Stories of The King

I Will Come to You

I rise before dawn and cry for help;
       I have put my hope in your word.*

 

Daniela awoke with a start. That she was able to get any sleep at all was astounding to her. All night long the King’s Enemies had kept up a constant barrage of pounding. So much so that she thought she’d lose her mind. Of course that hadn’t happened and she had actually gotten some rest. Now Daniela was filled with nervous excitement.

 

Alvaro was making breakfast when Daniela came downstairs. “Good morning, Daniela. How did you sleep?” He asked. “I actually slept pretty well,” Daniela said, allowing herself a smile. “That pounding never seemed to stop.” “Oh that? Don’t pay them any mind,” Alvaro smiled back. “They know they aren’t allowed to hurt you now. You have a prayer covering over you.” Daniela didn’t really know what that meant but she knew it was good so she didn’t pursue it. She figured there was plenty she didn’t know and that she would learn it eventually. “My dear, it is time to eat,” Alvaro broke into her thoughts, “you have an appointment with the King today!” Daniela allowed herself to feel good about that. She had a little hope now that everything would work out for her.

 

After breakfast, there was a knock on the door. Alvaro smiled, “Daniela, my dear could you answer the door please?” Daniela wasn’t sure. What about the Enemies? Surely they were prowling around waiting for their opportunity to destroy her. She looked at Alvaro. “It’s ok, dear,” he said. Daniela summoned all of her courage and opened the door. There before her stood the King! He was magnificent, resplendent in majesty and goodness. Daniela was so shocked, she gasped. “What are you doing here? I thought I would have to search for you – or make an appointment – or meet with you in a castle – or, or something!” her words spilled out in a rush. Alvaro took over, “Oh, my King, please come in! You see, Daniela, the King comes to meet you where you are. There is no big journey or palatial castle. It’s just you and the King.” Daniela looked over at the King, “Oh, I’m sorry! Please sit down, Sir!” Now it was the King’s turn to speak, “Daniela,” He said. He turned His eyes upon her with such a look of pure Love. In that instant, from one moment to the next, Daniela knew. She just knew that the King loved her.

 

No one in her life had ever loved Daniela. Not in the real sense. She had never been touched by a loving hand in her life. In fact from the time Daniela had been very young until right now, most of the people in her life had been mean, hate-filled people. No one cared for her and if the truth were to be told here and now, she didn’t care for anyone else either. She always looked out for herself even though she couldn’t even say that she really liked who she was. She would always tell people she didn’t believe in love. It was something fake that was made up to sell Valentine’s Day cards. But now – now she knew love was real and not only that, Someone really loved her. She felt comfortable in His presence. How could this be? With that thought, Daniela crumbled. She tried to be tough but it was impossible. She fell at the feet of the King. “Oh, King, how?” she cried. “How can you love someone like me? I have done such awful things. I have lived so far away from You. I don’t deserve to be loved.” Daniela was inconsolable. She was sure the King would put her outside with all of the Enemies. If she was honest, that is where she belonged. All she wanted though was to be with the King and that pure, deep, accepting Love. She was sure He would send her away from that Love and give it to someone else who deserved it more.

 

Alvaro reached down and touched Daniela, “Sweet Daniela, I’d like you to meet someone.” Daniela looked up, startled that there was anyone else in the room. She had been so caught up in the contrast between the Love and her sin that she hadn’t even noticed the young man in the kitchen. “Daniela, this is the Prince. His name is Jesus.” Daniela tried to dry her eyes and sit up and be respectable but it was impossible. The tears wouldn’t stop. “That’s ok,” the Prince said, “I will come to you.” As the Prince came over and stooped to her level, Daniela noticed he was wounded. He had a huge scar on his side and also scars on his hands. Alvaro spoke again, “Daniela, no one is good enough to be one of the King’s servants. That is why He offered His perfect Son. Jesus was offered as a sacrifice for all of our mistakes and sins. Everything that has been done in the name of Sin was paid for by Jesus. We deserve to die but he died in our place and rose from the dead.” Daniela didn’t really understand but Alvaro continued anyway, “Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.** Daniela was stunned. She didn’t know what to say. Could it really be as Alvaro said? Seriously, who would do that?

