salvation.
Lukewarm
To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."" (Revelation 3:14-22).What does it awake in you when you read this passage? Do you reflect about your relationship with Christ? Are you cold? Or are you battling day by day to reach the stature of the perfect Man? Many times we are quick to judge other brothers in Christ in their relationships with Him. We do a perfect job in tearing them apart in our minds and expose them to shame or their “nakedness.”"So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!" (1 Corinthians 10:12). How firm do we believe we are walking? How apt do we think we are to judge others before ourselves? Let us measure our temperature before and fear Him who will judge the living and the dead.Ask yourself this: am I looking for the Lord’s face? Am I walking in his commandments? Am I cold? Am I hot? Am I lukewarm? Whatever it is, be afraid when you are either cold or lukewarm, come before the Lord, repent (which means to stop doing what you use to do, never do it again or come back to it) and seek for the Right way and for the holiness for which the Lord called you in the first place.
So it all comes down to one thing: whom do you worship? Where does your allegiance really lie? You cannot know who you are if you don’t know your past, your roots, where you were given true life, if you don’t know who you are, then you don’t know where you’re heading. Even as Christians, examine yourselves right now. I know that many of you feel completely hollow, even being Christians, you know that even though your flesh is satisfied with the materialism of this country, there is something inside that you can’t fill with anything.
Roots
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God" (Colosssians 3:1-3).
In a country such as this (United States) it is very easy to become cold in your communion with the Lord Jesus Christ because there is no persecution or imminent trial. Temptations surround you in all forms and sizes. Materialism is gigantic and colonizes the lives of many people...myself included.
This summer I took a class titled: "History of the United States 11." The system and format of this class is completely different to all the history classes I have ever received. The pure truth about history. Real docummented evidence of all the crimes and atrocities commited against my ancestors (the incas, mayans, aztecs, etc.) and yours as well. The colonization and destruccion of the culture and society of the mayans, aztecs, incas, etc. All that it's not taught in "normal" history classes I have seen at full tilt in this class.Being exposed to all this material (which is something very shocking and it also rips your heart) took me to a dangerous road: doubt. I started to question and ask the Lord why he kept silent? why did he allow innocence to be destroyed and massacred in such a way? Of course, it was man's sin who did that, not God. But why let the evildoers to continue living? why let them continue assassinating and massacrating? why does He expect so much from human beings? I confess, it took me to the point in which I told Him: "you only lived thirty three years in this Earth...while manking has endured and suffered throughout all its existence the different variations of crimes and evilness. I know you will judge evil and that it will not be left unpunished...but what do you expect from something so fragil as a human being?"
You'll wonder: what do the verses have to do with roots? Well, all this period of doubt in my life has made my think of my ethnic roots. What did my forefathers suffer? who really am I? I certainly have no Spanish heritage, I am mayan, etc, etc. but a while ago I realized that I've been putting my eyes in the things that are visible and material, but not in the things from above, where the Just Judge sits and will not let anything escape His Judgment.
What are our roots? If you have accepted Christ as your Savior, He is your root, what keeps you alive, what gave you life in the first place...because before Christ we all were dead. That time of doubt in my life took me to a conclusion: I was beginning to trust in human knowledge, I was letting perpetual arguments to fill my mind. God will deal with all the crimes of mankind. But besides your ethnic roots, do you even know if you have a reference point? can you identify a point in which you actually started living? the point in which you started using your eyes for the first time to see the reality? what gives you life? what spurs you onwards?
Are we putting our eyes above? Are we seeking the perfect wisdom that only comes from the Lord? or are we putting our eyes in human wisdom, in that ridiculous struggle man intends to maintain between God and man to "prove" that God does not exist, that we are our own gods? that God is unjust?...whatever you want to tell me...what really matters ? what is it that at the end will define YOUR DESTINY? do you even know where you're heading? where you will end up in once you exhale your last breath?
That rain of storms I cannot answer for you. Each one of us must examine ourselves and return to our first love...again I ask you: what is your point of reference? what are your roots?
So, going back to the miners thing (which is actually where I decided to name this little study “Lagging Miners”) we are all miners in this world, some are working very hard with a hope and a goal in mind, that’s what fuels them forward, though they go through difficulties, they are still there. This kind of people remind me of the people of our countries. Something you must know: you will never be an American (referring to the United States), you will always be latino. But what does that have to do with all this? If you’ve ever been to your parent’s country of origin you will see the simplicity of the people, their humble personalities, their disposition to help others. I remember going to churches in humble towns in El Salvador, and their faith and determination to live each day for the Lord were so strong that I was completely marveled and shocked at how us, who really have everything, trample on their past efforts to have us here, not go through the violence of gangs and the economic downfall. We are really just spitting on their toil and all they did to have us here by not living the way they did, their complete submission to the Lord. We are safe in our amusement parks, countless concerts, new clothes, videogames, movies, parties, etc., but we neglect our own roots by not living like they live, for the Lord. Maybe you’ve been to missionary trips, so you have seen the need (partly) of the people, but at the same time their simplicity, their utter trust in the Lord. Why can’t we? Why can’t we renounce ridiculous monotonous lives?
And just as we pretend to be from this culture and reject our ancestor’s struggle, the same way we are kicking God out of our lives today. We received the gift of salvation, but that’s it, we went and hid it under our beds, or under the Earth or wherever you want, and never opened it, never dug deep and deep and found all that the Lord has for us. Why don’t we wake up? Yes, you might have troubles in your house with your parents, your family, friends, etc. But how can you compare those with what the apostles went through? The church (meaning those of us who have accepted Christ), as we speak, is dead. We fight each other, we seek to achieve the “American Dream” and not God’s dream for us. When will you wake up? When will you start using the tools given you and start discovering the Lord’s plan for your life. How will He find you when He comes?
Parable of talents
Matthew 25:14-30 (read all) (parable of talents. Are we putting what the Lord has given us (gifts, etc) into work? Or do we simply don’t care and just pretend to hide it until He comes?)
(ASK IF SOMEONE WANTS TO RECEIVE CHRIST
If you are here today, and you have no idea who Jesus Christ is what is all this we’re talking about, let me put it simply to you: Jesus is the Son of God, he came to die here for you many but many years ago. Well, what did I do you will say. Sin, that is what separates us from God. We mess up all the time, if there would be no sacrifice then there would be no hope for us. You don’t need to tell me, but I know that you have a big void in you, and you don’t know how to fill it. It makes you desperate sometimes, it makes you anxious on another. You try to easy that longing by accepting all that this world offers you, hey, maybe that’ll work. But once it’s over every day, you know your void just got bigger, you can’t fill it up, so you just try to become numb to it. So you don’t feel the pain, you know. But it never works. Why would you want to accept Christ and how do you do that? He came to give us hope of an eternity at His side, to fill that void in you until it overflows. If you die today, do you know where you’re going? Do you even know if you’re going somewhere? The Bible says that all those who invoke Him will be saved…from hell. Maybe you’ve heard about hell before, maybe it’s just something the Greeks made up and stuff. Well, it’s not. It’s more real than you think, both God and Satan are more real than yourself. For God doesn’t want any to perish, but that all come to repentance and salvation. (Ask if anyone wants to accept Him) If you want to be free, if you want to fill that void, all you have to do is say this: “Jesus, I may not really know you but…I just want to fill this void and know what true contentment is. Come into my life today, and give me this hope they’re talking about, let me be able to dig and find all the great stuff you have for me. Thank you, Amen.” If you did this prayer, welcome to the family! You might be like what? Was that it? Yes, it is simple now, but it was paid with the highest price. Now all you have to do is congregate in a church where the sound doctrine is taught and keep growing in His love, keep digging and digging. (See before if they have Bibles to give).)
Read verses
Luk 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, (discern clearly) and beware, (be on guard, prevent, avoid) of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
“Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked” (Psalm 37:16).
“Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil” (Proverbs 15:16).
“I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner” (Ecclesiastes 5:13).
“Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand” (Ecclesiastes 5:15).
There is not a more absurd and vain life than that which is lived to accumulate wealth on this Earth. All we possess is borrowed; our life, our time, our resources, the life of the children for those who are parents. And what is really worth in life is what we do with those things for eternity, and that is what our first principle is about.
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).
Where are your eyes set?
Genesis 47:15 (money is temporary, we come to acknowledge our need).
When the money of the people of Egypt and Canaan was gone, all Egypt came to Joseph and said, "Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? Our money is used up."
Genesis 47:16 (God provides, His love doesn’t expect anything in return, but since He has saved us we should bring him our lives…completely).
"Then bring your livestock," said Joseph. "I will sell you food in exchange for your livestock, since your money is gone."
Genesis 47:18 (complete surrender, humility).
When that year was over, they came to him the following year and said, "We cannot hide from our lord the fact that since our money is gone and our livestock belongs to you, there is nothing left for our lord except our bodies and our land.
Proverbs 17:16
Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?
Ecclesiastes 5:10
Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.
Ecclesiastes 7:12
Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: that wisdom preserves the life of its possessor.
Isaiah 55:2 (New International Version) (vain) (what really matters)
Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
Matthew 6:24
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
Matthew 21:12 (how we have defiled the Lord’s temple (us) by filling it with sin and the world’s riches, process of cleansing, harsh but healing).
Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.
Matthew 25:13
"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Mark 12:41 (humility)
The Widow's Offering
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.
Acts 3:2-8 (God’s wisdom and power are greater than money).
Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
Acts 4:32-37 (summarize)
The Believers Share Their Possessions
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
Annanias and Sapphira
What part of our lives (if not all of it) do we keep to ourselves and pretend we can fool God?
Acts 8:18-25 (can’t buy or earn God’s Holy Spirit).
