The parable of the King's Tower

A great king once saved his entire kingdom from a great enemy. In commemoration of his victory he erected a giant tower so that the people would never forget the battle. They'd always remember the King's great victory.

 

The tower was unlike anything anyone had ever seen. It was so tall it nearly scraped the clouds. Some people thought it might be even taller than that. No one could truly see the top. It was also strong. But it was it's beauty that truly captivated the people. No one who truly saw it could say otherwise. It was so marvelous that when some beheld its beauty they were reduced to tears.

 

"Many people might seek to destroy this tower in the future, but I promise you, it will stand forever. For I will send you an advocate, one you cannot see with your eyes, who will ensure the tower stands until I return"

 

"Until you return?" the people asked. "You're leaving us?"

 

"The victory is won," the king told his people. "I must prepare for your future. A day when you'll be able to fully embrace the fruits of what I've won for you."

 

And so it was... the king left his people behind... along with a great tower, his word and promise...  

 

Just as the king predicted, however, over time many strangers who came upon the tower mocked its splendor. They didn't understand it's significance, or what it meant. They didn't even realize that if they'd simply wished it, they could take refuge within it and join the kingdom. After all, very few of the citizens told them as much.

 

Over time, the attacks on the tower intensified.

 

Some of the strangers vandalized the tower. They painted obscenities on its surface, tossed eggs on it and dulled its luster.  The people were shocked and scandalized. Offended that their precious tower was so defaced.

 

"This is what we must do," some of the citizens said. "We must build a wall all around the tower to protect it from vandals."

 

"What are you so afraid of," a small contingent of the King's faithful replied. "Did not the King tell us that it would withstand any attack until his return?"

 

"It will withstand such attack because we are here to defend it! That's how the King will keep his promise."

 

Not everyone agreed. But alas, those who demanded a new wall to protect the tower prevailed. Soon, though, even the wall was attacked and vandalized. The Kingdom's best warriors were dispatched to protect the wall. "They must not breach the wall lest they destroy our great tower!"

 

Years passed. Decades and even centuries. With every attack, they reinforced the tower. They built it higher and wider, determined to prevent anyone from getting through. Sometimes they even left the confines of their walls and went on offense... attacking the surrounding kingdoms who never knew the beauty of their tower.

 

Meanwhile the great tower stood at the heart of the kingdom. So much attention and focus had gone into protecting the wall meant to protect the tower that time had taken its toll. The once brilliant tower began to show signs of neglect. It stood, sure as ever, but it didn't have the same beauty that generations before beheld when they looked upon it. Instead, the wall had become the marvel... it was pristine, a true image of the people's efforts and heart.

 

The years took their toll on the tower. It happened slowly, so gradually, that few recognized the change. Even fewer remembered how beautiful the tower used to be. But those who did, well, the beauty was still there... it always had been...

 

Cobwebs made navigating the inside of the tower unpleasant to many. Few even dared go inside. It was a relic of times gone by. Some people even forgot that the whole point of the wall was to protect the king's tower.

 

The wall became the kingdom's new glory.

 

Still more years passed. Everyone knew the story about the king's victory and the tower, but the more they heard the story, they more they focused on their walls. Only a small remnant could see the tower for what it was. They could still see its beauty beneath the layers of dirt and grime. But those few were often dismissed as shallow, idealistic, batty old people who'd lost their sense.

 

Real honor, real glory, the majority believed, was in defending the kingdom by supporting its walls.

 

More years passed...

 

Until that day...

 

... when a bright light shone in the sky and the sound of trumpets echoed from the distance.

 

The ancient king arrived on a white horse. He was accompanied by a legion more brilliant in appearance than even the stories told. When he arrived he gathered the people in the city square, at the footsteps of his tower.

 

"What is the meaning of this? Why did you build all these walls?"

 

"Many people who did not honor your name or victory, sire. They meant to deface your tower. So we defended it."

 

"Then why has my tower suffered under such neglect? Did I not tell you it would stand against any attack until they day of my return?"

 

"Did he say that to our ancestors?" some people asked amongst themselves.

 

The king heard their whispers. "My words remained inscribed within the walls of my tower. Why did your fear of the kingdom's enemies eclipse your trust in my word? Did you not believe that what I established could withstand any attack? Clearly you did not. Instead, you dishonor me by granting more power to my enemies than you had trust in my word. Your fear was greater than your faith."

 

"Sire, we did not know. We believed your word, but we felt it was our responsibility to fight..."

 

"Did I not charge you to welcome the outsider into the kingdom? The tower's beauty was enough to draw anyone who might behold it within, that they who you'd deem enemies might become your brethren. But instead, you hid the tower's beauty behind your defenses! You forgot my promise, and elevated your barriers to the status of the tower itself. What care and awe should have been directed at the tower I gave you, instead, you gave to the wall. You honored your own workmanship above mine."

 

"This was not our intention, Lord!" the leaders of the kingdom replied. "We only meant to honor you by protecting what you left us! We were defending you!"

 

"I can defend myself," the king replied. "I did not need your defense. I only required that you reflect the beauty of my tower with others. For we do not change the world by defending what's ours. The ways of my kingdom prevail when we share its beauty. The tower was forged so that its beauty might draw all men and women in! Instead, your walls not only did nothing to protect the tower, it led you to neglect the tower's beauty. You forgot its wonder. And your walls kept those I meant to gather away."

 

He who has ears to hear. Let him hear.

 

Under Grace,

Judah

 

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