Legacy of the Dreams

Interlude 7 - Servants of the Lord

Satan scowled when he heard the servant of the Lord speak.

"She should not be allowed to tell them," Satan protested.

"She is witness to these proceedings. It is My will for them to hear what she says," the Lord said.

"She is interfering. She is telling them the things of heaven they should not know so clearly. Faith is accepting what cannot be proven, based on Your word alone," Satan insisted.

"Yes, it is. My word comes to man in many forms. My servants sometimes carry My messages, some of which I have commanded them to set down for others to read. Many of these have been transcribed to become My word ... scripture as men call it. Sometimes My messages are delivered through My work; sometimes in dreams or memories of things with lessons the faithful who serve Me need to learn. But whatever method I choose, it requires faith for man to hear it, to understand My meaning. They must believe what is said, learn to pray to consult Me about what they believe and what they need; to study to understand; to hear what I am telling them, and above all else, to do My work during their time on Earth. My children, my faithful ... they will all have a home here with Me at the end of days, but their place in heaven must be earned. Their role amongst the heavenly hosts will be their reward for the works they do for Me," the Lord said.

"That is true of all men. But to place Your servant so directly in their midst, then to allow her to speak so plainly and openly for all to hear ... this is what I object to. She was created specially as a messenger, not simply as a human being. She should not be allowed to share her knowledge of the heavens so openly for men to hear," Satan argued. "You are practically giving that knowledge to those who have returned ... those who should begin again as infants, as all men do. Will You do it for them? When it is the works of men You profess to desire?"

"Making My message available does not ensure faith; nor does surrounding those souls who have returned with My messenger and men and women of faith, ensure they will succeed," the Lord said. "Knowledge is not action. Belief is not work. What they will make of it is yet to be seen."

"And yet, You placed Bobby and Lia where your faithful, Jalyn and Cadence, can influence them most, surrounded by those they influence most," Satan said. "They are in a place where your Messenger can speak ... and she does, freely! Even the parents of the souls you sent back know more than most!"

"I have given them the best possible chance to succeed. They will grow in a well-watered garden," the Lord agreed. "It is my desire their faith will bear fruit. That they take up the burden my faithful have carried for so long."

"But will they?" Satan probed. "You have done this before."

"True," The Lord said. "They were each given the chance to know Jalyn before. Lia grew up with him. She knew of his dreams from the time she was young ... but fear clouded her ability to hear. Stubbornness made it difficult for her to listen. Narrow-mindedness made it difficult to believe beyond what the scriptures said."

"All are useful tools for me," Satan agreed.

"In his last life, when he was young, Bobby also knew Jalyn. He heard what my faithful shared and even believed it to some extent. But he wanted proof. He studied his religion, but wanted the means to apply what he learned rationally to what his grandfather told him instead of accepting My message on faith. He looked for signs, then ignored most I sent. He must do better this time so that when he returns here, we will have a different conversation than the one we've had before."

"Reason got in his way," Satan said. "It is an excellent tool to get in the way of faith."

"Which is the reason why my best servants are often those who have not yet reached the age of reason, or have had their ability to apply such logic delayed," the Lord said.

"And what of this servant who has her ear to the heavens while living on Earth, the Messenger who lives among them?" Satan said.

"She has done My bidding. I am not quite through with her yet, but her time on Earth, is for that reason, limited," the Lord said.

"As is the time of all men on earth," Satan said.

"True. But her time compared to most will be very short. My servants know this ... she does too, but even she does not know or remember everything. Her greatest challenge will be to leave a legacy behind which will motivate Bobby to act, and soften the hardened heart of Lia, the soul once known as Ruth," the Lord said.

"And yet Lia is being taken away, to live far from the influence of faith provided by your messenger's family," Satan said.

"It will not be easy, despite all the apparent help I have given them ... but then it never is. You will see to that, My servant Lucifer. The stakes must be high or the decision to follow me will mean nothing," the Lord said. "You see, even you have a place in My plan."

"And your servant Mystique ... whom Your faithful call Melody?" Satan said.

"She is my Messenger, as you observed. She certainly is in My plan. Her work is not done yet. Even she knows there is more she must do. But she also knows the time for her to return to Me is steadily approaching," the Lord said.

"When will you call her, oh Lord?" Satan said.

"When it will serve me to bring her home. The timing is known only to me, but I will say this. There will be changes in the lives of my faithful and those they love first. Some changes they can predict, some they cannot. My messenger's return to me will be part of that change. She will go through much of it with them. Even she will learn from the events as they unfold, but before long I will call her home to Me. Her return will be perceived as trials and tribulations for many in the family of my faithful. Some will understand, others will not, and in still others, it may trigger a cascade of events which will impact their lives forever more. This too is part of My plan, for one day, My faithful servants themselves will be called home," the Lord said.

"And when will these changes take place?" Satan asked.

"They are already beginning. Watch," the Lord commanded and He and the hosts of the heavens turned their attention to the Earth.

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