1 Timothy 6:3-20
Love of Money
If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Paul's Charge to Timothy
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge,
2 Timothy 3:1-9
Godlessness in the Last Days
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth—men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.
We are in the last days.
Hebrews 13: 5
Concluding Exhortations
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
James 4:13-17
Boasting About Tomorrow
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.
We make plans but we don’t put them in the Lord’s hands.
1 Peter 5:2-8
Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
sábado, 30 de agosto de 2008
domingo, 24 de agosto de 2008
Warfare of the Saints preview
Chapter 1
Abel lay in the soft white carpet, his arms and legs spread all over. Edward enjoyed seeing his son sleeping: peace and innocence emanating from his mind now drifting into unbreakable sleep. He picked his son carefully from the floor and climbed the stairs slowly, being careful not to let any movement stir Abel out of his dream world. Not even the slightest sound seemed to do so. He entered Abel’s room and laid him softly in his bed, tucking him in. Abel stirred a little and uttered: “Daddy, I love you.” A smile broadened in Edward’s face as he himself wanted Abel’s rest and relief. But it seemed to him that would be stealing. There was no way he was going to mend his errors from the past, nor return to childhood. “Make the best out of these years my son, may God show you the way.”
Edward entered his room and beheld his wife already in bed, deep in reading one of her favorite books. He entered the bathroom and turned on the shaver machine as he asked his wife about her day. “Quiet, the everyday routine. Robert told me the seminar is next week, so I must prepare the material I will give.”
“Does Robert know that the CEO of the company will attend as well?” inquired Edward.
“What!? How come you knew about this and I did not? It is essential that I…”
Edward paused his shaving, peeked out of the bathroom and tried to normalize his now raging wife: “Honey, it’ll be alright, trust in God, pray, seek Him, don’t do this by yourself.” Edward resumed his shaving with a big deception when he saw his wife clearly not paying him any attention, but to the now flying papers she would need for the seminar.
After several hours of conjugal battling, Edward and his wife went to bed. None able to sleep.
Edward’s mind drifted to an unpleasant doze. He found himself surrounded by soldiers clad with ancient armors and sheathed swords. Some were asleep, some were vigilant and refused to sleep. Perhaps they were waiting for their enemy to come. They had been informed of a certain Vincent Adramelech coming to Balcchaist, but there was no knowing how he might look like.
The ever ominous moon grew red as the city of Balcchaist was covered by the darkness of the night, as if covered by a great dark cloak. There was a tense environment and soldiers readied themselves for war. Edward wondered why they would set themselves into their battle positions if there was no enemy at sight. No soul was to be seen all around the Northern perimeter of the city.
Steps.
Strange enough. Rain poured down hard. Wolves filled the eerie background with their infernal voices in unison inviting the weak of heart and spirit.
“Beware of the nights in Balcchaist my dear boy,” advised an old man to Edward “Storms are bad omens…do not let them tuck you in.”
Steps growing ever stronger.
Boy? Why would he call me a boy? thought Edward as he turned with a start when he heard a noise. The noise faded and he turned again to find that the old man was gone and with him a fading sarcastic laughter.
A watchman caught a glimpse of a figure approaching the main gate. It seemed that the path he had trailed was a long straight line of dark fire.
Steps cease.
“In the name of King Emmanuel, I bid you give your name and mission here.”
The stranger clad in a long black robe covering his entire face and body slowly looked up. A dim hint of his face was seen. It was not enough however, for the distant guard to perceive and judge.
As the stranger opened his mouth to utter words, it seemed to the guard that a heat was growing ever stronger in his face.
“I am Vincent.”
“What is thy mission in this place?”
“I am here to see your king.”
“What business might you have with him at this hour of the night?”
“Mind your tongue young watchman! Have you any idea who am I!?”
“That will be enough soldier,” said Belial, who seemed to Edward as some kind of a superior officer.
Belial stepped forward and leaned in the broad stone wall and peered at Vincent with a strange grin. Then he returned to his chamber as he waved dismissingly as to convey the message that there was no need to worry about Vincent, that it was alright for him to enter the city.
As a soldier was about to order for the doors to be opened, the doors opened by themselves slowly and creaking greatly. The soldiers were astounded but knew better than to act against Belial’s word. But how could the one and only King of the world, the Almighty Emmanuel, allow such mystery to transpire in His saints’ forth on Earth?
Edward had forgotten that he was in another world, he was dreaming, or so he thought.
“Ready men!”
Why would they set themselves into position again? There was no enemy army nearby or far. And who was this Vincent coming into the city? What city was this? Who was Belial? What in the world was going on!? But there was one question that intrigued him further: King Emmanuel. Who was He? Whenever he heard His name a sudden terror came to him but at the same time an impulse to glorify someone he had never seen. Was God showing him something through this “dream”?
Edward sneaked out from the ranks and into the inner quarters. His armor served him as a disguise.
“Welcome to Balcchaist, my dear Vincent.”
“I am at thy service, my lord.”
Edward watched as Vincent bowed to Belial and Belial’s eyes turned from blue to red as he discovered Edward sneaking in.
“What are you doing here?”
“I was sent by the general, sir. They need you at the main palace.”
This is it. At least I will die in a dream, not in reality.
True enough, there was a commotion at the main gate and Edward heard several soldiers saying that Belial had been summoned at the presence of King Emmanuel.
“Show him to his quarters…he shall not be disturbed at any time by anyone, understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And you…you will not speak of what you have seen here today, or I shall have your corpse fed to the crows, understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
Edward saw Belial leave his chamber and took Vincent to his room. For him it was as if he was escorting the devil himself. Ghastly thoughts ran through his mind as he walked Vincent to his room and breathing was a hard task. His eyes burned and sweat ran through his face as he dripped.
“Remember…I shall not be disturbed…or I shall have not your corpse, but your soul fed to the crows.”
With that, Vincent slammed the door on Edward’s face without ever touching it with his hand.
Edward fled from the inner quarters. He cared not what was transpiring in the inner palace. He wanted out of this dream. How could this be a dream? It was too long, too real, too frightening. He felt everything: heat, cold, anxiety, fear, etc. How could one feel these things in a dream?
As Edward made his way out of the inner quarters, he heard a great commotion outside. A great war was being waged. Before he took any action or had even time to unsheathe his sword he turned to see a sword about to pierce him and awoke with a start.
Anxiety. Fear. All emotions mingled into one. As he awoke he felt as if he was plunged into a dark eternal abyss.
Edward got up from bed, full of adrenaline created by his own mind. He made his way down the stairs and into his living room. He knelt and prayed: “what are you trying to show me Lord? Is this from you?”
Chapter 2
Paul closed his eyes and as he opened them again he found himself standing in a great battlefield where a great war was being waged. He was alone, but at the same time not alone. He found himself completely equipped with a great armor, a helmet, a big shield, swift boots and a gigantic double-edged sword.
An ugly looking creature clad in a black armor came charging against Paul. He unsheathed his great double-edged sword and pierced the monster, emitting a bright white light from the place of the wound. What in the world?
More monsters came charging against Paul. He looked around quickly and saw many others like him prevailing and falling.
Paul suddenly cried out with a great voice: “lay still!”
The horde of monsters stood their ground, seemingly frozen.
Paul raised his sword as the dark skies opened up just enough to lit him with light and bestow his sword with a powerful charge from a lightning. He did not seem to be stricken dead. In fact, he seemed taller and more majestic, but at the same time more determined to put an end to this threat.
“Who dares stand against the sword of the Lord?”
As Paul said this, the monsters seemed to come out of what froze them in their place and resumed their charge against Paul, now radiating with a light emanating from his sword.
The monsters neared Paul, and he readied himself for battle, breathing deeply.
The banging in Paul’s door awoke him with a start. He answered the door and a letter was given to him:
My dear father,
I have great news for you; it seems that I will be able to accompany you after all in your journey. Right now I am writing to you hastily, but I shall regale you with all that has happened. Forgive my briefness but time allows me to stay not. Wait for me in four days approximately.
With the deepest love of God,
Your son,
Timothy
Chapter 3
The next day, after telling his wife about the dream, Edward called his friend Paul. To his amazement, Paul had had a similar dream, although he was battling outside of the city of Balcchaist in the worst of the battle.
“Did you go inside the inner palace?”
“No, Paul, I was scared, it was a dream…or I think it was a dream. I was scared to death and I ran for my life…ironic isn’t it? It was a dream and I feared for my life.”
“Well so did I.”
“Yes but you summoned a lightning Paul! Come on!”
“We were both in the middle of a battle…Edward, I do not think this was a coincidence, I believe this was something beyond a dream…and yesterday was not it, or so I think.”
“What do you mean?”
“If God is trying to show us something through this, it will happen again until it leads us somewhere.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“Edward.”
“Yeah, Paul.”
“Do not run next time, wage the battle…I have a possible answer to this, but I believe it is better for each one of us to find it out. You know we battle every day not against flesh and bone, but against the forces of the devil. Draw your own conclusions about what I just told you and I’ll see you later.”
“All right pal, take care, and God bless you.”
“Thanks, you too, bye.”
--
Tom prepared his schedule for the day:
3:30pm-4:30pm Church
5:00-Until I can take it! – Party!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Tom! So good to see you here.”
“Uh-huh, me too.”
“Everything alright pal?”
“Yeah, sure.”
Edward saw Tom take a seat in church with his friends, pull out his cell phone and start pressing buttons as fast as he had ever seen anyone do it. He noticed he had not brought a Bible with him.
“I guess technology is not my thing, but…”
Edward’s thoughts were interrupted by a big hairy hand in his shoulder.
“Edward! So good to see you here,” said Paul with utmost honesty and love.
“Likewise old friend.”
