In Chapter
12 Ramera receives warnings from the Psalmist David, who now rules
as Christs Regent over the Land of Israel
.
After zigzagging her way through the jubilant throng, Ramera found
herself back at Paradise Park. Her strength was nearly spent. Her
breathing was labored, and sweat drizzled down her forehead. She
was surprised to see she was virtually alone, there amidst the fragrant
flowers and leafy trees laden with succulent fruit. Her throat was
parched. She plucked an apricot from an overhead branch and bit
into it. How refreshing its rich, sweet juice was. The perfect tonic
for flagging energy.
Sauntering through the park, she decided to sit awhile and enjoy
its verdant tranquillity before making her way back to the hotel.
She spied a wooden bench beneath a gnarled fig tree. Once she was
seated, she shut her eyes to the gentle Glory Light, still holding
her head erect. It felt so good to sit still, soothed by sweet birdsong.
Gradually, the light which filtered through her closed eyelids intensified.
She could sense the Presence of Holiness_that very thing which had
sent her running in the first place. Curious, she opened her eyes
to behold David, Regent of Jerusalem, standing before her. At first
she refused to believe that it could be he. But his face was a very
familiar one to citizens of the Kingdom. She was struck by the beauty
of those expressive eyes set in a classically Semitic face, which
was now unmarred by the effects of sin and death.
Now I know who you are, Ramera said in the Kingdom tongue,
spoken by everyone in addition to their own native languages. She
rose to her feet. Your face has appeared on our video screens
before, to share the Word of God.
Peace, my daughter, said the newcomer, gesturing for
her to relax in his presence. May I sit beside you? I bring
Good News of Peace.
Yes, please do, replied Ramera . But I should
think that with all the activities of the Festival, you would be
much too busy to concern yourself with me.
Your soul is my most important concern, declared the
glorified personage. The Lord has clearly revealed to me your
lost condition. I saw you fleeing His Holy Presence. We get very
few visitors here, who being dead in trespasses and sins, do not
come for the express purpose of drinking from the Well of Salvation.
People come for a renewed refreshing of their souls, for this City
is the Fount of Gods Glory.
My group is passing through here as one of the destinations
of our world tour to learn about other nations, Ramera told
him. We come from Gan Nesherim, and from Joystar, its capital
city.
The Regent smiled. Ah...yes! I know your Prince and his under-shepherds
well. They are rulers of great wisdom and compassion; who in their
mortality, were willing to lay down their lives for the sake of
the Truth. You are most blessed to enjoy their watchcare over your
great land, the Garden of Eagles. You come from that
renowned city once called Wanderstar. Indeed, it was filled with
sinners wandering blindly toward eternal destruction, until the
day our Lord returned to redeem that city unto Himself. Before His
Return, it was a stronghold of dominions of darkness, a place where
there was great trafficking in evil, and also much idolatry and
sorcery. But now the righteous shine as bright stars there, and
the beauty of the Lord our God is seen in the faces of those who
rule your land.
That is so true, Sir, replied Ramera , awestruck by
his gracious words
.
I am unspeakably blessed, continued the Regent, to
see the restoration of my own nation to Gods loving favor.
It is such a joy to serve my King as His Regent, to assist Him in
administering His righteous rule over His own nation Israel; even
to be privileged to continually behold His glorious countenance.
Your father did not come this year, did he?
Rameras eyes darted. Ah...I think he was a bit too busy,
Sir. But, she hastened to add, my Uncle Jared did come
with his wife, to represent our clan in Jerusalem for the Feast.
The Regent did not venture to mention Saul, but said, The
heart of your aunt and uncle rejoice in the House of the Lord. Our
God also takes pleasure in them, and in their worship.
Ramera did not care to pursue that. To think that I have seen
you in person! I cant wait to tell my loved ones about this.
You are pleased to have met me, replied her companion,
but I cannot save you. Far better that you should go with
me to see my Lord, Who alone can purify your inward parts. Otherwise
you shall never share in that blessed inheritance which we immortal
saints enjoy with Him.
