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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Confident (07/05/07)
Fully Known

One day, beyond eternity…

I have passed from monochrome to colour. I have stepped off the pages of the book I inhabited into the 3-dimensional world of substance.

It is beautiful beyond words and my breath is stolen from me.

It is heaven.

Before the Throne – I cannot yet look fully on that sight – are creatures. Unbelievable, inexplicable, mysterious beings. They transcend comparison with anything I have ever seen, yet I somehow know that they are, by the wisdom of divine perfection, exactly as they must be. Their wings move in a perfect choreography of worship. Their eyes – their many eyes – are fixed in constant gaze on the One who sits on the Throne.



1922

‘Go on, Dad. Try him out.’

My grandfather looks down at me with a sceptical expression twitching below his moustache. Finally, he laughs. ‘All right then, I will. Tim, how do you spell… ‘cherubim?’

I always enjoy the spelling game. ‘Easy, Grandpa. C-H-E-R-U-B-I-M.’

I know he’ll tip me a shilling. I’ve already spent it in my imagination. But the best prize is the look of admiration on his face.

‘Five years old! My grandson the spelling genius!’



The place I am in defies report. Now I understand why Daniel, Ezekiel and John struggled so much to describe their visions. There is glory heaped on glory. My retinas should be seared, but the harder I gaze, the better I can endure it.

To dwell five minutes in this place I would exchange all the vanities of my life in a heartbeat.



1930

‘Well, now we move on to our final round. The toughest questions for the last two surviving contestants. Tim, here’s a nasty one for you. How does John describe the foundations of the New Jerusalem?’

I smile. The book of Revelation is something of a specialty of mine. ‘They are built in twelve layers, of twelve precious and semi-precious stones. In order, the layers are jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, carnelian, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth and amethyst.’

I lean back in my chair and lap up the applause.




I am frozen on the threshold, uncertain of my role and doubtful of my welcome. I fear to be the first to tread muddy footprints across the virgin brightness of this land.

I turn towards the Throne, for I can sense that it is from this most glorious place that the word of truth originates. The strings of the fabric of all reality – old and new – are tethered here, and I, too, am drawn by irresistible cords towards the brightness.




1951

‘Mr Williams, I’ve enjoyed reading your excellent thesis on the eschatological symbology of the book of Daniel. Tell me, what do you see as the biggest scholarly challenge in this passage?’

I release a long-held breath at his words. My much-dreaded PhD viva. But his opening question is undemanding. Let him ask away. Three years of minute study have made me an expert. He will not catch me out. I put the tips of my fingers together and begin to speak.

‘Well, as I see it, one of the biggest problems is the question of inter-testamental midrash as it was applied to the book of Daniel…’



The voice in my head is insistent and demanding. ‘By what right do you stand here? How do you dare to approach the Most Holy Throne of the Ancient of Days?’

My tongue is slack in my mouth. My mind is a vacuum. I have nothing to offer. Nothing to bring. Words and thoughts and wisdom have fled. Despair and darkness are taking me.

Suddenly, inspiration cracks open a sliver of recollection. My paltry wisdom is irrelevant, but there is a deeper hope. One I first learned at my Mother’s knee.

‘The blood of the Lamb! I claim the blood of the Lamb!’

I fall on my face before the Throne, prostrate before his Majesty, and await the judgement.

But I am confident of the verdict.
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This article has been read 1612 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Jan Ackerson
07/12/07
I seriously considered trying this approach, one of my favorite hymns having the lines:

With confidence I now draw nigh / And "Father, Abba, Father cry

...but I didn't think I could do it justice, capture the moment. And it's a good thing I didn't attempt it, because this is the piece on this topic that was meant to be written this week. Stunning!
Verna Cole Mitchell 
07/12/07
I love the happy ending to this well-written story.
Verna Cole Mitchell 
07/12/07
Oops. My first comment is for the previous entry. Of course, I like the happy ending here, too. This story is absolutely superb. What a great idea to have a series of tests, with the final test the greatest.
Lynda Schultz 
07/12/07
Glorious descriptive phrases! And the lesson taught? Awesome.
Dee Yoder
07/12/07
I love reading about heaven and what awaits me there! This is a beautiful rendition and the story-telling is just awesome.
Sally Hanan
07/13/07
This was great because you take us on a life journey of things that give status and seem important and then slam us with the blood of the Lamb. Great!
Janice Cartwright
07/13/07
"Nothing but the blood" has been a recurring theme for me this month, showing up everywhere I turn it seems and now I find it again in this most beautifully written story about the blood being our only real source of confidence. "Nothing" could be truer.
Sharlyn Guthrie
07/13/07
I love the contrasts between scenes. This is brilliant, and such a good reminder of our postiion in Christ.
Dixie Phillips
07/13/07
Wow! What a beautiful job you did of pulling the curtain back and letting us take a peek into Heaven. The line that jumped off the page at me was "One I learned at my mother's knee." If that doesn't show the eternal importance of teaching our children. A contender in my book.
Jacquelyn Horne
07/14/07
The blood of the Lamb is our only hope. This is a great message.
william price
07/16/07
Excellent concept with some great writing. The ending and final "message" seemed a lil rushed to me as it got closer to the Word count. But you still delivered the punch. Very good entry. God bless.
Joanne Sher 
07/17/07
Shivers, my friend. This is wonderful - I was caught up in this from beginning to end. I felt like I was in His presence as I read.
Maxx .
07/18/07
Very strong use of the language. Polished through and through. This will do well. Very good!