A Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards

Author:Gene Edwards [Edwards, Gene]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: tinku
ISBN: 9781414327167
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Published: 2010-07-26T04:30:00+00:00

Chapter 21

“Sage!”

“Yes?”

“Sage, may I have a moment of your time?”

“Why, of course. I have a great deal of time.”

“You have just come from a gathering of friends at Absalom’s home?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“Would you mind sharing some of the impressions you had while there?”

“You mean a general impression of Absalom and his friends?”

“Yes, that would be good enough.”

“Well, I have met many men like Absalom. Many.”

“Then what is he like?”

“He is both sincere and ambitious. A contradiction, perhaps, but true, nonetheless. He probably means some of what he says. But his ambition will continue long after he discovers his inability to do the things he promises. Righting the wrongs always becomes secondary to ascent to power.”

“I’m sorry, Sage, I do not understand.”

“Two things stand out in my mind. At one gathering, when Absalom was answering questions, he was very emphatic that there should be more freedom in the kingdom. Everyone liked that. ‘A people should be led only by God and not by men,’ he said. ‘Men should do only what they feel led of God to do. We should follow God, not a man.’ I believe those were his words.

“At another meeting he spoke of the great visions he had for God’s kingdom—of the great achievements the people were capable of. On the other hand, he spoke of many changes he would make in the way the kingdom is run. Although he did not seem to notice it, he had stated two irreconcilable propositions: many changes, more freedom.

“Yes, indeed, he does remind me of many other men I have encountered over the passing years.”

“Sage, I think I understand what you’ve said, but I’m not sure what your point is.”

“Absalom dreams. Dreams of what should be, of what will be: ‘This is what I will do,’ he says. But to fulfill those dreams, he must have the people’s cooperation. Ah, this is the point often overlooked. Such dreams rest totally on the premise that the people of God will follow the new leader, that all will see as he sees. Such men as Absalom can envision no problems in their own future kingdom. Possibly the people will follow, but possibly they will not.

“At most, the Lord’s people will follow a leader for a few years. They never support anyone very long. Generally, people do what they please. They can be stopped to do someone else’s pleasure for a time, but not for long. People will not work too hard, even if they are following God.

“What will Absalom do when people stop following him willingly? Ah, now there is a question.

“You see, there is no kingdom without discord. Even God had his critics in heaven, you know. All kingdoms follow a bumpy course. And people, especially God’s people, never follow any dream in unison. No, to accomplish all he spoke of tonight will take time. Not all will be willing to go along. Will he still be determined to put all his dreams into being? If so, then Absalom has but one recourse: dictatorship.

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