Holy words long preserved
For our walk in this world
They resound with God’s own heart
Oh, let the ancient words impart
Chorus:
Ancient words ever true
Changing me and changing you
We have come with open hearts
Oh, let the ancient words impart
Robed in rags, Sola walked into a workshop. The room was dark and filled with jars, pots, and sculptures of various kinds. In the corner of the room, there was a candlelight and a man who seemed like a potter was working on a piece.
She walked towards him, and what she saw shocked her. There must have been an accident of some sorts. The sculpture that the man was working on was wrecked; it looked like it had fallen from a tall building. The pieces were scattered all over the place.
Sola: Master, what happened to this piece? See, it’s broken and in pieces
Without stopping his work, the potter answered.
Potter: In the beginning, it was not so. This was meant to be a Masterpiece, resident in the king’s palace.
S: So, what happened?
P: The enemy happened. While men slept, the enemy came. He invaded the storehouse and targeted the pieces which seemed to be of great value. When morning came, there was debris all over the place.
S: Sorry about that sir. It must have hurt so much seeing what you had put in so much effort on go to waste.
P: It did.
S: If I may ask, why don’t you discard the vessels and start with new materials? Why repair when you can replace?
P: My Father.
S: I don’t understand. How does your father come in?
P: My father is a shepherd of great repute. He has taught me never to give up on anything. Some weeks ago, out of the hundred sheep in his flock, one got lost. The servants searched for days but could not find it. They gave up.
S: Sorry about that.
P: Thank you, but that was not the end of the story. My Father did not give up. He left the 99 in the open country and went after the lost sheep, until he found it. When he found it, he joyfully put it on his shoulders and returned home. So, you see, my Father is the reason why I cannot give up on any vessel, no matter how bruised or battered it might be.
S: Hmm. So, do you think you can still make something of this vessel? It seems in pretty awful shape, despite the work you have done on it while I have been standing here.
P: I don’t think, my daughter, I know. I know I can still make something of this vessel. I know I will still make something great of this vessel. I will still make something great of your life, Sola.
As he spoke her name, he turned towards her and the light blinded her.
She screamed as she woke up!
…
Anu could not sleep. She had been feeling a strange uneasiness in her spirit. For the past five days, she had prayed and checked to know what was wrong but there was no answer. There was no light.
The loss of her father had hurt her, but it had also helped her to experience the love of the Father on a deeper level. There was nowhere to run to. Except Christ.
She missed her mother and sister so much. If she had her way, Anu would make sure that they never spent a day apart, but she knew that was not possible. Life had to go on.
At 3am, an image flashed in her mind. It was her sister, Sola. She saw her baby sister tired up in chains, weeping and begging to be freed.
“Help me! Somebody help me.”
Anu watched, horrified, as two grotesque beasts took turns to inflict pain on her sister.
“Lord Jesus, have mercy! Lord Jesus, have mercy!”
As though in response to her prayers, one of the creatures responded, “This one has broken the hedge and the serpent will bite her. She has sinned and removed herself from the protection of the Most High. She is a lawful captive.”
Anu cried as she watched her sister being dragged through the mud.
“Lord Jesus, have mercy! Lord Jesus, have mercy!”
The beasts laughed. “There is no room for mercy. It is time for judgment. She is a lawful captive; she deserves to die.”
And with those words, something clicked in Anu’s mind.
In the book of Isaiah 49, the Bible says, shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the captives of the righteous be delivered? But thus says the Lord: “Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible be delivered; For I will contend with him who contends with you, and I will save your children.”
As she spoke, the dark clouds began to fade away, and the beasts cried out with loud shrieks. Through the pain and turmoil, one of the beasts cried out, “But what about judgment? What about judgment?!”
Anu replied, the Bible teaches us in James 2:13 that there is mercy that prevails over judgment. And so, in the name of Jesus, Sola I command you to be free!
Suddenly, there was light and a great calm.
…
Jane woke up angry. This was not the plan! They were almost done executing the masterplan. Sola was already at the slaughterhouse. She was already on the queue! This was not meant to be!
Opening her wardrobe, Jane brought out a sealed item. Anu had declared war and she would get what she deserved.
It was time to fight.
…
Iremide: The physical is only a glimpse of reality. A shadow, so to say. The spiritual controls the physical. There is a battle for each soul, whether we realize it or not.
Can you picture a war zone, with swords clashing and men dropping dead like flies? You can? Okay. Now, imagine a person walks into the battlefield, fancifully dressed, singing, and walking around with no armour. What do you think would be his fate? Your guess is as good as mine.
As believers, we cannot afford to be neutral in this battle. Everything depends on it. Every single thing. In Ephesians 6:17-18, the Bible tells us about a part of our armour, the word of God. “And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit”
Pray. Always.
For yourself.
For others.
Pray!
When you feel a nudge or leading to pray for someone, please do. There is power in prayers, and there are battles people are fighting that they might not even know about.
We will conclude with the words of Ephesians 6:10-13.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
This is no weekend war that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet.”