Paul left and sat while worship started. Once it ended, Paul stepped up and began: “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves” (Ephesians 1: 2-6).
The service had not even started when Tom started nodding and finally fell asleep during service. Time slowed down as his cell phone fell from his hands and into the ground. Many of Tom’s friends-if not all-were also plunging into the lullaby of boredom.
The strong hiss of an arrow piercing his robe awoke Tom with a start, but where was he? Where was everyone? This wasn’t church, where was this? He looked around and saw his friends, startled by a great commotion outside of the cave they were sleeping in.
One of Tom’s friends went outside to see what was going on. Everyone saw him flying from the entrance of the cave to the wall, a large, thick, and black arrow piercing his chest. Harry started trying to pull the arrow out of his chest, but he had no strength to do so. It was as if now the arrow was part of him. A tall, strong and loathsome dark warrior came inside the tent, blood dripping from his jaw. He opened his mouth as maggots and blood spilled out of it and he hollered a cry of war, as if enjoying his prey.
Harry’s friend’s were motionless. Even Tom was frozen in place.
“Where are your swords you filthy unworthy Holliards? Where are your armors? Your shields, your helmets, your boots?” suddenly inquired the monster.
“You claim to have the light in you, yet you are not prepared to face the ruler of your world! Belial the great, he is our master and will be yours soon!”
As the monster lifted his large black sword to behead Harry, something stopped him; he could not move his arm.
“Dare thee touch my chosen ones, my sons!?”
Behind the monster, a mighty white rider approached the tent, no one’s eyes could remain fully opened at the incredible brightness of this newcomer.
“It is their fault, oh Almighty Emmanuel, they are not prepared, and they do not even have their armors, nor their shields or swords.”
“It has been given to you to make war with the saints, and take the life of some, but knowledge and utterance has been given to thee to discern who you have been given to overpower and who not to. For they have been sealed by my Spirit, and thy shall not lift a hand to kill them! For you shall certainly fail to!”
As everyone heard these words, the monster grimaced, the white rider motioned with his hand and the monster flew out of the cave many feet away, pierced by a spear and died.
The white rider disappeared.
As they came out of their trance, Harry’s friends mustered courage to help him out of the arrow, but still they could not do anything.
Another being came into the cave, but this time Tom recognized him. It was his father, who was also missing his entire armor. Tom smiled and cried but jerked back as he saw the head of an arrow clearly visible in his father’s chest.
The congregation looked back with great surprise and concern at the source of the sudden screams. The entire church’s eyes were riveted upon a small group of teenagers who in the middle of the service had cried out: “No!!!!!!!!”
The group of teenagers fled from the main temple to the outside, and breathed fresh air as they were back to reality.
“What the heck was all that!?”
Harry did not even look at his friends, but at his chest, where in his dream he had been pierced by an arrow. There was no sign of it now, not even a hint. The teenagers were sweating in great amounts and they gasped for air.
“I don’t know! Oh my God! That was so embarrassing!”
“Dude that was so sick! That was down!”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” said Tom in a very thoughtful way.
“Dude are you alright? It was just a dream I mean…”
“No it wasn’t just a dream, first of all we were at church sleeping, secondly we screamed during service, thirdly we ran out while everyone was looking at us…”
“I know foo, that was…my dad is gonna kill me.”
“Or something else will…”
Come back to me…
Abel lay in the soft white carpet, his arms and legs spread all over. Edward enjoyed seeing his son sleeping: peace and innocence emanating from his mind now drifting into unbreakable sleep. He picked his son carefully from the floor and climbed the stairs slowly, being careful not to let any movement stir Abel out of his dream world. Not even the slightest sound seemed to do so. He entered Abel’s room and laid him softly in his bed, tucking him in. Abel stirred a little and uttered: “Daddy, I love you.” A smile broadened in Edward’s face as he himself wanted Abel’s rest and relief. But it seemed to him that would be stealing. There was no way he was going to mend his errors from the past, nor return to childhood. “Make the best out of these years my son, may God show you the way.”
Edward entered his room and beheld his wife already in bed, deep in reading one of her favorite books. He entered the bathroom and turned on the shaver machine as he asked his wife about her day. “Quiet, the everyday routine. Robert told me the seminar is next week, so I must prepare the material I will give.”
“Does Robert know that the CEO of the company will attend as well?” inquired Edward.
“What!? How come you knew about this and I did not? It is essential that I…”
Edward paused his shaving, peeked out of the bathroom and tried to normalize his now raging wife: “Honey, it’ll be alright, trust in God, pray, seek Him, don’t do this by yourself.” Edward resumed his shaving with a big deception when he saw his wife clearly not paying him any attention, but to the now flying papers she would need for the seminar.
After several hours of conjugal battling, Edward and his wife went to bed. None able to sleep.
Edward’s mind drifted to an unpleasant doze. He found himself surrounded by soldiers clad with ancient armors and sheathed swords. Some were asleep, some were vigilant and refused to sleep. Perhaps they were waiting for their enemy to come. They had been informed of a certain Vincent Adramelech coming to Balcchaist, but there was no knowing how he might look like.
The ever ominous moon grew red as the city of Balcchaist was covered by the darkness of the night, as if covered by a great dark cloak. There was a tense environment and soldiers readied themselves for war. Edward wondered why they would set themselves into their battle positions if there was no enemy at sight. No soul was to be seen all around the Northern perimeter of the city.
Steps.
Strange enough. Rain poured down hard. Wolves filled the eerie background with their infernal voices in unison inviting the weak of heart and spirit.
“Beware of the nights in Balcchaist my dear boy,” advised an old man to Edward “Storms are bad omens…do not let them tuck you in.”
Steps growing ever stronger.
Boy? Why would he call me a boy? thought Edward as he turned with a start when he heard a noise. The noise faded and he turned again to find that the old man was gone and with him a fading sarcastic laughter.
A watchman caught a glimpse of a figure approaching the main gate. It seemed that the path he had trailed was a long straight line of dark fire.
Steps cease.
“In the name of King Emmanuel, I bid you give your name and mission here.”
The stranger clad in a long black robe covering his entire face and body slowly looked up. A dim hint of his face was seen. It was not enough however, for the distant guard to perceive and judge.
As the stranger opened his mouth to utter words, it seemed to the guard that a heat was growing ever stronger in his face.
“I am Vincent.”
“What is thy mission in this place?”
“I am here to see your king.”
“What business might you have with him at this hour of the night?”
“Mind your tongue young watchman! Have you any idea who am I!?”
“That will be enough soldier,” said Belial, who seemed to Edward as some kind of a superior officer.
Belial stepped forward and leaned in the broad stone wall and peered at Vincent with a strange grin. Then he returned to his chamber as he waved dismissingly as to convey the message that there was no need to worry about Vincent, that it was alright for him to enter the city.
As a soldier was about to order for the doors to be opened, the doors opened by themselves slowly and creaking greatly. The soldiers were astounded but knew better than to act against Belial’s word. But how could the one and only King of the world, the Almighty Emmanuel, allow such mystery to transpire in His saints’ forth on Earth?
Edward had forgotten that he was in another world, he was dreaming, or so he thought.
“Ready men!”
Why would they set themselves into position again? There was no enemy army nearby or far. And who was this Vincent coming into the city? What city was this? Who was Belial? What in the world was going on!? But there was one question that intrigued him further: King Emmanuel. Who was He? Whenever he heard His name a sudden terror came to him but at the same time an impulse to glorify someone he had never seen. Was God showing him something through this “dream”?
Edward sneaked out from the ranks and into the inner quarters. His armor served him as a disguise.
“Welcome to Balcchaist, my dear Vincent.”
“I am at thy service, my lord.”
Edward watched as Vincent bowed to Belial and Belial’s eyes turned from blue to red as he discovered Edward sneaking in.
“What are you doing here?”
“I was sent by the general, sir. They need you at the main palace.”
This is it. At least I will die in a dream, not in reality.
True enough, there was a commotion at the main gate and Edward heard several soldiers saying that Belial had been summoned at the presence of King Emmanuel.
“Show him to his quarters…he shall not be disturbed at any time by anyone, understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And you…you will not speak of what you have seen here today, or I shall have your corpse fed to the crows, understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
Edward saw Belial leave his chamber and took Vincent to his room. For him it was as if he was escorting the devil himself. Ghastly thoughts ran through his mind as he walked Vincent to his room and breathing was a hard task. His eyes burned and sweat ran through his face as he dripped.
“Remember…I shall not be disturbed…or I shall have not your corpse, but your soul fed to the crows.”
With that, Vincent slammed the door on Edward’s face without ever touching it with his hand.
Edward fled from the inner quarters. He cared not what was transpiring in the inner palace. He wanted out of this dream. How could this be a dream? It was too long, too real, too frightening. He felt everything: heat, cold, anxiety, fear, etc. How could one feel these things in a dream?
As Edward made his way out of the inner quarters, he heard a great commotion outside. A great war was being waged. Before he took any action or had even time to unsheathe his sword he turned to see a sword about to pierce him and awoke with a start.
Anxiety. Fear. All emotions mingled into one. As he awoke he felt as if he was plunged into a dark eternal abyss.
Edward got up from bed, full of adrenaline created by his own mind. He made his way down the stairs and into his living room. He knelt and prayed: “what are you trying to show me Lord? Is this from you?”
Chapter 2
Paul closed his eyes and as he opened them again he found himself standing in a great battlefield where a great war was being waged. He was alone, but at the same time not alone. He found himself completely equipped with a great armor, a helmet, a big shield, swift boots and a gigantic double-edged sword.
An ugly looking creature clad in a black armor came charging against Paul. He unsheathed his great double-edged sword and pierced the monster, emitting a bright white light from the place of the wound. What in the world?
