I started the journey at the intersection of Faith Avenue and Reason Street. As I stood there, confused and lost, an aged woman yelled out to me. I turned around and walked over to her. Her name was Wisdom. She was with her husband, an elderly man named Understanding. I told them I was seeking the Kingdom to meet the King. They informed me I had to follow Instruction, for he knows the way. So they called Instruction and he happily agreed to show me the way.
As I patiently waited for Instruction, Wisdom and Understanding advised me that I needed to pick up a woman named Discernment and her brother, Righteousness, before I began my excursion to the Kingdom. They will protect me from a guy named Deception and his sister, Wickedness. I agreed. Wisdom and Understanding also told me that at the end of my journey, I would meet Death and that Death will lead me to the Kingdom if I do not let Deception and Wickedness deter me. Then they told me to call them if ever I needed help. I thanked them for their help and hugged them with gratitude.
Instruction showed up shortly after. He told me to hop in my car and follow him. I asked him if we could first pick up Discernment and Righteousness. He said I was wise for listening to the words of the old couple and would gladly take me to pick them up.
Once Instruction and I picked up Discernment and Righteousness, we began our voyage. They warned me about a couple named Deception and Wickedness. They told me they appear very nice and pleasing to many, but in actuality, they are helpers of the Enemy and desire to lead me to Sheol. Discernment alerted me that Deception would attempt to get me to leave Instruction by promising a “better” road. Righteousness told me that Wickedness would persuade me to be more like her but only promising temporary fun and fulfillment. They advised me that the closer I trailed Instruction, the better chance I had to avoid straying and making it to the Kingdom. They told me to keep them as close to me as possible at all times and that the closer I kept them to me, the easier it would be to distinguish the deceitfulness of Deception and Wickedness. The last thing they imparted to me was that they would only stay as close as I asked them to.
Instruction stopped his car at a place called Forest of Knowledge. He reported that we would have to walk for the rest of the journey. He said the drive was the easy part and that it gave Discernment and Righteousness a chance to bring me up to speed. He said to me: “this is where it gets hard. We are going to enter the forest. Stay close to me, do not sway to the left or to the right, and I will lead you to the other side. Keep Discernment and Righteousness close to you and beware of the two imposters, Deception and Wickedness. Remember to seek first the Kingdom. When we get to the other side, you will meet Knowledge. He will give you some rewards. Let’s go.” So we went. The journey progressed.
It wasn’t long before a man approached me. He was the nicest guy I’d ever met. Discernment told me it was Deception, but he said his name was Honest—I thought to myself, “clearly that’s not Deception.” He asked me where I was going and I said I’m following Instruction to the Kingdom. He said he was headed there too and knew a short cut for he had guided people there many times before. I looked to ask Discernment if I should go, but I didn’t see her. As I started to call out for her, Honest grasped my attention and pointed to the way he knew. I looked at the way Instruction was going and it seemed cluttered and less traveled. Honest’s way was lit by beautiful things like gold and silver and food of every kind! It was a wide path that many seemed to travel. Honest told me it was the safest route to the Kingdom because it was well lit and he could protect me. So I decided to take Righteousness and follow him. Surely he knew what he was talking about. He did say he’s done this many times.
As we followed Honest, along came another person. She was absolutely gorgeous. She told me her name was Goodness. Righteousness told me it was Wickedness but I thought differently. Goodness allowed me to have whatever I wanted. What’s wicked about that? She called each of the things I desired Temptation and said I was more than welcome to indulge in them. Each Temptation had it’s own road and Goodness told me to follow the one I liked the most. There was Money Temptation Road, Hate Temptation Road, Homosexual Temptation Road, Pleasure Temptation Road, and many others like it. She said they all lead to the same place. Honest and Goodness both told me they would accompany me down whatever Temptation Road I chose, never leaving my side. I thanked them and they told me not to worry about it and that I can pay them back later. Gladly, I chose Pleasure Temptation Road.
It was so much fun! I indulged in many of the things this road had to offer on my way to the Kingdom. This was great! But when I took a moment to myself, I realized Righteousness was nowhere in site. I figured since this was making me happy and I’m still going to the same place, that I didn’t need Righteousness anymore. Look what Goodness was offering me! So I kept on indulging in every pleasure until… it wasn’t as pleasurable. I figured I would just increase my intake but that only proved to work for a while. Eventually that too, wasn’t satisfying me. So I tried new pleasures and that even worked for a while until satisfaction left me empty.
I began to feel empty. So I asked Honest and Goodness why I felt this way. They told me it’s normal and that I would again be satisfied and filled when I make it to the destination. So I kept going until some wise words echoed in my head. “Discernment and Righteous will protect you from Deception and Wickedness.” “Deception will promise a better road.” “Wickedness will promise fun and fulfillment.” I didn’t like the place I was in anymore. As those words kept ringing in my head, I remembered Wisdom and Understanding telling me to call them when I needed them. As I pulled my phone out, Honest asked me whom I was calling. I told him I was calling Wisdom and Understanding and he quickly told me that I that I didn’t need to. At that moment I realized who he really was… Deception. I had been deceived! He grew angry and cautioned me to put my phone away, but I denied him. Then Goodness came and tried to get me to look at the glitters of the road and focus on where I was. When I refused, she too grew angry and showed her real self… Wickedness.
