The Battleground

He stopped and looked long and hard across the battlefield. He knew this place very well. He had done battle here for over 3000 years. He knew every rock, slope, and hill. The landscape was the same and the enemy was the same. The faces that were different were the innocents caught in the battle.

He never sighed or roared at his adversaries. It was not in their nature to fret or rage. He just gripped his shield tight and started across the battlefield. He makes sure to pass wide of places where his kind and the enemy were locked in mortal combat around a bright blue flame.

In some places the struggle between the enemy and his kind raged and ebbed wildly. Sometimes lightening like bolts of blue would shoot from other blue flames and impact other blue flames. When this happened the enemy would howl in rage and his people would cheer praises.

Other times dark shapes darted into the battle and leaned into the flames and whispered.

In some places his people stood around the blue flame proclaiming victory and shouting praises. In other places the enemy snarled and howled in delight as the blue flame slowly faded into darkness.

The battles around the flames were small but fierce and he knew that his battle to come was going to be hard fought and long. As he moved towards his goal he sang praises to his master.

He knew he was getting close to his battle ground because the enemy was howling and cursing him. But at last he stood before a flickering blue flame, almost out, dying, sputtering, giving up. As he gazed into the flame a voice screeched “THIS ONE IS LOST DOG!! GO BACK TO YOUR MASTER AND BEG HIM FOR ANOTHER BATTLE

TO LOSE”
His response was simply to say softly “Thy will be done”. At that the enemy unsheathed a bright red blade that spewed fire and sulfur as he waved it about. With a loud scream he swung it with all his might at the flickering blue flame screaming “YOU HAVE LOST! SHE IS MINE!”

At those words a blinding sword stroke blocked the enemies falling blade! “This one is not yours YET! The master’s will is not yet done here” he said in a level voice full of calm and assurance as he held the smoking blade with his own over the blue flame.

“She will be MINE” shouted the unholy one, “see how her flame flickers and dies! See how she is losing contact with YOU! Soon she will be mine to present to MY master! And he will reward me! He will promote me! He will give me a place in his coming kingdom and all I had to do was deliver the soul of Brandy Ingram to him!”

“She has given up hope and has stopped trying. She will never let your master help! To many years of child abuse, alcohol, sex, drugs and violence have made her hard and unforgiving. Now she is at rock bottom! Her mother was murdered, her children removed by the courts, she has warrants out for her arrest in several counties, he boyfriend dumped her and she has NO PLACE TO LIVE!”

As he spoke these words the blue flame came into focus. In that blue flame sat what once was a lovely young women, now twisted by life choices and sin into a gaunt, dirty, confused creature. Her hollow eyes stared vacantly into space. In her hand was a razor blade. Her sleeves rolled up she was ready to take the only step she could think of to escape her nightmare.

Closing her eyes she moves the blade to her wrist. As she drew in her last breath a blue lightening bolt struck the flame.  As it struck you could hear the voice of an elderly women saying “Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Please my mighty Lord hear my cry! Lord where ever my grandbaby Brandy is show yourself to her! Lord, I know she is not saved! I know she is in danger! Please Lord, protect her Lord, protect her!!!”

At those words the blade paused over the wrist. The enemy went right into action! “Brandi, you are a loser! You have NOTHING to live for! Your children are gone, your mother dead, your father never even knew you existed, you were molested as a girl, and you know what you have done to get another fix! End it now and rest! Use the blade and you will be free!”

As those words left his mouth another lightening bolt stuck the flame! “Dear Lord, Beth asked that I pray for her granddaughter, Brandi. Lord, if she is not saved I beg you to intervene in her life and show her your TRUE love for her….” And then another struck…”Lord we gather her together to pray for Brandi. Lord touch her, heal her, save her. We know that you weep over every lost sinner. Jesus save her soul before it’s too late!” Suddenly bolt after bolt after bolt was sticking the flame.

As the bolts struck the flame grew large and brighter. The enemy shrunk back as the shadows shrank. Screaming and cursing they retreated. The guardian stood and let the flames envelope him until he disappeared in them. The flame around Brandi was bigger and clearer now. As she sat there, she dropped the blade, buried her head in her hands, and cried out thru her tears “LORD…I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY OR DO BUT PLEASE HELP ME!!!”

As those words left her mouth a mountain of a man appeared at her side. He was dressed in an old army field jacket, blue jeans and work boots. His head was covered by a knit cap that let his golden hair fall to his shoulders. He bent down and picked her up as if picking up a baby. He hugged her close and whispered in her ear “fear not, for I know who can save you.”

Brandi sighed and leaned her head into his shoulder as he carried her towards a small, dingy church whose gospel music softly spread around the block like a cool, low fog on a hot summer’s night.

We lose sight of our brave warrior as he enters the church doors. By this time the demon has called in reinforcements. A body of twisted, dirty, vain beings danced around the now brilliant flame. Shouting, cursing, and screaming at Brandi to come out and taste her old vices.

Suddenly the blue flame burst into a roaring pillar of blue light. The demons screamed and fled as a man appears next to the flame! He is perfect! His eyes shine with peace, love, and joy! He takes his hand and cups the flame at it base. The flame now shimmers in his hand. He holds up the flame and in a commanding voice asks “Brandi Ingram has given her life to me! Who thinks they can take her from my hand?”

The voice rings across the battleground and the roar of the demons stop. In all their false power and fake wisdom they know the answer. They KNOW no one can take her soul away from the savior. They know that once Jesus has you in his hands you cannot be removed from his love. Jesus carries away the soul of Brandi Ingram he glances at the warrior and smiles. “Well done my faithful servant, well done.”