More monsters came charging against Paul. He looked around quickly and saw many others like him prevailing and falling.
Paul suddenly cried out with a great voice: “lay still!”
The horde of monsters stood their ground, seemingly frozen.
Paul raised his sword as the dark skies opened up just enough to lit him with light and bestow his sword with a powerful charge from a lightning. He did not seem to be stricken dead. In fact, he seemed taller and more majestic, but at the same time more determined to put an end to this threat.
“Who dares stand against the sword of the Lord?”
As Paul said this, the monsters seemed to come out of what froze them in their place and resumed their charge against Paul, now radiating with a light emanating from his sword.
The monsters neared Paul, and he readied himself for battle, breathing deeply.
The banging in Paul’s door awoke him with a start. He answered the door and a letter was given to him:
My dear father,
I have great news for you; it seems that I will be able to accompany you after all in your journey. Right now I am writing to you hastily, but I shall regale you with all that has happened. Forgive my briefness but time allows me to stay not. Wait for me in four days approximately.
With the deepest love of God,
Your son,
Timothy
Chapter 3
The next day, after telling his wife about the dream, Edward called his friend Paul. To his amazement, Paul had had a similar dream, although he was battling outside of the city of Balcchaist in the worst of the battle.
“Did you go inside the inner palace?”
“No, Paul, I was scared, it was a dream…or I think it was a dream. I was scared to death and I ran for my life…ironic isn’t it? It was a dream and I feared for my life.”
“Well so did I.”
“Yes but you summoned a lightning Paul! Come on!”
“We were both in the middle of a battle…Edward, I do not think this was a coincidence, I believe this was something beyond a dream…and yesterday was not it, or so I think.”
“What do you mean?”
“If God is trying to show us something through this, it will happen again until it leads us somewhere.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“Edward.”
“Yeah, Paul.”
“Do not run next time, wage the battle…I have a possible answer to this, but I believe it is better for each one of us to find it out. You know we battle every day not against flesh and bone, but against the forces of the devil. Draw your own conclusions about what I just told you and I’ll see you later.”
“All right pal, take care, and God bless you.”
“Thanks, you too, bye.”
--
Tom prepared his schedule for the day:
3:30pm-4:30pm Church
5:00-Until I can take it! – Party!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Tom! So good to see you here.”
“Uh-huh, me too.”
“Everything alright pal?”
“Yeah, sure.”
Edward saw Tom take a seat in church with his friends, pull out his cell phone and start pressing buttons as fast as he had ever seen anyone do it. He noticed he had not brought a Bible with him.
“I guess technology is not my thing, but…”
Edward’s thoughts were interrupted by a big hairy hand in his shoulder.
“Edward! So good to see you here,” said Paul with utmost honesty and love.
“Likewise old friend.”
Paul left and sat while worship started. Once it ended, Paul stepped up and began: “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves” (Ephesians 1: 2-6).
The service had not even started when Tom started nodding and finally fell asleep during service. Time slowed down as his cell phone fell from his hands and into the ground. Many of Tom’s friends-if not all-were also plunging into the lullaby of boredom.
The strong hiss of an arrow piercing his robe awoke Tom with a start, but where was he? Where was everyone? This wasn’t church, where was this? He looked around and saw his friends, startled by a great commotion outside of the cave they were sleeping in.
One of Tom’s friends went outside to see what was going on. Everyone saw him flying from the entrance of the cave to the wall, a large, thick, and black arrow piercing his chest. Harry started trying to pull the arrow out of his chest, but he had no strength to do so. It was as if now the arrow was part of him. A tall, strong and loathsome dark warrior came inside the tent, blood dripping from his jaw. He opened his mouth as maggots and blood spilled out of it and he hollered a cry of war, as if enjoying his prey.
Harry’s friend’s were motionless. Even Tom was frozen in place.
“Where are your swords you filthy unworthy Holliards? Where are your armors? Your shields, your helmets, your boots?” suddenly inquired the monster.
“You claim to have the light in you, yet you are not prepared to face the ruler of your world! Belial the great, he is our master and will be yours soon!”
As the monster lifted his large black sword to behead Harry, something stopped him; he could not move his arm.
“Dare thee touch my chosen ones, my sons!?”
Behind the monster, a mighty white rider approached the tent, no one’s eyes could remain fully opened at the incredible brightness of this newcomer.
“It is their fault, oh Almighty Emmanuel, they are not prepared, and they do not even have their armors, nor their shields or swords.”
“It has been given to you to make war with the saints, and take the life of some, but knowledge and utterance has been given to thee to discern who you have been given to overpower and who not to. For they have been sealed by my Spirit, and thy shall not lift a hand to kill them! For you shall certainly fail to!”
As everyone heard these words, the monster grimaced, the white rider motioned with his hand and the monster flew out of the cave many feet away, pierced by a spear and died.
The white rider disappeared.
As they came out of their trance, Harry’s friends mustered courage to help him out of the arrow, but still they could not do anything.
Another being came into the cave, but this time Tom recognized him. It was his father, who was also missing his entire armor. Tom smiled and cried but jerked back as he saw the head of an arrow clearly visible in his father’s chest.
The congregation looked back with great surprise and concern at the source of the sudden screams. The entire church’s eyes were riveted upon a small group of teenagers who in the middle of the service had cried out: “No!!!!!!!!”
The group of teenagers fled from the main temple to the outside, and breathed fresh air as they were back to reality.
“What the heck was all that!?”
Harry did not even look at his friends, but at his chest, where in his dream he had been pierced by an arrow. There was no sign of it now, not even a hint. The teenagers were sweating in great amounts and they gasped for air.
“I don’t know! Oh my God! That was so embarrassing!”
“Dude that was so sick! That was down!”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” said Tom in a very thoughtful way.
“Dude are you alright? It was just a dream I mean…”
“No it wasn’t just a dream, first of all we were at church sleeping, secondly we screamed during service, thirdly we ran out while everyone was looking at us…”
“I know foo, that was…my dad is gonna kill me.”
“Or something else will…”
Come back to me…
sábado, 16 de agosto de 2008
The Price of Obedience (part 3)
And there is still a lot but a lot to tell but...I don't want to make these entries any longer than I already have so...to the the point of this entry:
It doesn't matter if you have a relative or a friend that has gone through something similar or exactly the same...you will NEVER know exactly what it is to go through that experience. And even if you have never experienced it...you must learn to value what you have, because nothing is stable, you never know when it will be taken from you...and generally WITHOUT warning.
"You never know what you have until you lose it." That's something I've learned and I know it's true. But when you're under the grace of Jesus when you accept Him as your Savior and Lord, the fact of losing something is to win something much greater and better than anything you can ever imagine...that is now my hope. If it seemed to you somewhat strong when I referred to the airplane as the "cursed son that would take me to the abyss itself," you must know those were my feelings at the moment.
My eyes have been opened. As christians we are supposed to now see, but many of us don't want to see, we want to remain in this world and do everything just as the world does it...but...we are not of this world! My eyes have been opened. I no longer see buildings or anything I know as the "civilized world." Now I see in my hand a double-edged sword, an armor, and a shield...all to fight, not against flesh and blood, but against rulers and the hosts of evil in the heavens. I now see a perpetually clouded world. I see those without Christ and I literally see hunches in their backs representing their burdens and their sins...they are dead, but walk without any knowledge and serve the prince of this world...some without knowing it, others with no knowledge of it. At the same time I see thousands of aberrations with weapons and armors just as us...but at the service of Satan.
My experience in this country is to teach me obedience, total dependence of Jesus. Have I learned it? no, I am still too stubborn and I still haven't given myself completely to Him...but until I do so I will be able to really rest in his peace.
We are at war. Can you see it? If you're christian, are you alert to sudden duels between you and the hosts of Satan? are you conscious of the seriousness of this war? or are you imitating this world? are you playing "safe" in that salvation is the end of all...look at my life! I thought the same...the price of obedience...the Lord Jesus brought us here for a purpose, but until we learn to obey and wait in Him can we rest and fight with all of the Lord's strength...because you cannot fight with your own strength, NEVER...
We are at war...are you fighting? or you prefer to hide under the wolf's claws? That is kind of contradictory isn't it? Take a decision already...and don't act on feelings, but on actions.
As christians, we don't do works to GAIN salvation...but once we are saved we MUST produce fruit. Once we have decided to accept Christ in our heart WE MUST PRODUCE FRUIT! Areyou worried about the latest upcoming album of a "christian" band? with the latest fashion looks? with the "coolest" music? Are you worried about your hairstyle, your clothes, your car, how people look at you? Are you looking to do the things the world does? so much that you want to be like the world and also as if you want to "win" people for Christ trying to imitate the world?Don't confuse the example of Christ and Paul's in that sense.
Christ got together with sinners, but He didn't participate in what they did. Christ shared with them and didn't put them aside, but he didn't participate in what they did. In the same way Paul. To say that you want a tattoo to gain other for Christ because "that is their culture" is simply an excuse to imitate the world...because YOUR body is the propriety of Christ..."I beg you brothers, in view of God's mercy that you present your bodies as living sacrifice, holy and pleasant to God, which is your racional cult."
Not only your soul, but your body becomes propriety of Christ also when you accept Him as Savior. Don't tell me that your body is a "temporal tent," give yourself completely to Christ if you're going to accept Him!
The price of obedience includes more than a compromise after listening to a pretty song. It is a painful process. But the seed must die before it can carry its fruit. The same applies to us.
At the end I know I will see the result of all this process. On September 3rd I start my last year of high school, and to tell you the truth, I am in panic...it is a world without fear of Jesus, but Jesus has me there to be a light to others...and you?
Are you willing to take a chance? to face the price of obedience?