I closed my eyes and rebuked them. Immediately everything disappeared and I found myself alone in the forest. Each way I looked appeared the same and all I could see is trees. I was lost! So I called Wisdom and Understanding and told them what happened and I apologized. They told me not to feel bad because what happened to me happens to everyone. They said it’s good that I didn’t get to the point of no return. They told me to call out for Discernment and Righteousness and they will lead me back to Instruction and to follow Instruction without wavering. They reminded me to seek first the Kingdom and if I ever need them, they were just a call away.
I called out for Discernment and Righteous right after I talked to the old couple. They found me quickly. They said they have been following me, just waiting for me to call out. They ushered me back to Instruction. How glad I was to see Instruction. Instruction guided me through the rest of the forest. Once I got to the end, I met a guy named Knowledge.
Knowledge was this cool dude. He knew a lot about everything. He said he was proud that I made it to him and he gave me 3 rewards: Joy, Honor, and Power. I had never been happier. These rewards were lasting, unlike those Temptations. I got them once and they never left me. He told me to never let them go and they will satisfy me, once and for all. He left me with knowledge and rewards and I then continued to follow Instruction to the Valley of the Shadow of Death.
Instruction, Discernment, and Righteousness all told me about this valley. They told me Deception, Wickedness, Evil, and Violence would all be there. Instruction told me to keep following him, but that Discernment and Righteousness are going to be at the end of the valley, where I would meet Death. He said that I should remember Discernment and Righteousness and always keep them in my mind and heart. He also told me to remember the goal and to keep my focus on the Kingdom. He then introduced me to Discretion. Discretion told me to hold fast to him through this journey through the valley for it will be very difficult and trying. He told me that he would help me avoid the Enemy’s helpers and not to fear any of them because I had the power of the King given to me by Knowledge. So I took a hold of Discretion and followed Instruction into the Valley of the Shadow of Death.
I started my venture into the valley and almost immediately Deception showed up. He told me that I was in fact, being deceived by the King’s helpers, Instruction, Discernment, Righteousness, Knowledge, and Discretion, for they are restricting me and did not letting me to do what I want and was only leading me astray. Discretion told me to rebuke Deception, for he desires to lead me to Sheol. So I rebuked Deception and held onto Discretion even tighter.
Next Wickedness came along. She told me to leave Instruction and follow her, for the path I’m on is not fun. She told me that the King’s helpers don’t want me to have fun and that they are leading me to a place where I would only experience boredom. Discretion spoke to me and told me her path leads to Sheol and to rebuke her, for her feet lead to mass destruction. So I rebuked her in the name of the King.
Then a set of twins came along. Their names were Evil and Violence. They cursed at me and beat me and did every bad thing possible to me to discourage me. They tried with force to get me off my path and to stop following Instruction. Discretion yelled out to me, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Then he told me to endure to the end. I kept enduring, joyfully. Deception and Wickedness came back again attacking me with doubt and deceit. They joined the twins and assisted them in trying to make me stray and trying to take my rewards from Knowledge. But I remember the wise words of Wisdom and Understanding, “Seek first the Kingdom.” So I held fast to Discretion, to my rewards, and kept following Instruction diligently.
Finally, when the Enemy’s helpers saw they had no power over me and that I still had my rewards, they fled from me. The dark valley at once became light. At the end of the valley I saw Discernment, Righteousness, Knowledge, Wisdom, and Understanding waiting for me. They greeted me with cheerfulness. I was so relieved to see all of them, for I know they were truly the King’s helpers. They brought me to a man named Death. They told me not to be afraid, for everyone must meet him, and the ones that meet him through Instruction should be joyful. At that moment, I noticed another path leading to him and many people were on it, all of whom looked miserable. I thanked the King’s helpers for keeping me on the right path and went happily to Death.
Death brought me to the Kingdom. He told me to walk down the golden walkway between the jeweled gardens until I got to the gates and there I will meet the King to receive my rewards. As I approached the gates, I saw a Man standing there. He was glowing with holiness and was glorious beyond measure. He looked at me with a peaceful smile as heavenly music filled the ambiance. When I entered His presence, I asked if He was the King. He said, “I AM.” My heart filled with joy! He said He had some rewards for me and was pleased that I endured the entire journey. He said each reward would be Everlasting. I reached my hand out and He gave me Everlasting Peace, Everlasting Joy, Everlasting Love, Everlasting Happiness, Everlasting Self-Control, Everlasting Kindness, Everlasting Gentleness, Everlasting Holiness, and Everlasting Life. Then He said the most magnificent phrase to me that I will never forget and hold so dear to my heart: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Then He opened up the gates of the Kingdom, escorted me to my Eternal Home, and introduced me to Everlasting Fun!
THE END
