Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Rage (violent, uncontrolled hatred and anger) (02/05/15)
-
TITLE: Discourse With Rage | Previous Challenge Entry
By Zacharia Fox
02/12/15 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
“Sir!” called Consecrated. “What ails your mood so?”
The man stood up, haggard and heaving, and turned to face Consecrated.
“This man has wronged me,” the man plead, shaking his fist toward the grave. “And I, the offended, the judge and the jury, spend my life seeking recompense.”
“Sir, how is it that you came to abandon the narrow road for such a grave?” Consecrated asked.
“This is the place where first he offended me. We detoured from the narrow road thereafter in our struggle. He struggling to make me see my faults, and I for revenge.”
“How is it that I find you alone and he in the grave? And why have you never returned to the narrow way?”
“I succeeded in my struggle, and killed my brother. But upon killing him, I found no relief. So now I pound his grave seeking relief from my rage.”
Consecrated looked to the headstone. It read ‘Here lies the great hoard of those ruined by offense, whose agents are unforgiveness, self-pity, self-righteousness, bitterness and rage.’
“Sir,” Consecrated began. “You find no relief in your fellow’s death, because you seek vengeance. But vengeance belongs to the Lord. Only He might redeem your ruined situation.”
“Ah!” the man screamed, throwing his crimson stained hands in the air. “But the Lord is sloth in His judgements.”
“No, sir. The Lord is perfect in His judgements, but slow to anger, abounding in love, and quick to forgive. It is forgiveness you need most; both to give it and to receive it. Release the debt you hold against this man, and your distemper will release you. Return again to the narrow road, for He who called you to it is faithful.”
“I see now that you are like the one who offended me; only intent on heaping fault on me when I am not to be blamed. The guilt rests with the one in ground.”
Consecrated almost went to answer the man’s raving, but the Spirit quickened within him the Proverb, ‘Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.’ Instead, thankful to Him who kept Consecrated from stumbling into argument, he asked, “Sir, what is your name? That I may pray for your deliverance?”
“I am Rage,” the man answered, turning back to the grave before he continued. “Keep your prayers. I neither want nor need forgiveness. I want only want what I deserve. Revenge.” With that, he began to yell curses at his dead offender and pound again on the headstone.
“Sir,” Consecrated called. “The irony of unforgiveness, is that once we choose not to forgive, it is we who most desperately need to be forgiven.” But Rage payed him no mind.
Consecrated prayed for the deliverance of Rage, and set himself again squarely on the narrow road. His eyes were set like a flint on the Son, and so he did not see behind him that Rage never advanced from the place where he was offended. Eventually, the grave and the grudge that Rage wouldn’t release opened up and swallowed him, and he became one of the great hoard ruined by offense.
* * *
Author’s Notes
Apologies to John Bunyan, whose allegories I adore and whose influence I couldn’t escape.
Scripture references from:
Matt. 7:14, Deut. 32:35, 2 Peter 3:9, Num. 14:18, 1Thes. 5:24, Prov. 26:4 NIV, Is. 50:7
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
God bless~