There once was a man who was striving to know and serve a king. His name was Dan. Dan was part of a large family; his father was gone but is mother lived nearby. He was striving to obey the rules set forth by the king. He considered himself nothing special. He was a modest provider, getting up there a little bit in age but good at what he did, and a hard worker.
Like a few other people, the older he got the more he was obsessed with the king. It seemed to him that not many paid much attention to the king. The king had laid out duties for his subjects. Everybody had something they were supposed to do. Some more than others. Sometimes it was something simple, some things were common to all, sometimes it was complicated. Not one single individual was left off the kings list.
The king had fought many life and death battles on behalf of the people. Some were appreciative. Those who knew the king studied his likes and dislikes. They knew what he was doing. They loved him and served him. The king reminded everyone that they were currently being tested and everyone who loved him could go with him back to his kingdom, which was far more wonderful than they could imagine. The king warned that it was not safe where they were and that at some point, the land they were in would become extremely dangerous.
Most of the people never thought of going to the kingdom. Their thoughts were of things local. Of stuff they could get locally and of things they could do, regardless of what the king said about it.
Dan tried to follow the rules. Sometimes he slipped and made mistakes. He asked the king for forgiveness and the king let him slide. His family and some others thought he was a little close to the king. Others did not like the king and did not like to deal with anyone who followed the king at all. Dan’s own family did not trust him much with matters that did not pertain to the king. They did not really trust him around his mother. They thought his priorities were wrong and he didn’t’ always do things correctly. Regardless, Dan new that someday he had some cool stuff back at the kingdom the king had promised.
One-night Dan had a dream. He dreamed that he was looking down on the land where his house was, and family lived. Everything was on fire. Many people were yelling “King, please help us” but to no avail. All their possessions were being burned and so where they. It seemed the fire would never go out. Many were horribly burned. Dan looked upward and immediately saw his mother and some others. They were in the king’s kingdom that they were told about. Everyone there had a glorious new home built especially for them, some big, some small. It was quite saddening to learn that the people who did not love or follow the king never made it to the magnificent kingdom. All knew that it was exactly as the king had said. Everyone got exactly what they chose.
Dan awoke from his dream and had new resolve.
Note: Jesus is the King.
Questions: Are you Dan or someone like him? What has the King (Jesus) told you to do? What can we do to help the people in the fire (or heading for the fire) in Dan’s dream? Can you see any biblical principles based on the Bible buried in this story?
Anybody have something to say?