Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Lock (03/06/06)
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TITLE: No Witness | Previous Challenge Entry
By alan polacek
03/12/06 -
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It looked as though it was about to crumble. The lane leading to it had grown over, no longer visible. No one knew it was here. If someone did happen to come across it, it wouldn’t matter. Old planks concealed the lock. His prize would be stowed behind what looked like an interior wall.
He hadn’t had time to prepare as well as he would have liked. It was his plan all along but the opportunity to snatch his prize came before he was fully prepared. It was sufficient for now. He could make improvements as needed later. “That’s what people always say, isn’t it?” He told himself. “ Take baby steps. It’s the small victories that count, right?”
“Why are you doing this?” his prize blurted out. There was no fear or anger in the voice. It was blunt, forward statement rather than a question.
“Because.” The man answered. “ I can’t keep you in the open. People would talk and begin to ask questions. I can’t have my friends and neighbors find out what I’ve done. It would be too embarrassing.”
“This is not right! Trust me! I won’t do anything to embarrass you.”
“Maybe in time I can bring you out for short periods. But for now you must remain here!”
That said, the man slammed the door shut, closed the lock and replaced the planks to conceal his prize.
The man would stop in only enough to keep his prize alive. During his last visit he told his prize that he was going to allow an outing to church. “Those folks won’t suspect a thing. But!” He warned. “You must stay close to me and do as I say. If you try to escape, you’ll never leave this room again! Is that understood?”
“I’ll go. But no, I don’t understand.”
So it went. For years the man and his prize would attend church As long as the man felt like it, that is. There were times when he was sick, bad weather or just not in the mood. His friends and neighbors never suspected anything. Church members thought everything was fine. His prize a few times tried to speak up but the man squelched any attempt with an angry glare, causing his prize to withdraw in sad silence.
Feeling ill, the man, now old and feeble, shuffled his way through the deep woods to the barn. Unlocking the hidden door, he yelled. “I need you!” Silence. Searching with squinting aged eyes, he found the room empty.
“Looking for me?” a voice from outside the room asked.
Backing out, the man tried to locate his captive.
“Up here.”
Looking up the old man saw his captive sitting in the loft. Startled, the man asked “How did you get out?”
“Old man, you can’t keep me for yourself. My spirit flows free.”
“But until now you were locked up until I let you out.”
“No, I allowed you to take me. I was here for you. You chose to keep me hidden. But now you come asking for my help.”
“Yes, I think my time on earth is about over and I need you.”
“Oh, I see. Now it’s okay that others know you asked me to save you.”
“Well yes, Isn’t that why you exist? To be near at the end? For comfort and to fulfill your promise of Salvation?”
“You have been a fool. All these years you have been ashamed of me.” Jesus scolded.
“I am not to be locked away! If only you had trusted me.”
“But Lord.” the man cowered. “ Those around me would have thought I was crazy. Surely you understand.”
“What I understand is this. You had multiple opportunities to witness to others. You chose to lock me away like some sinful secret.”
“Please forgive me Lord.” The man begged. “ I never meant any harm. It was selfish of me to try and keep you for myself.”
“If you truly mean what you say, lock away your fear, share your prize. Your time has not yet come. The remainder of your life will be richer if you allow my presence be known through you. There are many souls to be saved because of your witness.”
Phil. 2:4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
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