The Price of Obedience (part 2)
I saw the room in which my friends would share one more year...without me. An entire year of experiences not lived, not shared...an entire year in which I would lose contact with them. The year in which they would graduate...and that I wouldn't even get to see them graduate...the moment I had waited for so long and for which I had worked so much for: graduate with them or see them graduate at least...a moment destroyed. You have lived with your friends, you graduated with them, you saw them leave your life, the faithful stayed, others didn't...it's an inevitable moment, but...you lived it, you experienced it, it was recorded in your mind and heart for ever...at least you are able to say: I graduated with them or I saw them graduate. That is something I cannot say.
"Hey everyone. As some of you already know I'm leaving to the States tomorrow." I didn't see any reaction. "I just wanted to thank you for all that we've gone through, all that you allowed me to experience with you, the love you've given me and that I gave you. Thank you, thank you so much for those six years you gave me...six years is really a long time and..." my heart couldn't bear it any longer...I broke down right in that moment...I couldn't keep talking...to say that a knot formed in my throat is very little...my sight was distorted, my eyes, full of tears, forced my head to incline down. There was silence. Rebeca got up, moved to where I was and told me: "please don't cry" and she hugged me. Never did I wanted to hold her so much as that day. I didn't want to separate myself from her. I knew I wouldn't see here for a long time...but even with all that had happened, the reality still hadn't hit me its hardest...until I was before the airplane.
I still held her in my arms...my friend, my loving sister who gave me her unconditional friendship...this would be the last time I would see her and hug her. Little by little all the rest of my schoolmates got up to hugh me and take pictures.
We took a lot of pictures and...after being with them for a moment...I knew I didn't have more time...I had to go. But I didn't want to! How are you supposed to just say goodbye from the people you shared so much time with? In what sane mind does it fit that you will let them go? However...I knew I had to...and I said goodbye...when I closed that door I closed my life. Outside were two more classmates that maybe had gone to the restroom or something but that were not there when I talked to the rest. I said goodbye to them too. My last heartbeat.Walking through that school in my way to the parking lot was even more painful than all I had experienced until that moment. When I saw the cafeteria I suddenly saw that it was filled with many little boys and girls running to buy something to eat as they talked. There was a boy with glasses that looked a lot like me. I realized that it was me...I was a little reserved, I was sorry for that now. But I saw that my friends were with me...a little hope...that I couldn't see in that moment. Every little piece of that school that I saw as I went out had a memory, something I experienced. My life, my being was left behind. It would be the last time I would see the place where the Lord gave me so many precious stones.
I am really sorry that another friend of mine, Raquel, couldn't make it. I shared so much time and so much with her, I got to know her so much that she is a very precious stone to me. But it wasn't her fault or anyone else's, even though I know that I will see her again and everyone else...but not even that brought me comfort in that moment.
My brother and best friend, Eduardo Garcia. More faithful friend I will never find. He told me once something I'll never forget: "God takes us to places where one doesn't want to go, but for a purpose. Wherever you go, I pray that you may be a light to other, for that is why He is taking you there."I was walking to the parking lot where my uncle Alejandro was waiting for me. I turned around once more: "Bautista Miramonte Church." Goodbye, goodbye...I will return to reclaim my life."
Little by little I was dying. A huge part of me had just died: my friends. But the worse was yet to come...
What would you have felt or thought in a situation like that?
We continued doing transactions and other things...afternoon came...the day went by so fast...my family arrived to give us a farewell party and help us pack. My aunt Tita stayed to sleep with her family (she didn't sleep) to help us pack. I didn't have time to do something I liked to do a lot: look through my window to the skies and see the stars and hear the silent (by nights) city of Santa Tecla. But no, I was busy at the moment taking everything out from what once was my room. All my personal items, all my toys, my drums, everything that for four years (the time I spent in that house because we had moved) and for the previous years of my life in another house. I had no idea that every little thing in that room now in the United States would serve as a link to a little part of my life...MY LIFE!
That night we went to our great friend Fanny's house to say goodbye. She already knew the news of course. It was something very but very painful that even as I write it I am living it again.
I really didn't know her much yet, but we had already gone out, she, my brother and I to Multi Plaza (a mall in El Salvador) to have a good time and to other places too. We shared beautiful moments. Even though I didn't know her much...I had grown fond of her. We took pictures with her. First my brother talked to her and she gave him a necklace that had belonged to her dad and they said goodbye. Seeing them say goodbye was too much for me and I also started crying. My turn arrived and I said goodbye of her. To step out of that house was another severe blow to my heart. Never did I imagine the friendship I would get to have with her...never did I think I would have a sister in her. But I do, and it's one of the things that gives me the strength to move on.I had four years of not seeing my room with nothing in it. The sun had already risen. But how!? How did it came to sunrise so fast? I got ready, the same as my brother and my mom. I saw my room for the last time and I slowly closed the door: another part of me died...I went down the stairs and took pictures with my family. It was already time to go to the airport. I had 48 hours without sleeping in a row. My dogs: Doguie, Gordo (Fat) and Pigui...my mom had already gone out of the house, she couldn't bear saying goodbye to the dogs. I said goodbye, I caressed them as I had never done it before...they didn't have the least idea of that was going on. Doguie always calm, Gordo always playing, Pigui always angry. I closed the door while at the same time I heard a scream within me...another part died. My heart was barely beating...I was agonizing as was y family.
I walked to the truck but turned around to see my house for the last time. How couldn't I value all this?
Inside the truck, if someone didn't speak to me I could fall asleep right in the moment. I had 48 hours in a row without sleeping, so I didn't have the opportunity to appreciate every little thing outside the truck's window.
We arrived at the airport and took pictures. We went in to register the luggage and make all the processes. Two of my brother's friends were waiting for him upstairs. Surprise! they traveled all the way to the airport to say goodbye to him. It was very nice of them.
We spent some time with my family taking pictures. My aunt Claudia embraced us and wept as she held us in her arms...she was there since before we were born and held us when we were born, she shared time with us.Our flight was called. Finally I felt the real entire blow of reality. Finally this would be the last time we would be in our country. We all embraced, said last words...and my brother and my mom and I started walking toward the gate, (what I will tell you is what I felt in that moment) that cursed dark gate that would take me to the abyss itself.
Desperate, helpless, defenseless, I turned around to see my family...I don't blame my brother and my mom for not doing it because it was simply too much...they made signs of "courage" and "strength." The wall started covering one by one each member of my family. I turned around to see that I had to take my shoe
s and any metalic object off to put them in a tray and go through a detector machine. No one said anything. There was much to tell and at the same time nothing to say. Agony is hardly a right word to define what the three of us were experiencing in that moment. We got on the plane (an experience I had never had before but which I wasn't exactly enjoying in that moment) and we waited, we waited chained to that dog from the abyss that would take us to another destiny while we had our own land within our reach...crazy ideas went through my mind: how about I get out of here, I can throw myself out of the window or something...it doesn't matter...nothing mattered for me then...Time seemed endless. The plane never took off! If I was to be tortured so then it better end quick! you can't imagine what a torture it was to be sitting there waiting in the plane while you looked outside the window your country, helpless, without being able to do a thing...
Finally the engines went on...the plane started taking off...the airplane rose while my "Pulgarcito de America" (Little Thumb of America, that's the way the country is called) became smaller and smaller every time...ants outside the window.
What would you have felt when you saw your country reduced to a crumb? To know you were heading to something new and different BUT outside of your country?
The Price of Obedience (part 1)
Today I would like to share with you something very but very personal: the true story before coming to the United States and since then until today. Please excuse the length of this entry...not even a huge entry can hold all that really took place. So please, set aside a little of your time to read all three parts of this entry, then you will see the reason of its title. move to another state...most of you who read this entry right now have never had to move from your country, the place you were raised and grew up in, where your culture was formed and instituted, where you grew up with unbreakable and perpetual friendships, where you formed your life.
The wound in my entire being still cries out to the top of its voice...it is a pain that I had never experienced before, that I never thought I would face although I knew it was coming my way.
From years ago we had planned to come to Los Angeles because God put it in my dad's heart that we would do it. Years passed and the veil still remained on my eyes. So much time shared with my family and friends and I never apreciated and cherished them for what they really are. What I desire the most now was before something I didn't worry to lose because there was nothing imminent in my way that would snatch it...which is not the case now...
Mid November 2006 - The night was strange, my family arrived to have a farewell party for my dad who was coming to LA next day. It was bittersweet, but I was really in my comfort zone, my home, my roots. Of course it pained me that my dad was leaving and that we would be separated...but not for a long time because the plan was to leave soon after my dad had found a place for us to live in in order to move. There was no danger yet...even before all of that we already knew my dad would be leaving first and my last days in my last year of school with my friends with whom I shared six years of my life were equally bitter...it would be the last times I would live with all of my brothers in Christ...my friends...my faithful friends...the last independence day celebration in september...the last homework, on last glimpse of the place that took me under its wing for so many years.
School ended. We went with my friends to celebrate...and give me a farewell party. Still we didn't know the date we would be leaving. We went to the gym with my brother, all cool, nothing to worry about more than the pain of knowing I would never again see all of my friends together.
December 24 2007, midnight - The fireworks disabled our sight and hearing (too much smoke and the entire country blowing up fireworks) completely...it was a moment that transported me and made me feel the best...but at the same time the sword started piercing my heart: it would be my last christmas, no more fireworks in Salvadorian style, no more living with the same people, MY PEOPLE!
We shared that christmas with my little sister Fanny, I didn't know her at all really by then, but in that christmas time (and New Year's Eve as well) we share unforgettable times and all my family and her spent an excelent christmas...but still with all the presents and all the fireworks and the moment, they couldn't take from my mind the reality: I will not see nothing of these nor this people again for a long time. I cannot really express you the pain I feel each time I remember all this...it's something that accompanies me everywhere.
