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The Invisible War: Chapter 3
"Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
Ephesians 6:10-18 |
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The Invisible War: Chapter 3
"Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."
Ephesians 6:10-18 |
When Molly walked into her house, she knew something was different. Her Mom and Dad weren't as cheerful as usual. They looked serious.
Have they been talking about me? wondered Molly. Do they know that I skipped the reading this morning? Her heart beat so hard she was sure they would hear it.
"Molly, are you wearing your armor?" Dad's voice sounded concerned, not angry.Molly relaxed. He didn't know.
"What armor, Dad?"
"The armor the King gave us this morning. Remember, He told us to wear it all the time because of the war."
"The war? What do you mean, Dad?" Molly didn't dare look at him. She wanted to hide--just as when the King passed her on the road.
"Didn't you hear the King's reading this morning?" Dad looked surprised.
"No." Molly could barely whisper the word.
"Why not?" He sounded sad.
"I stayed at Lucy's house," she whispered. Then she ran over to her father and threw her arms around him. "I'm sorry," she cried.
Dad picked her up and held her close. He didn't say anything for a long time. The only sound in the room was Molly's sniffles. Finally he began to explain. "Molly, the Baron's people are invading our Kingdom."
"The Baron's people?" Molly's brown eyes grew big with wonder.
"Remember, the evil Baron hates the King. He has always been trying to win the King's people over to his side. But he was afraid to attack us openly. Now his people are sneaking in secretly."
"How can they do that?" Sensing danger, Molly looked first at Dad, then at Mom.
"They have disguised themselves as the King's people, so that we can hardly tell them apart," answered Dad. "He is sending them here to separate us from our King."
"And from each other," added Mom.
"How could they separate us from our King, when He always takes care of us?" asked Molly. "I don't understand."
"What kept you from coming to hear the King's message this morning?" Dad's voice sounded sadder than she'd ever heard it.
"Lucy wanted me to have breakfast with her. Her mom had made pancakes. And... and.. I wanted the pancakes."
Mom took Molly's hand. "The only way we can be separated from the King is when we want something else more than Him," she said quietly.
Molly stared at the cracks in the floor until tears blurred her vision. "I'm so sorry," she cried. Her voice shook with her sobs. "Will the King ever forgive me?"
Mom's gentle hand stroked her hair. "He always forgives when we are sorry and tell him we were wrong," she said softly. "But I'm sorry you missed one of the most important messages the King has ever given us. We can explain it to you, but it won't be the same as hearing it straight from Him."
"Please tell me," said Molly, wiping her tears as she straightened her back. "I do want to hear it."
"From now on, we'll not only go to hear the King's reading each morning," said Mom. "We'll also help each other put on His armor. It will keep us safe."
"You mean, if we don't wear it, we'll be in danger?"
"That's right," said Mom.
"But what's the armor?" Molly was confused.
"The armor is invisible..." began Dad.
"But it's just as real as the air we breathe," added Mom.
"It has six parts," continued Dad. "The first is the Belt of Truth. We put it on by remembering what is written in the Book of Truth. Only when we know the King's special Truths, can we tell if something is true or not."
"Oh!" Molly's brown eyes lit up with excitement. "When Lucy said it didn't matter if I missed the reading this morning, I didn't know how to answer her. Would the Belt of Truth have helped me know what to say?
"It would," said Dad, "It would also help you understand how much the King loves you."
Just then the someone knocked on the door and Mom went to open it. Moments later Molly heard her ask in a frightened voice, "But where is Tom?" Once more Molly's stomach became tight like a drum inside. What could have happened to her brother?