Post by MIRIAM JACOB on Dec 21, 2007 4:14:22 GMT -5
IMMANUEL
The King walked over and reached for the book. He turned it toward
Lucifer and commanded, “Come, Deceiver, read the name of the One who
will call your bluff. Read the name of the One who will storm your
gates.”
Satan rose slowly off his haunches. Like a wary wolf, he walked a wide
circle toward the desk until he stood before the volume and read the
word:
“Immanuel?” he muttered to himself, then spoke in a tone of
disbelief. “God with us?” For the first time the hooded head turned
squarely toward the face of the Father. “No. Not even You would do
that. Not even You would go so far.”
“You’ve never believed me, Satan.”
“But Immanuel? The plan is bizarre! You don’t know what it’s
like on Earth! You don’t know how dark I’ve made it. It’s putrid.
It’s evil. It’s…”
“IT IS MINE,” proclaimed the King. “AND I WILL RECLAIM WHAT IS
MINE. I WILL BECOME FLESH. I WILL FEEL WHAT MY CREATURES FEEL. I WILL
SEE WHAT THEY SEE.”
“But what of their sin?”
“I will bring mercy.”
“What of their death?”
“I will give life.”
Satan stood speechless.
God spoke, “I love my children. Love does not take away the
beloved’s freedom. But love takes away fear. And Immanuel will leave behind
a tribe of fearless children. They will not fear you or your hell.”
Satan stepped back at the thought. His retort was childish.
“Th-th-they will too!”
“I will take away all sin. I will take away death. Without sin and
without death, you have no power.”
Around and around in a circle Satan paced, clenching and unclenching
his wiry fingers. When he finally stopped, he asked a question that even
I was thinking. “Why? Why would You do this?”
The Father’s voice was deep and soft. “Because I love them.”
___________________________
From An Angel’s Story (Originally published as Cosmic Christmas)
Copyright (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2002, 2004) Max Lucado
www.maxlucado.com
The King walked over and reached for the book. He turned it toward
Lucifer and commanded, “Come, Deceiver, read the name of the One who
will call your bluff. Read the name of the One who will storm your
gates.”
Satan rose slowly off his haunches. Like a wary wolf, he walked a wide
circle toward the desk until he stood before the volume and read the
word:
“Immanuel?” he muttered to himself, then spoke in a tone of
disbelief. “God with us?” For the first time the hooded head turned
squarely toward the face of the Father. “No. Not even You would do
that. Not even You would go so far.”
“You’ve never believed me, Satan.”
“But Immanuel? The plan is bizarre! You don’t know what it’s
like on Earth! You don’t know how dark I’ve made it. It’s putrid.
It’s evil. It’s…”
“IT IS MINE,” proclaimed the King. “AND I WILL RECLAIM WHAT IS
MINE. I WILL BECOME FLESH. I WILL FEEL WHAT MY CREATURES FEEL. I WILL
SEE WHAT THEY SEE.”
“But what of their sin?”
“I will bring mercy.”
“What of their death?”
“I will give life.”
Satan stood speechless.
God spoke, “I love my children. Love does not take away the
beloved’s freedom. But love takes away fear. And Immanuel will leave behind
a tribe of fearless children. They will not fear you or your hell.”
Satan stepped back at the thought. His retort was childish.
“Th-th-they will too!”
“I will take away all sin. I will take away death. Without sin and
without death, you have no power.”
Around and around in a circle Satan paced, clenching and unclenching
his wiry fingers. When he finally stopped, he asked a question that even
I was thinking. “Why? Why would You do this?”
The Father’s voice was deep and soft. “Because I love them.”
___________________________
From An Angel’s Story (Originally published as Cosmic Christmas)
Copyright (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2002, 2004) Max Lucado
www.maxlucado.com