New Year's Eve - Part of this year I would live it in El Salvador...most of that year I would live it in the United States and much more than that. My spirit cried in unexpressable pain...but my external appearance was trying to enjoy this last event that was so but so special which marked the end of a year and the beginning of another...really for me it had a completely different meaning: death of my life and the beginning of a life in death.
I still went to church...apparently I had forgotten everything for some time and I was living my normal life. I went to church and played the drums, I spent some time with my family and other with my friends...although not enough...
One night my aunt Imelda gave me an advice that for then I had head many times, but that I now treasure and value...for it is the only thing that takes me near hear and my family and closer to God's will: "You are going to a very obscure environment, where people have no fear of God...you are going there to make a difference, to be a light to all those people that need Jesus so much. That is your purpose."
Monday February 5th 2008 - It was night, my brother and I were playing in the computer. Everything was normal...the sudden scream from my mother took us back from our world...we never expected the horror of the news we received...nor the intense and unexpressable anguish that news caused us when it stabbed us right in the heart piercing it to the very bottom.
My mom, with tears in her face, lifted her distracted face and answered what our anxious faces awaited: "It was your dad...he says...he says that we're leaving on Wednesday." For a moment it seemed to me very funny...but very cruel from my mom to do such a cruel joke to us...the pain in her face assured us that it was no joke...
Thus it was, with no previous warning or time to digest it that we were torn from our roots. My mind started rewinding my life in my country. All the momens I shared with my friends, my family, my home, my dogs, my drums...all that I was was murdered in that moment in cold blood. I wonder how I didn't faint in that moment. The only way in which my wound bled was through tears, unstopping tears that still run today. If I could only express you the magnitude of all that went through my mind in that moment...if I could just do it...you would understand better what I went through then and still go through today.
When I get sad I get mad at the same time. I ran to my room and shut the door....I wept as I had never wept. I put my pillow over my head to muffle my weeping, but no matter how much I tried it could be heard as much as if I had never put the pillow on. I don't know how much time I spent my time weeping in bed, I had cried nights before seeing a photo album my great friend Rebeca made for me with all her love as a farewell gift, but this time...it was something that tore me apart, it mutilated me.
After I stopped crying a little I called y friends. I couldn't reach many of them. I called Rebeca: "Bk (that's how I call her) I'm leaving on Wednesday!" not even I could believe what I was saying. "What!?" "I'm leaving on Wednesday to the United States..." I don't remember the rest of the conversation...my mind was overloaded...I was able to reach other friends to tell them the same.
We went out with my brother to take some fresh air. It was night. Never, I tell you, never had I seen my country in such a beautiful way...how could I be so blind!? how could I not appropriate my country? how couldn't I make it so beautiful for my life as to take advantage of every second in it? how could I be so selfish with my family an my friends!? HOW COULD IT BE POSSIBLE!?
I don't need to tell you I couldn't sleep that night. The next day the same ground I stepped on was as unstable as my sanity. Every dust particle was now a pearl to me. But now there was no time to appreciate all that...we had to start preparing all the things and processes that had to be done to be able to leave...
We started going to many places...after begging we were able to go to my school where...for the last time...I would see my war compatriots, my brothers, my friends. The place where for six years I had experienced so much was one of many that were now fading away. I would not see them as much as I would not ever see all my friends together. I shared the news to them and we shared our last moments together. The bell rang. In that moment I took a lot of pictures with them but I still went to their class and ask the teacher to give me a little of her time to say goodbye to them. She granted me that time.
martes, 12 de agosto de 2008
Silver Mines
"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Phillipians 2:12).
The word "work out" in the original greek was used to express the hard work involved in digging out the hidden silver in silver mines, how constantly a miner had to dig and dig until the hidden treasure was found.
Yesterday in the Bible study that we had I liked it when we saw what Paul really said to those in the church of Phillipi with this verse. This verse is one of the most misinterpreted verses this days. Many take this verse to say that the Bible itself says we can lose our salvation and that with constant fear we must work with our own strength to keep it...
A gift is a gift. The person who gives you a gift never asks for it back. God gave us salvation when when we decided to accept it. Paul told them to DEVELOP their salvation...because it is an entire package.
Salvation is not something to be kept there at home until the Lord comes back and then show it to Him and say: see, I am saved, I can enter. It is way more than that...but we cannot see that because we haven't even opened our gift.
We don't have the slightest idea of the position we have, the rank bestowed on us. Being a christian doesn't end with accepting Christ...just how we work in keeping our bodies fit and in shape, so we must shape our salvation, put it into work. Can you see now how this verse has nothing to do with either gaining or losing the salvation?
Salvation is not something static. It has to be in movement.
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:2). That's what renoation is for, that we might not be still, that we might be changed and dedicated to work in our salvation, not for it. That's why we work daily for a different life, one more attached to Him. Through renewal we grow more constantly and we start to see the things with the eyes of Christ, for we have his mind...or ought to reach it.
Have we found any silver yet? Have we even started digging? Do you have any idea of what God has stored for you both here and in heaven? and of what He expects from you? let us not waste more time and start digging now.
Roots
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God" (Colosssians 3:1-3).
I have a long time without writing. I really must confess I have separated myself lately from what my real roots are. I have lived a routine...and an empty life.
In a country such as this (United States) it is very easy to become cold in your communion with the Lord Jesus Christ because there is no persecution or imminent trial. Temptations surround you in all forms and sizes. Materialism is gigantic and colonizes the lives of many people...myself included.
This summer I am taking a class titled: "History of the United States." But the system and format of this class is completely different to all the history classes I have ever received. The pure truth about history. Real docummented evidence of all the crimes and atrocities commited against my ancestors (the incas, mayans, aztecs, etc.) and yours as well. The colonization and destruccion of the culture and society of the mayans, aztecs, incas, etc. All that it's not taught in "normal" history classes I have seen at full tilt in this class.
Being exposed to all this material (which is something very shocking and it also rips your heart) took me to a dangerous road: doubt. I started to question and ask the Lord why he kept silent? why did he allow innocence to be destroyed and massacred in such a way? Of course, it was man's sin who did that, not God. But why let the evildoers to continue living? why let them continue assassinating and massacrating? why does He expect so much from human beings? I confess, it took me to the point in which I told Him: "you only lived thirty three years in this Earth...while manking has endured and suffered throughout all its existence the different variations of crimes and evilness. I know you will judge evil and that it will not be left unpunished...but what do you expect from something so fragil as a human being?"
You'll wonder: what do the verses have to do with roots? Well, all this period of doubt in my life has made my think of my ethnic roots. What did my forefathers suffer? who really am I? I certainly have no Spanish heritage, I am mayan, etc, etc. but a while ago I realized that I've been putting my eyes in the things that are visible and material, but not in the things from above, where the Just Judge sits and will not let anything escape His Judgment.
What are our roots? If you have accepted Christ as your Savior, He is your root, what keeps you alive, what gave you life in the first place...because before Christ we all were dead. That time of doubt in my life took me to a conclusion: I was beginning to trust in human knowledge, I was letting perpetual arguments to fill my mind. God will deal with all the crimes of mankind. But besides your ethnic roots, do you even know if you have a reference point? can you identify a point in which you actually started living? the point in which you started using your eyes for the first time to see the reality? what gives you life? what spurs you onwards?
Are we putting our eyes above? Are we seeking the perfect wisdom that only comes from the Lord? or are we putting our eyes in human wisdom, in that ridiculous struggle man intends to maintain between God and man to "prove" that God does not exist, that we are our own gods? that God is unjust?...whatever you want to tell me...what really matters ? what is it that at the end will define YOUR DESTINY? do you even know where you're heading? where you will end up in once you exhale your last breath?
That rain of storms I cannot answer for you. Each one of us must examine ourselves and return to our first love...again I ask you: what is your point of reference? what are your roots?
Warfare of the Saints --Big Change of Plans--
There has been a major change of plans regarding the books, which will now be a book.
I decided not to continue writing the first and third book of what would have been the trilogy of Warfare of the Saints due to a few reasons:
-It is not my intention to rewrite the Bible, as the Holy Spirit gives understanding and knowledge into the wisdom of the Bible.
-I found no real purpose for writing the first book, since it would have to connect with the second somehow.
-The third book was canceled because I did not wish to write about something that another servant of the Lord has already written about (referring to the Left Behind series that deal with the facts since the Rapture of the Church until our eternity in heaven, or the Christ Clone Trilogy by James BeauSeigneur).
So I find myself right now writing what would have been the second and main book but that will now be the one and only book. I do hope you understand my decision and enjoy my book when it is done. It is my sole objective to have this book used by the Lord to reach for many more people and into his salvation.
These plans however, are not final, I have decided not to permanently cancel the trilogy project but to write the second book and take it from there, to see if the Lord really wants me to write all three or just the second or just the first and the second.
Hoping you will understand, I take my leave.
Eliezer Salazar
I decided not to continue writing the first and third book of what would have been the trilogy of Warfare of the Saints due to a few reasons:
-It is not my intention to rewrite the Bible, as the Holy Spirit gives understanding and knowledge into the wisdom of the Bible.
-I found no real purpose for writing the first book, since it would have to connect with the second somehow.
-The third book was canceled because I did not wish to write about something that another servant of the Lord has already written about (referring to the Left Behind series that deal with the facts since the Rapture of the Church until our eternity in heaven, or the Christ Clone Trilogy by James BeauSeigneur).
So I find myself right now writing what would have been the second and main book but that will now be the one and only book. I do hope you understand my decision and enjoy my book when it is done. It is my sole objective to have this book used by the Lord to reach for many more people and into his salvation.