But...Im not good enough to come close to him!
stammered Ramera, flinching. Sir, you have no idea how I live!
Im sure the King is better off without me!
You know that is not true, said Regent David. You
felt the sweet influence of His Spirit drawing you unto Himself.
Our God would never extend His love to you if your soul were of
no worth to Him.
That is logical, Sir, said Ramera, diffidently.
What is your age, young woman? inquired the Regent.
Im 38, Sir.
Nearly 40, murmured the ruler, a faraway look in his
eyes. When I was your age, I had just been promoted by the
Lord to rule over all Israel. But in my youth I was tried in the
Refiners Fire, and passed through much tribulation. Only by
the mercy of God did I attain to your years.
Im very sorry, Sir. It must have been hard for you.
So much living had to be packed into the space of just a few years,
chuckled Ramera, uneasily. You know, Im still a youngster
myself. I may gain another inch or two in height before I stop growing;
at least thats what Ive been told. I take after my father,
who is quite tall, although my mothers a tiny thing, ha!
The solemn Regent would not be diverted by Rameras evasive
chatter. Young lady, he said, it is because of
the kindness of our God that the probationary period of mortal life
has been extended. You ought not to use this as an excuse to prolong
your rebellion against the Lord, but as an opportunity to draw nearer
to Him. Long life is a gift of God, and ought to be lived to His
Glory.
It would be hard to give up things I enjoy, admitted
the girl.
Long ago, I myself fell into the snares of sinful flesh,
revealed the shining being, lowering his head. You have only
to read the Scriptures to know that the Lord redeemed me from the
blackest Pit of Sin. If I had not come to Him in my miserable estate,
I would have perished for all eternity, and I would not be speaking
with you now.
But you were willing to give up those things which offended
God. Oh, Sir, I am not ready. I cant pretend to be someone
Im not, not even for Him! hedged Ramera, her eyes round
in dismay.
Of course you are powerless to redeem yourself, replied
the Regent . It is God Who quickens the dead. It is he Who
restores that which has been marred by the taint of sin, and Who
exalts the lowly to become saints of God. Had you been able to recover
yourself from the mire of sin, the death of my Descendant, Gods
only begotten Son, would never have been necessary.
Ramera... I know that is your name. Would you even now allow
me to minister to you as your priest before God, to bring you to
repentance? For it is written: Let him who is thirsty come; and
whoever is willing, let that one freely partake of the Water of
Life.
But he girl was not eager to accept that wondrous offer extended
to her by Regent David. The smirking, brazen faces of her equally
rebellious school chums flashed before her. One face in particular
stood out in bold relief, a stunningly handsome boy nicknamed Apollo
by their clique. What would he think if she abandoned the free-thinking
philosophy upon which their little circle was founded? She could
imagine her misfit mom teasing her for turning into a fanatic.
All her life her teachers and most of her friends had warned her
of her need for surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ. But her inner-circle
clique was far dearer to her. Those nonconformists would surely
dump her if she converted to the Faith. Not now, please,
Ramera whispered. I have my reasons, Sir. Could I just wait
awhile?
Regent David frowned. He reflected on the bitter suffering and hardship
he had known during his years in political exile, how his soul had
cried out for the blessed Presence of the Lord in the thirsty wilderness.
And now, here was this girl sitting beside him, trying to argue
her way out of receiving that same Glory for which his whole being
had yearned, there in that parched wasteland of ages past. Ramera
had always known a life of material comfort and freedom from fear
of harm. At this moment the Lord was going out of His way to extend
His hand to her, offering her His eternal friendship. An unperfected
mortal might have seethed with rage, maybe even lashed out at her
in anger for her take-it-or-leave-it attitude toward
the grace of God. But the Regent was far too wise to indulge in
a useless outburst of anger.
