Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: The Kingdom of God (03/12/09)
-
TITLE: Kingdom Fighters | Previous Challenge Entry
By Cecile Hurst
03/15/09 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
Dark blue vests paired with pleated starched shorts clamor out of the double oak doors of the Japanese high school. Black haired heads shinning in the sun. The world is an array of falling cherry blossoms, sky scrapers and high spirits, but our skinny hero slumps his shoulders as the camera slowly revolves around him and finally zeros in on a close-up of his eyes, determined and glaring under long jutting bangs as he bears the weight of ‘Baka, baka,’ schoolmate ridicule meaning ‘Idiot, idiot’. He’s not like the other kids.
He’s been chosen.
He cuts through the vivid green of a city park and relaxes as his cute mini-helper, Kaze (1), flies on scene with ready encouragement: “Remember Katsuo, God has chosen the ‘baka’ and weak of this world to show Himself great.” (2)
“I remember Kaze, but sometimes it just seems so unfair.”
“Don’t be discouraged Katsuo – you are never alone and you have the power of Him Who Is resting inside you, and He Who Is is strong enough to carry all your burdens.”
The youth sighs and smiles, “What would I do without you Kaze?” Carefree they start a game of catch-me-if-you-can, the camera spinning in slow motion. Then…
“Katsuo! Behind you!” Kaze calls out.
The screen splits into colliding spears of color, Katsuo on one side and his adversary on the other. Katsuo closes his eyes and prepares silently for the battle: “I now fight in the name of He Who Is and take to me His sword and shield, for I do not battle against flesh and blood, but against the cosmic powers of this present darkness.” Then he shouts “In the strength of His might!” (3)
The two warriors collide, Katsuo’s small white arms against monstrous black muscles and razorblade-sharp purple hair. They fight to the death as the camera catches their movement frame by frame. At the last, Katsuo stands over his enemy, victorious, chest heaving.
Clapping startles our hero. He looks up. It’s Akuma, his arch nemesis!
“Good job Katsuo – you have performed well. But the worst is yet to come.”
Before our very eyes, Akuma, just a moment before a little old man in thick rimmed glasses, melts into flames of florescent green fire. “Join with me, or die,” he threatens in a low growl.
Our hero’s chin starts to shake, but he bravely raises his eyes to look Akuma in his face of liquid flames. “You have already been beaten, Prince of this Darkness. In the strength of His might!”
The fight begins and no one notices as Kaze slips away murmuring, “He can’t do this alone…”
The battle draws quick blood from Katsuo as he is seared by the flames that leap off Akuma’s body. He never gives up though – sure that just as he defeated his first enemy he can now take down Akuma, but as the fight continues a fear grows in his heart and seeps into his eyes.
“I can’t!” He cries inwardly as Akuma comes forward to deal to him yet another blow. “I am nothing,” he whispers to He Who Is, and He Who Is whispers back:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (5)
At that moment the camera sweeps back and shows Kaze, come with an army of other children, some short some tall, some fat some skinny, some confident some shy. Girls and boys armed with one thing.
“In the strength of HIS might!” They all yell in unison and rush forward to help Katsuo in his fight.
But Akuma doesn’t stick around. “A-hah,” he cackles and curls up into a fireball. The camera backs behind a tree and Akuma throws himself into it, burning the tree to the ground, sparks flying, and then he’s gone, suck down into the earth.
The other Kingdom Fighters reach out hands to help Katsuo up and Kaze comes to touch his wounds and heal them. The camera lifts up and up and disappears behind puffy clouds then dissolves altogether in a flash of brilliant white.
(1) Kaze; Japanese for ‘wind’
(2) 1 Corinthians 1:27, ESV; paraphrased
(3) Ephesians 6:10-12, ESV; paraphrased
(4) Akuma; Japanese for ‘Satan’
(5) Matthew 5:3, ESV
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.