These plans however, are not final, I have decided not to permanently cancel the trilogy project but to write the second book and take it from there, to see if the Lord really wants me to write all three or just the second or just the first and the second.
Hoping you will understand, I take my leave.
Eliezer Salazar
Affirm Your Heart
"You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him" (Luke 12: 40).
A while back I started reading the book series titled: "Left Behind" by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. It is a fiction series, based in what we find in the books of Daniel, Ezequiel and Revelation about the Great Tribulation. Everything converning the events after the Rapture of the church of Christ: we that have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior.
As I read these books I can see how the focus of the saints of the Tribulation changes dramatically. I can also see how the focus of the saints of the time of grace (us) is compared to the focus of the saints going through the Tribulation. We now focus in the material things, and the Lord is subject to empty and inconstant worship. For those who by putting their lives at stake will accept the Lord in the Great Tribulation the Lord will be EVERYTHING. Why? Because He gave them a second chance, because in His love he offered them life and hope and patience and faith through seven extremely harsh and cruel years. What about us? What does this have to do with us now?
We live in a world attached to a materialist world, we are not of this world, but we live in it. The problem lies in that we want to imitate this world, we don't want to be compromised to a life dedicated to the Lord.
For those of us who decide to give ourselves and deny ourselves: "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him" (Phillipians 1:29).
In James we are told that we must rejoice when tests and tribulations come, how do we do that? Paul did it, he exhorted his churches to have joy, he praised the Lord when his feet were in shackles, when he was stoned almost to death and shipwrecked. In all his trials his praise grew and grew even more...and even he showed love and determination to his brothers:
"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me" (Phillipians 1:21-26).
How are we living? The Lord is coming soon. Are we showing love and trying to win more people for Christ? those people with whom we laugh and with whom we share good times, the same people will they be the ones gnashing their teeth and begging for the cesation of their eternal suffering, or will they share with you the eternal greatness of the Lord? Let us affirm our hearts, where are we? whom do we serve? where does our loyalty lie?
Warfare of the Saints (Canceled volume) preview
Chapter 1
"In the Beginning"
"In the Beginning"
The ages and times of the beginnings of this story are unknown, but battles rage daily between the *Holliards and the forsaken cursed race of the *Belliarhadus.It all started millions of years ago when the leader of the Belliarhadus, Lucifer, felled from the grace of his *Lord and King by seeking to replace Him and become king in His stead. He was the most favored of the King’s officials and everything in the kingdom was entrusted to his hands.“I have indeed gained the favor of my Lord and have become his most trusted official, but the time has come for me to take over!”The rebellious official inspired many of the soldiers and officials in the kingdom to “seek for a better ruling” and was actually successful in mustering one third of all of the kingdom’s hosts to his cause, even though his cause had no solid foundation but to overthrow Him who had given him all and beyond, Him who had bestowed grace upon grace and blessing upon blessing over him. It was indeed a greedy and evil cause that drove him to summon a massive retaliation against the Lord of lords and the King of kings.*Holliards: Referring to the people that have accepted the Lord’s gift and have received salvation and eternal life. These are in a constant fight against the devil but have the Lord’s strength always.* Belliarhadus: Referring to the devil and his demons.*Lord: Referring to our God and Lord.“I am Lucifer the morning star, and I have summoned you all in this place today to address an issue that is now very well known among you. The tyrant must be overthrown. The manipulator of our lives must step down or be killed! Think about your future. He has done nothing but to blind you from the perils of your allegiance to Him. He has made you live in a world of fantasy! Alas! Do you not see? Open thine eyes my fellow compatriots! Open thine souls and swear your allegiance to me! It is indeed not out of selfish pride or greed that I beg for your allegiance, but because I care about you. I am you! And you shall be me! I am greater than the King! *I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High!" *(Isaiah 14:13).“We will follow you to death, oh king Lucifer!”“Hail the king! Hail the great Lucifer!”And so in a thundering awe the host of soldiers and officials bowed low and paid homage to the risen infernal king that would soon be cast down to Earth.“My Lord and King”“I am aware of what has befallen my Kingdom, but heed my words now, oh faithful *Gabriel, summon *Michael to my presence.”*Gabriel: an archangel who is one of God’s most trusted messengers.*Michael: an archangel who is generally presented in the Bible as the field commander of the Army of God.“Right away my Lord.”And so Michael, the Kingdom’s armies Chief General was summoned to the Lord’s presence.“My wondrous and hallowed Lord, what is thy bidding?”“Surround Lucifer armies and seize him, you must bring him before Me unharmed. This rebellion shall be dealt with immediately!”And so the Chief General flew away and gathered his armies to march against Lucifer and seize him.“We have a new task to be done my brethren. It comes directly from the Lord.”As soon as everyone heard The Name they bowed down towards His throne and heeded Michael’s words.“The Righteous Judge has decreed an ultimatum against Lucifer, for as you might already know, he has already fallen from grace.”“What shall become of him my general?”“The Lord shall decide what his fate will be. For now we must set out and surround his army in the lands of *Sheolis, for he has escaped…but won’t escape the Lord’s just hand! Brethren! Unsheathe thine swords! Open thine wings and prepare for war!”*Sheolis: referring to Sheol. is the common destination of both the righteous and the unrighteous dead, as recounted in Ecclesiastes and Job.And so, Michael’s army set out in a mighty but silent and swift flight towards the now dark lands of Sheolis.“Great king! Michael approaches!”“Fear not my brave ones! We shall send him back with his wings in his mouth! Muster the armies! Set out! Forth Belliarhadus!”With the sound of the mighty war horn the now evil but still shining armies of Lucifer flew away to meet the armies of the King.“I shall raise a hand against you not, oh fallen Lucifer, I have been commanded to seize you and your evil armies to stand judgment before the Creator of heaven and earth! Stand down!”“The mighty archangel Michael…I know what you are here for, come and get me you coward! You are just a pitiful slave He calls “soldier” ha! What do you know about war? You have your share Michael, why don’t you give a soldier a break!? Go back to your harp!”“I shall not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against you, the Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 1:9)And saying this Michael lifted his sword and summoned the Lord’s help, and Lucifer fell down pale and weakened, but his armies retaliated against Michael’s armies, and were repressed but not killed, for they had to be brought to the Lord’s throne of judgment.Lucifer’ rebellion had been destroyed, and Lucifer now entered the most terrifying sight of his life. There were great peals of thunder, a sky darker than the night and a throne in the middle of the black clouds glorious as ever before, but terrifying of sight.Lucifer’ pride had been crushed. He now bowed his head low and dared not lift it up, he fell on his knees shaking wildly and without control, for a great fear now overtook his whole being.Then a thunder-like voice flashed throughout the Kingdom: “Lucifer! *The grave below is all astir to meet you at your coming; it rouses the spirits of the departed to greet you— All your pomp has been brought down to the grave, along with the noise of your harps; maggots are spread out beneath you and worms cover you!” *(Isaiah 14:9 and 11).“What had I not given over to you? What was not within your hands from my kingdom? What else did you craved for that was not within this place? What could you have possibly seen evil in that you lusted for!? This is my decree to you:*You are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit.Those who see you stare at you, they ponder your fate: "Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble,the man who made the world a desert, who overthrew its cities and would not let his captives go home?"All the kings of the nations lie in state, each in his own tomb.But you are cast out of your tomb like a rejected branch; you are covered with the slain, with those pierced by the sword, those who descend to the stones of the pit. Like a corpse trampled underfoot,you will not join them in burial, for you have destroyed your land and killed your people. The offspring of the wicked will never be mentioned again.” *(Isaiah 14: 15-20)“From now on thou shalt be called Satan, the father of all lies and the prince of the power of the air!”Immediately, the skies trembled and the foundations of the heavens were shaken at the power of thunders and darkness when Lucifer and his army, in their internal agony, started feeling something inside burning their bodies, and behold that as they inspected their bodies that dark flames came out from inside of them and started consuming them completely; their handsome features blotted away and their screams welcoming their new infernal voices and bodies. Lastly, their wings burned out and thus every single creature in the kingdom bowed their heads in shame for what had befallen Lucifer and his army. The infernal king had now an appearance of death and horror, and his position taken away from him as he adopted his new shape along with his army.Suddenly, the clouds beneath Lucifer and his army started fading away and they fell from the skies toward the Earth. The Lord Himself and His Kingdom watched in horror as Lucifer fell like a shooting star towards Earth:“How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!” (Isaiah 14: 12).
