The Fall of the Keepers

Chapter 41 Redemption's Call

I meandered through the camp, following the directions Ren had given me to where I could find Ranen and the others. I wasn't in any huge hurry, it was a beautiful morning and I relished the stillness of the camp about me. I enjoyed the quiet more than I had the festivities the night before, I had just never been a party person.

Their wigwam was located on the western edge of the camp, secluded off by itself with two bleary-eyed warriors standing guard at the entrance. I approached the back of the structure instead, listening to see if those inside were awake yet. Voices could be heard that I quickly identified as Ghost and Idris carrying on an animated conversation. Kneeling down in the snow I leaned closer to the bark hull, curious as to the nature of their discussion. What sort of things did they say when I wasn't around?

"So to summarize, you're saying that we've all broken the holy law, and the punishment for this is the eternal wrath of this God we have offended."
Idris spoke.

"After you die, yes."
Ghost confirmed.

"But because this God loved us, he sent his son to die in our place, to bear the punishment."
Idris continued.

"And not just die, come back from the dead. He wouldn't be a very powerful God if death had defeated him. The real victory was in His resurrection, because if He can defeat death, the ultimate enemy, then there is nothing left for us to fear. He has won the battle for us all."
There was a wonderment in Ghost's voice, as though he could hardly believe the words that came from his own mouth.

"So that's the good news, the light that contrasts the dark."

"Yes, I told you we'd get there."

"Okay, let's say for argument's sake that you're right. Then what? He died, he was resurrected, what does that mean for us exactly? What are we supposed to do with the information?"

"He then offers each of us a gift. You see while his death paid the price for redemption for every human being that ever has and ever will be born into this world, if we want this atonement for ourselves we must accept it."

"Accept it how?"

"In order to receive the gift, you must first recognize you have need of it. You have to own your darkness and realize that there is nothing you can do in your own power to save yourself from the punishment that you deserve. Then you must choose to do what is called 'repent' or to turn away from following the darkness and make the choice to instead follow the light. There is only one light in this world full of shadows and you must believe in Him, believe that His words are true, that He really did die and rise from the grave in order to rescue you. Finally, you must dedicate your life to Him, because only by allowing your past self to die, can you find the freedom of your new future."

"And what happens if you do all that?"

"He gives you the gift of redemption. He washes away the dirty, splattered, canvas of your soul as only He can, and paints a new picture, a beautiful masterpiece. The term 'born again' is often used to describe it, because it's your new lease on life. There is a spiritual resurrection that takes place, the reviving of your dead soul."

"I want to believe you, but you must admit it's a bit far out there."
Idris said.

"Is it? When you look at the world around us and see the chaos, pain, and evil, is hard to believe we are living in a cursed state? Is it hard to believe that this isn't the way things were meant to be?"