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Topics: Jesus, Kingdom, Guidance
A band of travelers set out one day to go to meet the King who lived
in the largest castle in the land. They had heard many stories about
Him, and his kingdom and had decided they would try and make their way
there to stay with Him. In their land were many roads leading in all
directions to many different places, some barely traveled, so their
surface was smoother, while other roads including the one to the Castle
were more well worn, and as a result harder to walk on. So the travelers
found themselves having difficulties at times with this terrain, some
more than others.
Sometimes one or another would take a different road hoping to find an easier way to the Kingdom, but every time they had to be rescued and brought back to the first road, as the other roads were deceptive, starting out easy, but then becoming full of dangerous animals and deathly traps. Then one day, one of the group took very ill along the way and after a while, he fell to his knees saying he was too ill to continue on this road. Nobody in the group knew how to help him, although each tried hard to lift him up, but he was too weak to stand.
Now afar off in the Castle, the King had seen the travelers coming along the road and he saw that one in particular was having a really hard time coping, so he sent his Son to see if help could be given. The Son took 2 helpers with him and hurried to the aid of the group. When he arrived, the Son looked at the ill man, and said to him "I know you - we were friends many years ago and I've been waiting for you since. My Fathers House isn't
very far now as you can see, but you are too ill to walk any further,
so I will get my helpers here to carry you on ahead so that you might
get rest from your labors and healed from your sickness".
The man looked at the Son and asked forgiveness for the many years apart, but he dearly wanted to get to know him again and would gladly go with
the helpers. The group looked at each other, each thinking they didn't
want to be parted from their friend, for they had traveled many times
together and enjoyed his company, and they were sad as the helpers
lifted him and carried him on ahead.
The Son said to them - "Be glad for him, as he will get strength and support in my Father's house and it won't be long now before you'll get there yourselves. As you have lost your companion perhaps you won't mind if I join you and walk with you to make sure you don't lose your way." Some of the group were still upset and unsure about what they should do, some questioning why the Son had done this to them - parted them from a dear companion.
One was so upset she wanted to stay where she was and looked back at the
road they'd traveled together, saying that she couldn't continue without
him by her side, but the Son said to her "Don't look back for what is
there to see there - look forward instead to the King and my Father's
kingdom, for he waits for you with excitement, and there you will meet
your friend again".
So she decided that she would take his advice and when she looked ahead she could see both the King and her lost friend, so she fixed her eyes in that direction and went forward. And as the group and the Son went forward together, slowly but surely the road got a bit easier. In parts where the going got particularly tough, the Son was strong enough to carry those who were a bit weak and tired, and sometimes help would again have to be sent for, so as to allow one or two to go on ahead sooner than the others but they all got to the Kingdom eventually and lived in perfect peace and happiness with their King, who rejoiced to have them as part of His household.
Unknown
(Inspirational submitted by: Romayne)