An Allegory... part eight (final)
Chapter 15
IT’S ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS
….. These people readily signed our petition on their knees, as was their custom. The natives in the white robes knew about the massacre. They were surprised that the foreign representatives, who came from a land that was considered by many to be the King's country, knew so little about His power. They had many ideas and plans and were involved in many projects, yet when a crisis came, they did not know which way to turn. They seemed to lack an intimacy with the King.
In contrast, these natives in the white robes were in constant contact with Him. They had an uncanny knowledge of His Word. They had learned very little about modern methods and simply and literally relied on what was written. One thing was important to them and that was to immediately obey His command. They seemed to sense the very longings of the King and set about to please Him, before a command was given.
There was an understanding among them that each individual was in communion with the king, from the least to the greatest, and were taught by Him. There was nothing that was more important among them. The leaders fully recognized that they were only brothers to the rest and were as prone to mistakes as anyone else. They knew to always yield to the individual guidance that others received and understood that each one was responsible to hear and obey the Sprit of the King. One day, each one would give an account to Him.
Each held a healthy distrust in himself and we heard one say, "I am a worm and no man." Another, who held a wonderful relationship with the King declared, "I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes." Still another said, "I am a man of unclean lips and I live with a people of unclean lips", yet easily we could see that these were the holiest people we had ever met. However, they understood their need for the King and therefore they spent much time alone with him by day and by night. They lived very close to the River and its friendly waters continually washed them from all impurities. How refreshing it was to be with them! They were poor, yet they made many rich.
It became clear to us that we needed them and they seemed to think that they needed us. It was true that there were some spiritual functions, with which the King had entrusted us, which they did not know. And of course, we were receiving strength from their gifts.
These folks manifested an uncommon transparency. They confessed their faults one to another and petitioned for one another. Brotherly love was real and intense, yet it never tolerated disobedience or impurity. They treated us, their guests, in the same way, as they did their own people. Several of us felt the sting of rebukes from time to time. They feared for our spiritual welfare and were careful to be faithful to us in every way ….
Chapter 16
THE CHURCH – A LIVING BODY
….. On the bank of the river was a monument of twelve stones, placed one on top of another without mortar, yet they joined very well and there was no possibility that they would fall. The monument testified of the people who lived there. It was amazing to see that, as each one fulfilled the specific function that He had to fill, that it coincided with what others were doing and everything blended and flowed smoothly. It was obvious that an unseen Head was moving the entire body. Not only that, we saw that they fit neatly in place next to us in our functions that we had learned from the King. On the other hand, in the things that we had unknowingly done according to our own thinking and sense of rightness, being with these natives showed these efforts to be only human endeavors, which had no lasting purpose.
We comprehended with these holy people, more depths, lengths, breadth and heights of the love of the King, than would have ever been possible, had we simply continued as a separate group. They also maintained a relationship with other of His Majesty's true people with whom they had come into contact. They petitioned for many who were in far away lands, separated by earthly distances, but close to them through the wonderful powers of the River.
As was the case with us, so with them, there was awareness that not all those who used the King's name were true followers. They seemed to have a holy hatred for all that was unreal and was done lightly or as a theater act. They demanded truth and reality that came from deep within.
They were deeply serious about presenting the King's message to earth-bound people. All who heard them had no doubt that they held strong convictions and lived the message that they imparted. They used no tricks and had no props added to their presentation, but relied entirely upon the Word and the River. They did not cast pearls before swine. The good news was given, subsequent to making sure that the listener understood that he was living dangerously, under the wrath of the King. If he did not turn from his wicked ways, he would eventually be thrown into a fire that would never be extinguished and in which, he could never die. He would be tormented forever and ever.
We saw also that they were meeting the King’s quota, beyond their financial and physical possibilities. It was their only reason under the sun for living. We heard them voice petitions for friends and relatives, who were taking the message far beyond their borders to those who had not heard and had no others means, by which they could hear.
As we came to know these people and they became very dear to us, a strong conviction gripped all of us. We knew that we were getting close to the time, when we would go to be with the King. Clearly, the end of all things was at hand. Because these were special days, love grew and differences melted. There was no special emphasis or effort to try to make this happen. It simply did happen. We felt a growing need and love for the entire body of the King. The conviction of living in union with the River also grew and evidences of its influence and power increased. We felt that if these things continued to grow, it might not be long, before the quota would be entirely met. Remembering the meeting in which indifference seemed to reign among the people in the last rows, I now was seeing something very different. I could see that the King had many individuals, who had not bowed in submission to the trend of the times. They opened the door at His knock and call, were fellowshipping intimately with Him, and were seriously involved in meeting the quota. Nothing less was acceptable to them…
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