Love struggles for life in the recesses of the barren wastelands of an ill-fated world. In the crevice of a rock, joy desires to be found. Dark clouds boil across a bland sky hiding the radiance of peace. Where has faithfulness fled to? Chaos and panic rip life to shreds while self-control and patience tremble in the shadows. Goodness lives only in the memories of hapless beings. Humility is a forgotten treasure lost in a dark cave. Kindness lies in an open grave.
The ruler of the disintegrating world chortles. The black desires of his heart now rule without restraint and at his whims.
Yet he has not won. He cannot win. Within a few, light radiates. The source is the Creator of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. He has chosen to dwell in the hearts of His few. The Creator’s Spirit pours His fruit into these without pause, without end.
The ruler of the dark trembles at the thought. He knows they alone can bring order to his chaos, love to replace his hate and life in the midst of death.
His mind harkens to a past memory, words he heard long ago. “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV)
Yes, he sees them. They walk among the many, those he has enslaved. It’s as if their hearts are lanterns, bringing light into his gloom. Their numbers are few, but their spirit is unbending.
“…they do not fear…they never fail to bear fruit…”
They are indestructible. Their love overpowers his hate. Their joy enlivens the dreariness. Their goodness triumphs over his evil. Their faithfulness knows no bounds. Their peace engulfs his chaos. With unrelenting patience, they walk among his prisoners. Quiet humility exudes from them. Nothing sways them, nothing turns them away. Their acts of kindness sweep over the wastelands, rekindling sparks of life within the desolate defeated.
He believed he had wiped all vestiges of everything good from the world. Even as he ravaged, it tormented him that the Creator might intervene, might send the mighty archangel Michael to ruin his plans.
Instead, His Son came. The Son came and saved these few. Then He sent His Spirit to reside inside them. How utterly clever. Through His Spirit, He gave His chosen the power to do battle against him. To war against him, the prince of this world! And He made them indestructible.
With rage, he watches as the heavy iron of his yokes fall from one person after another. He squirms with fury as the brutality and shame of his yokes melt away, replaced by the easy yoke of Jesus—His easy yoke that brings rest while taking away the heavy burdens and weariness.
He, the ruler of ashes, has lost. His only hope lay in fooling as many of the heavy-laden as possible. To lure them through false promises of fame and fortune. To lie to them about Him. To create false gods to capture people’s minds. To do anything to hold captive a few so that he could torment them for all of eternity. To ridicule their foolishness for following him. He could never own all. But he could own most.
Even as the ruler turns away, the few continue rescuing. They walk without fear among the doomed. Like a tree planted by the water, they offer shade and comfort. Most of all, they bring the fruit of salvation. Smiles of joy light their faces as one more imprisoned person reaches up, putting his hand in theirs. Tears of assurance freely flow as they draw close, immersed in tender peace.