 

 

Jesus reached out his hands, “Daniela, look.” As Daniela’s eyes looked into the deep holes in the scarred hands, she knew every word was true. She realized just what He had done. He had willingly given His life for her. She didn’t even know Him! Yet He had done it and He still had the wounds. And now, as He looked at her, here was the same Love again. This time it came from Jesus. Daniela understood how much the Prince loved her. He had allowed men to beat him unrecognizable and take his clothes and nail him on boards and raise him high so all could laugh and watch him die in that shameful position. It was because of people like her – people who didn’t deserve any kind of breaks or compassion. She was the one who had caused his death. Suddenly Daniela felt deep regret. It pained her greatly, this knowledge of what she had allowed to happen. “Oh, Prince,” she choked on her tears. “What have I done?” she sobbed. “I am in great need of forgiveness! Can it ever be done?” The Sovereign Prince, Jesus looked at Daniela with compassion and said, “My love for you is never-ending. Your sins are forgiven. I have forgotten the past. Go and sin no more.” Daniela could never describe fully what happened next. So many emotions left her while new ones came and filled her. She wasn’t sure why but she knew that she would never be the same. She knew things that she hadn’t known a moment before. She knew the Love of the Father and His Son. She knew that she was forgiven even though there was no logical reason that she should be. And she felt joy. Oh such joy that she had never known! She was actually one of the King’s servants now. It was unbelievable to her.

 

We don’t have to search for the King and His Son. They are always ready to come to us. They will meet us where we are and accept us for who we are. It is only when we come near to them though that we gain the desire to be forgiven and to be pure as they are pure.

 

* Psalm 119:147 (NIV)

** Ephesians 1: 7-10 (The Message)

 

Copyright 2008. Stories of The King. All rights reserved.

Daniela Finds a Home

(Daniela means “God is my judge”)

(Alvaro means “Nobel guardian”)

 

 

The sound of her heart pounding wasn’t the only thing Daniela couldn’t ignore. Large tree branches and vines seemed to reach out and try to pull her down as she ran by. She couldn’t stop though. There was no time to worry about her cuts or bruises – not now at least. Daniela had to find the city before nightfall. There was no other way around it. If she could just make it to the city, she told herself, she might be saved. She knew she couldn’t live another day out there. She wouldn’t survive. She would succumb to the evil that was everywhere. Sin was hot on her trail – so were Rebellion, Addiction and Pain. And Fear. Oh, the Fear that never left her alone for a minute! If she didn’t find rest for her soul, they would end up destroying her.

 

Alvaro was the night watchman. He was in charge of keeping the city safe and would sound an alarm if there was danger. Alvaro was old and wise. He had been doing this line of work for a long time. He knew what to do in almost every situation. So when there was a pounding on the door just as he had turned in, he wasn’t too surprised or concerned. After all, he was available 24/7. That was part of his job description.

 

As the door opened, Daniela fell into the room, exhausted and scared. “Please, you have to help me,” she sobbed, “I have nowhere else to go and there is evil all around. They will not rest until I belong to them.” Alvaro nodded kindly, “Of course, my dear. I understand. I myself came here on the run over 30 years ago. You are safe and you are welcome in this city.”

 

Daniela was unsure, “What do I have to do to live here? I have heard stories.”

 

Alvaro motioned Daniela to a chair. He put on a pot of tea and said, “My dear, the King is merciful and kind. He would never ask you to do anything that would be too hard for you.” “What is the first step?” Daniela asked. “Of course you would want to speak to the King, Alvaro answered. “You would need to get to know Him and then you could decide whether you want to live here.”

 

Now Daniela’s heart was heavy. “You don’t know my life,” she said bitterly. “I have done many things to hurt the King and His servants.” The look Alvaro gave Daniela was a look of pure love. “My dear,” he said, “we have all done things to hurt the King.” “No!” Daniela spit out. “You DON’T understand! I am the worst of the worst. I have done everything I could to purposely harm this kingdom. I seriously doubt the King will even want to look at me.” She put her head down and sobbed. Alvaro smiled a wise and knowing smile, “Daniela, the King will take anyone. He will see anyone. It doesn’t matter who or what they are. I know it doesn’t make sense but it is true. The King loves everyone – even you. You will see tomorrow. There is hope for you because of the King.”

 

All night long, Fear and Doubt and Unbelief pounded on the door of that little house, trying to get to Daniela. All night long Alvaro stood watch with his prayers. He knew that the King’s enemies weren’t allowed to come into his property so he wasn’t afraid. In prayer he wove a covering over Daniela so she would be protected. She could hear the Enemies pounding but she knew she was safe here in this city. It held hope and it held a future for her that no other place in the world could. She knew that. She wasn’t sure what the next day would bring but she was sure willing to find out. Her life up to that point was too much of a mess to want anything else but than to find a Savior. Maybe there really was hope here. She needed a way out of that other world. Maybe, just maybe the King would offer her that.

 

Matthew 11:28-29

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Copyright 2008. Stories of The King. All rights reserved.