Sternly he said, Ramera, I know this is Gods chosen
moment for you to humble your heart before Him. If you wait for
a more convenient time, when you are so ensnared by the cords of
your sin that you find yourself sliding headlong into the Pit, God
may still extend mercy to you in your affliction. But great sorrow
will be the price exacted of you for your stubborn delay. And as
for those friends you are afraid of offending, they will be unable
to mitigate your misery in that fearful hour of judgment.
Patiently Regent David continued: I was acquainted with the
torment of resisting the voice of the Lord. My sleep was taken from
my eyes. There was neither soundness in my flesh, nor rest in my
bones. I savored the forbidden delights of lust, for which I obtained
forgiveness. But I was broken upon the Rock of Broken Law. My daughter,
many grievous arrows of sorrow pierced my heart, even to the day
of my own death. I reaped the bitter harvest of my own ways. Please
do not resist the Spirit of God. Choose, rather, to profit from
the example of my own life, and repent early.
The girl seemed not to hear him. What would her baby-faced idol
say if she took Regent Davids advice? Wouldnt he reject
her for losing those unique qualities which had attracted him to
her in the first place? His impish smile filled the screen of her
mind, and she was not willing to let him go. Looking apologetically
at the Regent she mumbled, I cant give him up, Sir.
Please...
Righteous anger flashed in the rulers eyes, but his voice
was even. Young woman, just whom are you prepared to sacrifice
in this decision? It was my Lord and My God, Who was made flesh
on your behalf, Who humbled Himself to die the death of a criminal
in your place. My own Descendant, called Yeshua Ha Mashiah
by my people, is our Salvation, and you ought to be grateful to
Him for sparing your life so that you could come to hear my words
today. His indignation heightened, as he considered the frivolous
choice the girl was making. How could you insult the Almighty
thus, by rejecting His love, in favor of one whose intentions toward
you are as unclean as a swine?
A swine! A ritually unclean animal. One which was scorned for rooting
in the dirt. Ramera bristled, knotting up her little fist, then
relaxed her hand. No, it would not do to be taken into custody for
insolence toward the Chief Ruler of Messiahs people, second
in authority only to the Great King Himself. Did I hear you
correctly, Sir? Like a swine?
Yes, my child. I find it highly offensive that you would choose
the affections of a scheming liar over the love of the One Who sacrificed
His only Son for you.
Rameras face flushed. Oh, Sir, youve got no right
to call him that! Not once has Marty ever lied to me! Sure, he isnt
religious, but hed never hurt anybody! What gives you that
idea?
The Regent was unruffled by her wild objections. He said: Consider,
Ramera, what trouble lies in wait for that one who will not heed
the Wisdom of God. Only the Lord can give you wisdom to discern
a pure heart from an evil one. I, in my lifetime, was reputed to
be as wise as an angel of God. So long as I delighted myself in
Him and in His Law, His power to prevail over all adversaries rested
upon me.
His next words came with difficulty. Had I not been under
chastisement for my great sin, Amnon could not so easily have deceived
me, and gained access to my daughter Tamar to ruin her life.
Ramera knew the story well, having heard it before in school. Amnon,
Davids licentious son, lusted after Tamar, his beautiful half-sister.
Access to her was nearly impossible, because in ancient times princes
and princesses dwelt in separate quarters within the palace.
Amnons serpentine cousin, Jonadab, cooked up a diabolical
scheme to solve love-sick Amnons problem. Amnon went to bed
and played sick, knowing his tender-hearted father would come to
check on him. When David came, he was told it would speed his sons
recovery if only Tamar would visit him and bake him some special
cakes.
But Amnons hunger was of a baser sort. After luring Tamar
into his bedchamber, he seized her by the wrists and forced himself
on her.
Rameras eyes widened in shock to think Regent David could
compare Marty with Amnon. Oh, no, Sir! she quavered,
backing away. Youre just prejudiced! Just because he
isnt a believer yet! Who put you up to this, anyway? Uncle
Jared?
Ramera, remonstrated the ruler sternly, your soul
is in gravest peril, and I am receiving other warnings for you from
the Lord just now.