In a Parable
In this writing I wish to explain the plight of the lost and the paths of the saved in a parable. Of course, I cannot cover every situation nor emotional response, but I think most will understand. It doesn’t matter if there are 30 or 3 billion, the application is the same.
Thirty men found themselves in a valley. The sky was overcast, and they wandered about in confusion. One day the sky began to clear and an angel appeared.
The angel was speaking of an unimaginable treasure. A few of the men, believing the words they heard to be a lie, immediately refused to listen and walked away.
As the angel continued speaking the sky became clearer and clearer. Behind the angel, a great mountain came into view, and the angel proclaimed the treasure to be at the pinnacle of the mountain. As the sky continued to clear, the narrow path to the top became more visible.
It was obvious that this path would only allow each individual to traverse it single file. Some parts of the path looked to be gently sloped and other parts were at such a great angle, it appeared nearly vertical.
Portions of the path were very rocky, and some of it was smooth. There were portions where it required crawling over large obstacles, and another portion was so narrow it seemed only the most sure-footed would succeed in conquering it.
The Angel spoke and told those who remained it was time for them to begin their journey and that it was possible for all to obtain the great reward that awaited them, but their travels would be difficult and the pathway narrow.
As those in the valley began to get closer to the mountain, they noticed and spoke amongst themselves how odd it was that at times the mountain appeared much taller than they had imagined it, but at other times it did not appear as monumental as they first thought.
At the base of the mountain, the angel appeared again, but this time there was a bright golden glow surrounding it.
A different voice spoke from around the angel to only a few and the voice said, “You, I have chosen to lead the rest, and I will hold you in a protected place along the way. I will hold you responsible to lead them and guide them that are given for you to lead. I will require much from you as you proceed. Speak to them and encourage them about the importance of staying on the path even when they believe there to be an easier route. Remind them that if they stray from the path, perils await them.”
The people began their trek, each of the chosen leading those that had been given them to lead. At the beginning, the slope was gradual and the path clear; they were all in good spirits and sang to pass the time. At the first turn, the people noticed that the incline had increased and that some obstacles they would need to maneuver over or around were beginning to appear.
A few began to gaze back towards the valley, but their leaders encouraged them to proceed and they continued on. The people noticed that the weather seemed to change as they proceeded. Some places were springtime, some as summer, some as fall, and some as winter.
They continued, and it became clearly noticeable that there was a difference between the leaders. One would speak of the need to remain on the path and continued reminding everyone of the words they had heard from the Angel.
Another was often speaking of the goal and how they must get there, pointing out that there was only one true solution. The third leader was going around to all of the group, explaining what the obstacles were and how to navigate them, and reminding them of past mistakes and how not to let them happen again.
As the path continued, time passed and many obstacles were encountered and overcame. There were a few who had returned to the valley, either forsaking the promise of the great reward at the summit for the known drudgery they were already familiar with, or out of concern for what lies ahead.
They arrived at a portion of the path that appeared very precarious. There was a sheer face on one side of the path that rose for many feet and a vertical cliff on the other.
The path had narrowed—it was now no wider than the length of a man’s foot. When encountering great obstacles, the leaders would go first and lead the rest forward. This particular obstacle allowed for only slow progress and required steady nerves. The people had been complaining for some time now about the difficulties of their journey and this was discouraging for the leaders.
As they all approached the new obstacle, the leaders began to traverse the particularly hazardous terrain in the path. As they pressed forward little by little, one of the leaders began to think of the people’s complaining and lost focus on guiding them to the promised reward that lay ahead.
Instead, he began to consider options to keep them happy so the complaining would stop. Surely there had been other paths available! Other paths that were far less taxing than this narrow, precarious one.
He thought if he could only keep the people happy that he would have far less burden upon his shoulders. He didn’t realize that his thoughts had halted him in his progress. This slope had become an almost impassable obstacle for those that followed him. The seasons continued to cycle one after another without progress from the leader or the people that followed behind him.
One day from a part of the path far beyond where the leader stayed on the ledge, the other leaders and people could see those that had been hindered from progressing. The people asked their leaders what they could do for those who were farther behind.
The remaining leaders explained they must call out to the heavens to encourage them and speak to them, so they did. The angel appeared to the leader on the ledge and spoke to him, reminding him of his duty to lead and that he had been told the path would be difficult and that he still must lead them forward on the correct path.
The leader began to inch forward, and the people began to follow. Soon they were not too far behind those that preceded them. They were stronger now and, although the path was still difficult at times, they had become wiser and more aware and the path was somehow far less troublesome than it had been in the past. And they continued on!
2 Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
Paul explained in this verse his determination and the reward. In this parable, I hoped to show us all from the lost state of the valley to hearing the Word (the reward at the summit), the stumbling blocks along our way, and the narrow path to Heaven.
The Leaders described are the Pastor, the Evangelist, and the Teacher, chosen by God for God’s purpose and for the people to gain benefit from.
Some might say the parable was not finished. It is in fact as complete as it can be; it is not a parable of the departed, but a parable of the living.
If you are reading this then there still remains more of the path ahead for you. You have not finished your walk with God on this earth, and your course remains. There is still a fight to finish; we must keep the Faith and proceed.
You are free to choose, but you are not free from the consequences of your choice!
Kenneth Kellar
A Man Called by God to Teach and Disciple