In the
land of Osdod there was an ornery old farmer. He had lived there for years
owing allegiance to nothing but his own desires. One day a rider came to his
farm.”
“What do
you want!?” The old farmer asked.
“Hello
my man!” the rider said as he dismounted, “Today is a great day for you! I come
on behalf of the king!”
“King!”
the old man laughed, “You’re mad! There’s no king in these lands.”
“Well of
course there’s a king. It cannot be called a kingdom if there were king.”
“I never
called this forsaken land a kingdom. If there was a king we would not have this
infernal wilderness everywhere. There would be towns and prosperity as there is
in other kingdoms. So don’t come around here telling me that there’s a king!”
“I must
say it comes hard for me to tell you my purpose if you deny the fact that there
is a king.”
“Then be
gone!”
“But
friend you must believe. This is a matter of life or death.”
“Let me
save you a world of trouble kid. There is no king! If there was he would have
shown himself to us!”
“Denying
the reality of the king does not make him go away!”
“Why?
Have you seen him?”
“Actually
no. There are only a few privileged people who have seen him.”
“That’s
my point. You haven’t seen him so he’s not real!”
“But in
my hand is a decree from the king written by one of the king’s scribes and it
bears the king’s seal.”
“So you
have a piece of paper written by a commoner like us. And as far as that seal
goes anyone could have put that on there! It was probably you!”
“Of
course I didn’t! Don’t be absurd.”
“And you
stop intruding on my land!”
“Ah yes
your land. That is the reason I am here. The king has decreed that you are
living in rebellion against him. You, along with all of his subjects refuse to
pay your taxes.”
“Just
what I thought. You’re just trying to rob me!”
“If you
would listen I would explain. The king says the debt you have racked up is
greater than you could ever pay off and the penalty for that is death.”
“Then
why doesn’t he just come here and kill me? Oh wait. Maybe it is because he’s
not real!”
“It’s
because he does not delight in the death of the wicked! You have transgressed
his law and as king he is bound by duty to punish you. He owes you nothing but
a swift and silent death. But our king is a good man. He loves his people so
greatly that he sent his son into the world. This son obtained a fortune
through the most bitter toil and has saved enough to pay the king back for all
that his servants have robbed from him in taxes. The king says that he will
accept his son’s gift on one condition. If you forsake your evil ways and swear
your allegiance to him then he will make it as if you had never done wrong!”
“There
is no one who would do such a thing! If someone owed a lifetime of debts no one
would be willing to forgive that!”
“But the
king and his son are true men. Take me for example. I too have never paid my
dues to the king but I accepted the princes gift and am now in allegiance to
the king. He was true to his word I am forgiven. And there are many others just
like me who have also received this gift.”
“If
there were such a king I would never ally myself with him! Look at this land we
live in! No good king would leave it in such a wreck!”
“All
that is evil in this land has come about because of the rebellion of the king’s
subjects. It is not his fault that things are this way. Please listen to me.
The king has defended you against many attacks from our neighbors, he has sent
countless messengers out who have been killed or persecuted, he has given you
all so many chances but you refuse to see!”
“I
believe what I can see. Therefore I will not believe until I see the king face
to face! And then I will let him know how terrible of a king he has been.”
“How
dare you! He is the king! You are his subject! He owes you nothing! To see the
king is a blessing greater than anything we could dream to ask! To demand to
stand before the king is the most insolent thing a person could ask!”
“That’s
my final offer. He can show himself or I will not serve him.”
“The
king has said that he will show himself to the people. He will show himself on
the Day of Judgment! But at that time it will be too late. You will have made
your choice and may you have a change of heart before that day lest he come to
judge you!”
“Go
speak your nonsense in someone else’s ears! I will not change what I think!”
“And so
the messenger left.” Gallar said, “The king was true to his word and forgave
the debts of those who offered their allegiance. But upon the foolish farmer
and others like him a most dreadful judgment fell.”
“It
makes me glad I am a Vashaarite.” Burdep said, “If I had not been saved at such
a young age I think I could have been one of them. Believing only in what I
see. But that is the way of a fool.”
“If only
the people of the world would come to realize that Vashaar does not need them
nor does he owe them anything. In fact it is they who owe the debt. Only by a measure
of love and mercy beyond anything the races posses can we be forgiven. If any
of us were in Vashaar’s place and could see how absolutely disgusting our sin
is we would all have no mercy. We would all drop the hammer.”
“It does
makes you want to tell that man about Vashaar. You want to warn him about what
he’s walking into. But he would never listen.”
“Tell
him anyway. He will probably refuse but Vashaar has called you to tell not to
convert. What a person does with the message is between them and Vashaar.
Preach my lad preach to all who will hear. And let death be the only thing to
silence you!”
