A BETTER COUNTRY
"But now they desire a better country, that is, a
heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath
prepared for them a city." Hebrews 11:16
A father having two sons (named Joshua, and Adam) and
wanting to toughen them as men had them enrolled in Gloria's military. After
being engaged in battle in a hostile territory, the two brothers were captured.
After a short time, the two made a plan of escape. One brother would spend
three days digging below their dungeon to escape, while the other brother kept
watch. Adam tried to dig a tunnel through but was unable.
"You've got too much baggage on you'll have to leave if
you want to be successful." Joshua told his brother.
"But I might need this stuff as I'm traveling through
the tunnel." Adam answered
"Alright then let me dig, just keep watch, I'll shine a
light from the highest tower to let you know I'm here. " Adam said
Adam tore a piece of his red shirtsleeve and gave it to his
brother.
"Wherever you are between now and then, just look for
the light and wave this sleeve."
"Alright, you take care of yourself brother." Adam
said
"You too Adam, I'll be back." Joshua said before
digging himself a new hole toward freedom.
After ten years, Adam had become discontent with his
brother.
"Where is he, he should have come back 9 years
ago!" Adam said to himself angrily.
"Who are you talking about?" Manasseh asked Adam
"My brother, here I stay here suffering while my
brother is at liberty. They punish me harsher to get back at him. This I will
do, the keepers of this prison have told me they will grant me mercy if I sell
myself to them; but I not only want mercy I want pleasure I will make a deal
with them." Adam said to himself
"I have been the warden's slave for many years, and
there was pleasure and comfort, but then the warden required more of me than I
thought I'd have to give. That's why I'm back in this prison. Don't become his
slave, you'll only regret it." Manasseh told Adam
"You sit here wallowing in your own filth and presuppose
to give advice to me. You're in no better condition than I am." Adam
answered Manasseh sharply casting his brothers shirtsleeve to the ground.
After this conversation, Adam went to Helel, the keeper of
the prison.
"I have suffered ten years in this prison, please grant
me mercy." Adam asked the warden.
"Are you prepared to pay the price?" Helel asked
"Maybe, what will be the terms of my slavery, what will
I be forced to do?" Adam asked
"Seek pleasure." Helel answered
"That's all?" Adam asked
"That's all, whatever gives you pleasure do it."
Helel answered
"Wow, this is a weird kind of slavery, this is great!" Adam said excitedly
After Adam was released from prison, he grew in prominence
in the country of Harmatia and became a citizen. He even joined the country's
military in order to strengthen his political position. After 4 years, the
country of his origin (Gloria) invaded Harmatia. Adam was quickly ordered with
a company of a thousand men to repel the invaders. However, Adam had a
double-mind.
"I cannot fight against Gloria it is my homeland."
Adam told his superiors
"You are a citizen of this country now, you must fight
with us." Adam's superiors told him.
"I refuse!" Adam said defiantly
Into the room walked an old "friend": Helel. He
was wearing a crown and scepter as he approached Adam.
"Helel I didn't know you ruled this land." Adam
said
"I serve many functions, now tell me what is this
dispute about?" Helel asked
"My superiors want me to fight against Gloria, but I
can't it is my homeland, my brother is there." Adam said
"You will fight for me, you agreed to be my slave and
I'm ordering you to battle." Helel said angrily.
"See now you did want something more from me than just
MY pleasure." Adam answered
Adam ran away from Helel to a little cottage in a small
town.
"Now, here I'll be safe, I won't have to fight my
country, nor will I be in prison." Adam said to himself
Within months, the armies of Gloria marched triumphantly
through the country. After controlling Harmatia, the General of the Glorian
army decreed that all the citizens of Harmatia should be taken before the judgment
seat to be tried for any crimes they may have committed.
"And begin with the highest to the lowest." the
general ordered
The Glorian army searched throughout the land until they
came to the little cottage where Adam was hiding.
"Where are you taking me?" Adam asked his captors
"To appear before the general to face judgment."
On his way to the general Adam became deathly afraid.
"I've heard they've killed the king as well as his
lowest flunkies, what worse thing will they do to me in my prominence?"
Adam wondered to himself.
However, as Adam's guards approached the general he noticed
the general looked familiar.
"Joshua!" Adam said with shock
"How do you know my name?" the general asked Adam
"Because you're my brother. Where have you been I
waited ten years for you, but you never came, what happened to you?" Adam
said
"My brother I left in prison, I told him to wait for
me, but when I returned to the prison he was gone. As for you, you probably
found out about my missing brother from that lying king of yours. You are as
much a liar as he is, and you will be where he is. ... Execute him."
Joshua ordered his troops.
"Wait Joshua, I am your brother! Don't you remember me?"
Adam asked
"My brothers are citizens of Gloria, you are a citizen
of Harmatia. You are not my brother." Joshua told Adam
Joshua reached out his hand to a man dressed in fine
clothing standing next to him.
"Manasseh!" Adam said with shock
"See this man, I found him in the prison holding the
red shirt sleeve I gave my brother. He suffered twenty years in prison because
of his longing toward his true home and he helped me subdue the Harmatian army.
He is loyal, he is my brother now. I've never known you." Joshua said as
his troops led Adam off to execution.
"But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." Hebrews 11:16