Wednesday, March 26, 2008

In The End

T

he fort was under attack. We were warned that the enemy was coming, that was why we were here in this fort, but most of us began doubt that he would come. We had after all won the war, but our enemy was a determined one and he staged one final, desperate strike. They knew they had lost, but there were going to take as many of us out while they could. We were lucky that some were still preparing for the him. It is odd how they went from being “Extremists” to “Heroes” in a matter of days.

22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Matt 10:21-22 (KJV)

The strike came from somewhere we didn’t expect. The enemy had been secretly sneaking in spies to live among us. They didn’t do much at first, but after a while they starting weakening the walls that had been protecting us for so long. They did it very slowly so that no one would notice the change, in fact the only ones that even did noticed the changed were the Extremists (I mean the uh…heroes), but as usual we just ignored them and continued with our everyday lives. The war was over after all.

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy

John 10:9-10 (KJV)

Then one night we heard a huge crack. The sound was deafening and terrifying, for we all knew in our hearts what caused it, the walls had fallen.

The enemy came storming in with swords raised. With a loud cry they crashed into our streets and slayed the people that were in the houses that were closest to the walls. Screams of terror and death could be heard from everywhere. We were all doomed.

Suddenly, a shout could be heard across the night, “Come to us! We have prepared!” No one cared that it was one of the Extremists all we cared about was living. We all fled in the direction of the shout. I froze when I saw what they had prepared, in the midst of the city there was a large house that looked to be enforced with layers of wood and stone. I knew that there was no way that something this sturdy could ever fall.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Matt 16:18 (KJV)

I quickly ran towards the doors for I did not wish to hesitate, the enemy was everywhere. Guarding the entrance was a group of warriors. Part of the enemies plan was to catch us unprepared so that we couldn’t form a workable defense, but yet these men were fully clad in armor and held great swords in there hands. I could tell from the way that they warded the blows of the enemy that they were well acquainted with the sharp weapons that they carried. One of them saw me and ran towards me, “Quickly, inside! We must close the gates soon.” I nodded and ran inside. If I was to guess I would say that there were about five-thousand people inside, but the fact is that this was a city of millions and only a fraction was going to live. Maybe if they hadn’t been so close to the walls, they would have made it.

Only within a few seconds after I had entered, I heard a loud crash, they had shut the doors. Only a few others had made it in after me. I started looking around to see if any of my friends and family had made it inside, and to my relief I did find some, but not as many as I would of liked. I felt someone walking up behind me so I quickly turned around. The knight that let me in was running towards me. Panting he looked at me and said “I am glad I saw you when I did, we had held the doors as long as we could, the enemy learned of our hold and was seeking to destroy it. Do not fear, there is nothing that can come against us now with the door close.”

“Who are you” I asked.

I gasped as he removed his helmet, it was my Uncle Faith. “The enemy is only a few thousand strong and we have enough supplies stored here to last us a very long time. The city is lost, but this place will stand.”

Suddenly a sound rose from the others, it was the screams of people outside the door. The people that were unable to make it inside in time were trapped out there. I could hear them pounding on the wall screaming “Let us in!”, “The enemy is upon us, save us!” tears began to flow from my eyes for I knew that these people were lost. If they were to open the doors, even for a second, they would all perish.

The night continued with sounds of death and destruction and morning brought no signs of relief. The enemy tried time and time again to get inside, but to no avail. This fortress was to strong. One would think that it would bring relief, but in the atmosphere of death not much did. Finally, after five days the knights began to ready themselves, they were going to retake the city. With a loud clash the doors swung open and out they fled. War cries arose from them causing the enemy to scatter in surprise. Within a few minutes the enemy was destroyed.

Now, we all live our lives in peace. There is no foe to appose us and we can live the lives that we were promised. I can’t thank those knights enough, for if they didn’t stand for what they knew was right, I wouldn’t be here. None of us would.

Be a Full-Time Saint for an On Time God

I knew that there was no way I could get caught. My mother’s signature that I had forged looked Identical to her real signature. It should of; after all I had only been practicing it for two and a half hours. I knew that if this worked I would be able to get by with anything. I lifted the forged report card up against the copy of mom’s John Hancock that I had. Satisfied with the results I folded the forged paper and stuck it in my back pack. No one would ever know.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. Two weeks had passed since I turned in the forged paper and I was thrilled that I had gotten by with it. Turns out my mom had called the school and asked how I was doing. I didn’t take into consideration that my parents would be looking for that report card. So after a thoroughly talk with my Dad, and I mean THOROUGH, I managed to only get grounded for a month for my little stunt.

I look back now and laugh at how naive I was to try such a thing. I now know that I would have gotten off a lot better if I would have just given them the report card. This wasn’t my first attempt at something like this and sure wasn’t my last. After a while you just realize that you can’t fool mom. So what is it about us that make us think if we can’t fool mom that we can fool God?

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Eccl 12:13-14 (KJV)

I know people who I thought were outstanding Christians and I would have given anything to have an anointing like they did. But then once the beans are spilt I become so disappointed. I can’t really say anything, I am sure at some point in my life I have been a disappointment to others.

I don’t think people actually realize that God is watching them. Back when I was struggling with my own problems one thing that I hated was I felt like I was letting down all of my family that had passed on when I would slip. I just knew that they were watching me with tears in there eyes screaming “No! You are better than this! Just trust in God and he will help you through this.” Not to mention what I knew I was putting God through every time I would make a bad choice. There is a song that Ray Boltz wrote that would pop into my head every time I failed. And it went like this.

Does He still feel the nails, every time I fail?
Does He hear the crowd cry "crucify" again?
Am I causing him pain, when I know I've got to change?
'Cause I just can't bear the thought of hurting Him.

The question that went through my mind is does he really feel that every time I fail? Am I causing God to go through this every time I fail? I would be overwhelmed with guild, but unfortunately it was always after I had messed up. You see my spirit wasn’t strong enough to overcome my flesh (Which is a whole bible study by itself).

I believe that part of the problem is that people think that after they get the Holy Ghost, they are home free. The simple truth is that your part isn’t done. Acts 2:38 is only the beginning of salvation. I hate to be the one to tell you, but there is not one thing that you can do or say that will guarantee your salvation. Making it to Heaven is an everyday process with no vacations.

23 Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?

24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD

Jer 23:23-24 (KJV)

The simple truth is we have to live like Christians 24/7. Think about this, in the Bible God asks us to give him 10%, sure it is usually used for tithes, but go with me here. If you go to church on Sunday, both services, that is about 5 hours. Add Wednesday night bible study and that is around 7 hours. Add youth service which brings your total up to 9 hours. And I will even add 2 hours for choir practice and/or youth service practice. That will bring you up to 11 hours. Now there are 168 hours in a week. When you divide that it only ends up being 6.5% of the week .How can we expect God to give us his all when we only give him that much? I know that it is hard to give God 100% of your time, but what you can do it give him 100% in your spare time. This means living for him 24/7

10 But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is spoiled, and his brethren, and his neighbors, and he is not.

Jer 49:10 (KJV)

24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD

Jer 23:24 (KJV)