Chapter 2
“The Prince Of The Power Of The Air”
The sinister king and his army falling on Earth looked like a rain of fire and blood. The Earth was ordered and full of life when Lucifer and his armies fell on Earth, destroying and disordering the whole Earth and making it hollow and infernal-like. Lucifer landed on Earth and looked upon the skies and cursed the Lord. Lucifer now contemplated his new appearance and the dejected hosts by his side. They were beginning to plot against Lucifer, but he realized their intentions and spoke to them again, not with his angelical and soft voice, but with his new harsh, raspy and demonic voice:“Heed my words now, oh brethren! It is clear that the Maker is not the just ruler we have always thought he is; he is a deceiver and thus has misled all in His Kingdom! I wanted this not! All I ever desired was to be greater than the Lord! And I am! And so will you!”“You deceived us Lucifer! The Lord was fair and dealt with your rebellion justly…there is no redemption now that we can reach again! We are condemned to the lake of fire! Because of you!”“Listen to me now you maggots! The Lord gave you to me! You are mine! And you shall go to the lake of fire with me! There is no escape from that now! Behold the Earth is ours!”But the Spirit of God came down to Earth and moved upon the face of the waters, forcing Lucifer to withdraw with his armies to a more remote place on Earth.*In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. *(Genesis 1: 1-3)And the light was great and holy, so Lucifer was forced to hide with his armies and wait upon the mercy of God, for he was greatly afraid again, but stubborn and willing to “foil” God’s Plan.*And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.And the evening and the morning were the third day.And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. *Genesis 1: 4-31.*Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia.And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. *Genesis 2: 1:17.Then the Lord realized that man was really alone, so he decided to create the animals and give them over to Adam so he could name all of them. But Adam’s longing for company was not fulfilled, and so the Lord had Adam fall into a really deep sleep, took one of his ribs and created woman.And thus God, the King, created man in His likeness and He walked with Adam around the garden as true friends, and lived in peace and harmony with all that was in the Earth.“You bring gladness to my heart Adam, behold I have set everything before you, everything in this world that you might be lord over it and fill it.”“Great honor is this my King, that you should consider me worthy of bestowing this amazing grace on me and my wife.”“I am the Lord of everything, but I shall appoint you lord of this earth. Everything is in your hands and you may eat from anything in this Earth but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for the day a single bite of that fruit enters thine mouth…thou shalt certainly die.”Lucifer addressed his army once more: “Listen to me you maggots! Behold that the Lord has created everything and has put man in charge of everything…well now, let us foil His plan now shall we? Let us reclaim Earth to ourselves! I shall demonstrate the Lord how weak these humans are!”
Chapter 3
Deceit: the fall of man and Earth’s doom
Deceit: the fall of man and Earth’s doom
And so Lucifer transformed himself into a dreadful snake and surrounded the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Eve found herself walking in the garden alone.“Well, well, won’t you open thine eyes my child?”“To what should I open my eyes to?”“Has the Lord really told you not to eat from this tree? As always, he seeks to rob others of improvement! How selfish and childish of Him!”“What are you talking about? The Lord has given us everything but this tree, for he has strictly warned us that the day we eat from this tree we shall certainly perish.”Lucifer went down from the tree and now surrounded Eve’s body and talked to her with such a tempting and commanding voice:“Has he now? This is indeed rich! Thou shalt be like God! If you eat from this tree thou shall know good from evil and will develop your minds! Surely you won’t reject such power within your hands…think about your future…Eve…mother of nations…think about them and not really about yourself. Ye shall be a wise and beautiful ruler, the queen of the world at the side of your husband! Alas! Do you not see? The Lord does not want all this for you, he wants you to conform…but you don’t want to conform now do you?”Eve fell into some sort of spell that had focused her on achieving all these dreams, thus forsaking the Lord and accepting the lies Lucifer spoke to her about the King. Lucifer made Eve eat from the fruit of the forbidden tree, and as soon as she ate it she felt honey in her mouth but poison in her stomach.“Surely you shan’t keep this great revelation from your husband, why don’t you fetch him right away?”“Indeed I must.”And Eve went and called her husband and gave him from the fruit of the forbidden tree.“But the Lord has strictly forbidden us to eat from this tree.”“My lord, surely the great King wishes to deceive us and hinder us from many blessings, including knowledge of good and evil.”“But there is no evil in what the Lord’s hand has made, His creation is absolutely perfect.”“I have found in the tree a snake that is wiser than God himself.”“Mind your mouth woman! You shan’t speak in such manner against your Creator!”“Oh Adam, Adam, art thou really willing to reject such a gift from me?”“Who are you?”“I am the true God! Think about your family’s future and eat from this tree right away! Don’t be a fool Adam!”And thus Adam was cornered and finally gave in, knowing that what he was doing was wrong and that Satan was trying to deceive him as well. Adam saw his wife Eve and realized she was naked and likewise Eve saw her husband Adam and saw his nakedness and both of them felt shame for the first time and they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.Suddenly, the snake that deceived both Adam and Eve seemed to grow bigger and its appearance started to change. The snake started transforming, and as it did the skies grew red as blood and the infernal hosts arose from the ground and surrounded Adam and Eve, laughing and grinning diabolically.“Now, man “created in the likeness of God the King,” thou shalt surely die!”All of the infernal hosts surrounded the humans but left a circle in the middle in which Lucifer could walk and claim his “victory” over God’s creation.“I shalt rip thine hearts and feast on them! Thine souls are now mine!”It was indeed a horrifying sight to see Lucifer transformed so much. He was once an angel who resembled the beauty of God, now he was a monster and more than a monster someone whom no one would ever wish to encounter. Adam and Eve’s fear grew exceedingly great and could feel how the ground beneath them grew hotter and hotter and also how all the Earth was covered in flames. The flames were twenty foot tall and there was no light. A dense darkness that can be felt covered the face of the Earth. The Belliarhadus army had horrific faces and all you could see in them was grief, death, pain and suffering, a torture beyond a human’s bearing. Their foul and hot breath vexed Adam and Eve’s noses. Thousands of creeping Belliarhadus went after the humans and tried to fasten themselves to them. Death was everywhere, but there in the midst stood Satan, savoring his “victory” over God.“’Tis the end for you…Adam, son of God.”Lucifer’s hosts scrammed as they saw the heavens grow incredibly white and as they saw the flames diminish Lucifer commanded them to go back. Lucifer transformed himself back into the snake and roamed around seeking a hiding place, but finding none before the glorious light of the Lord God. The flames that had covered the Earth seemed to have had no effect on Earth whatsoever. What Adam and Eve saw was not from the human world, but from the spiritual world. Their eyes were now open to the beginning of the spiritual warfare that would take place on Earth until the return of the Son of God, Jesus Christ.The Lord himself had descended on Earth and sought for Adam. He already knew what had transpired.*Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" *Genesis 3: 8-11.The sight of the Lord in the garden was both terrifying and glorious. But Adam knew what he had done and so his heart sunk within himself and he refused to accept his responsibility. The skies grew dark and peals of thunder and grumbling answered the Lord’s wrath.*The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it. *Genesis 3: 12.The Lord saw through Adam and he felt it. He felt a sharp double-edged sword piercing his heart and his mind. Adam bowed low with his face on the ground with shame.*Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." *Genesis 3: 13.Again, the Lord saw through Eve’s thoughts and as she felt his Sword piercing her heart and her mind, she joined her husband and bowed low without looking at the Lord.“It’s your fault Addy! You have already punished me Lord! I have nothing with You anymore!”-said Satan.*So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; * he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." *Genesis 3: 14-15. *Reference to the death of Christ and his victory over Satan forever in the cross.And the Lord also saw through Satan, and as He glanced at him, Satan fell on his knees screaming loud and with a great and horrifying exclamation of pain and suffering.“Stop it Lord! It burns! It burns! Curse you! Curse you Lord! Your Son will die! And don’t you dare bringing him back! I will summon my power and bring Him down!”The Lord took no heed of what Satan said, for He knew that the devil had no more power than that which He had given him to serve His purpose. Jesus Christ would die for our sins later on, but would rise and He did rose from the dead and so destroyed Satan forever.*To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." *Genesis 3: 16-19.The Lord’s judgment weighed tremendously great on man’s shoulders. *“The man has now become like one of *us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." *Genesis 3: 22. *The use of the word “us” refers to the Divine Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They are not three different “gods” but they are one and the same.“Since you have rejected me, oh Adam, I shall ban your entrance to this garden and prevent you from reaching the tree of life, for I have certainly given free will to thee, but what you have done will greatly affect this world until I fulfill my Plan of Redemption for the world.”Suddenly cherubim came down from heaven and stood in the entrance of the Garden of Eden.“Thou have now fallen from grace. Thou must leave this place and come back to it no more.”The cherubim, terrifying in sight and wielding a sword expelled Adam and Eve from the garden. A flashing mighty sword stood in the entrance to the tree of life and guarded it.
Chapter 4
The king of the world
After Adam came out of the garden, Satan met him in their wandering, summoning to himself the same infernal background he had used before.“I cannot kill you, but the world now belongs to me. Hand over the keys of this world.”“But, the Lord entrusted me every single creature in this world. You deceived us! You claimed that we were going to receive that marvelous gift!”“Well now, I am the prince of darkness, the father of all lies! You paid heed to my words and fell from the Lord’s grace, just as I did. But now the time has come for me to become the ruler of this world and reign over you!”“I believe in the Lord’s mercy, he would have already killed us for sure. But he has allowed us to live on and multiply.”“Stop your rubbish and obey your new king!”Adam refused to obey Satan, but Satan’s hand took the form of a sharp inflamed sword and pierced Adam’s chest without making him bleed or even piercing his flesh. Satan extracted the keys of the Earth as he started laughing with a victorious and evil laughter. From the ground a black and horrific throne surfaced and the newborn infernal king sat on his throne. Adam and Eve were forced to witness the ceremony.“Hail the true king from whom all blessings come from!”An infernal praise resounded throughout all the Earth as the vast host of demons praised their new king.A mysterious and strong Belliarhad came forth and held a black crown with maggots in it that rested upon a thorny platform. This Belliarhad, known as Vincent, came walking slowly towards Lucifer and all the demons at each side bowed low before the crown. Vincent finally reached the king’s throne and Lucifer came down and kneeled to receive his new position as the governor of the world. The crown was set and Lucifer’s appearance grew more authoritarian. A black, rotten king had risen.“Let this be a day you remember my slaves! Today I have defeated God! I am God now! And thou shalt bow to me! Curse the King! Curse Him and his Plan! Let us reclaim what was stolen from us by that deceiver!”A thunderous hail came from all the hosts of the Earth and as Satan turned to look at Adam the background disappeared, but Adam had a big and red mark that had burned his chest. It was no dream; it was more like a living nightmare.
Suscribirse a:
Entradas (Atom)
