Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Truth or Dare (08/28/08)
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TITLE: The Space between Good and Evil | Previous Challenge Entry
By
08/30/08 -
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His tired eyes gaze out through aged windowpanes of the old building as hurried voices reverberate off of stark concrete walls just beyond the closed door. The sunset vanishes into the darkness of night and the army of the enemy hides in the shadows, waiting to pounce on the man of God like prey.
Not so innocent and very suspecting, the young man begs for forgiveness knowing what he is about to do. His guts twist and turn inside as his pulse escalates to the surface of his skin, pounding with each heartbeat.
Suspended above, the cloud of witnesses rumble with anticipation as the spiritual game commences. “What do you think he will do this time?” One of the heavenly hosts questioned aloud.
“Not sure,” another responded. “He is looking pretty run down. His fight is gone and it takes a tremendous amount of strength to expose the lie of the enemy and tell the truth. I am afraid he will just take the dare.”
“It’s a crying shame he doesn’t have more people praying for him but no one knows he needs them. He spends so much time and energy hiding what he’s doing. He could have a fighting chance if he would just tell someone, ask for help, admit he can’t do it on his own.”
“Shhhh, you two. It’s about to start,” a wiser voice quipped, not wanting to miss a minute of the action or his cue to enter into play on the side of Truth.
And with an abrupt halt to the angelic dialogue a cluster of fallen angels swarmed the atmosphere around the troubled young man below. Whispered taunts echoed throughout as he clutched his head, hoping they would stop. “Just do it,” the bitter words stung his ears. “No one will know. Do you really think anyone cares anyway?”
He began pacing the floor, burning off the nervous energy erupting within his every cell. Through clenched teeth he uttered, “Help me, Lord. Help me.” And then, his eye caught sight of the poison his body craved, confined in the weapon of administration propped up like an idol on his bedside table. How could something so vile produce such pleasure, he questioned with desperation?
Hearing the call, the angel of light swooped in and immediately a tangible presence of purity hovered within the room and exhaled, “remember, you are a child of God. Stand firm in His truth. He can rescue you from this life of death if...”
A hauntingly familiar voice interrupted, “you need it to survive. Remember what happened last time you tried to quit? It’s no big deal. You’re not hurting anyone, just do it already - I dare you.” Sweat began to bead on his brow and a dangerous defeat overwhelmed him as he reached out and seized his most grievous sin.
Caught, once again in the space between good and evil, his knees hit the floor with a thud. “Lord if you are truly real, help me now. I can’t do this anymore. I want to so bad it hurts, but every time I use I feel like I die inside. I can’t win, but I’m afraid to lose.”
As his fears made pilgrimage from his heart to his head so did the realization that he forgot to lock the door. And without warning the dorm room door flew open as if it were the mouth of the mighty Creator Himself. Stunned eyes withdrew out of shame as the loss of words shouted volumes. The only sound heard, an unused needle falling through the abyss between friends hitting the hard floor beneath them.
A quiet yet authoritative tongue resounded inside the young man’s stifled heart as he looked into the face of answered prayer, “Truth.” One word was all it took. He knew, without a doubt, it was time. Time to stop the madness and choose the hard line of truth, the only way to freedom.
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