The citizens of Mansheart were overwhelmed with gratitude and joy over their new leader, New-man. New-Man was kind and gracious but was also grave and severe while being led and instructed by HolySpirit out of the Great One’s Book. Holy Spirit daily illuminated New-man with truth concerning the Great One and His precious Son out of the Book. New-man spent much time speaking to the Great One, boldly going before the Great One based upon the perfection of sacrifice of the Great One’s Son. Soon, New-man led the city of Mansheart to build alliances with other cities around the country. He was careful to build alliances with cities and to meet regularly with those cities who also had been renewed by the Great One and whose old dictators had been destroyed. Together, these cities encouraged one another to follow the Words of the Great One and to cling to his promises. Things were going well and the city was prospering because the city was wholly united to the Son of the Great One. The Great One saw Mansheart and with love saw His own Son-there was now no more condemnation determined upon Mansheart for their former submission to All-Depravity. Now that Willing had been freed, he led the rest of the citizens closer and closer to the desires of the Great One and his Son. Willing, impacted by New-man encouraged his fellow-citizens to always look for the Great One’s Son to return to take Mansheart to the presence of the Great One.
Remember how we had said that All-Depravity was dead? This is true indeed, but do not forget that the generals and secret service of All-Depravity (Flesh and Lust-Much and company) had not been killed. They had been lurking in the dark shadows all this time looking for a way to subjugate the citizens once again. They had lost all preeminence when All-Depravity was killed and they burned with rage and deep vengeful feelings. They knew that their ultimate target had to be Willing. New-man was too close to Holy Spirit to be affected, but Willing could be bent back to their authority they were certain. What they needed was an opportunity to entice Willing and other prominent men of the city to bow once again to them. One day they found their opportunity. A gang of thieves had camped outside the city of Mansheart. This gang was notorious for their raiding of cities in the country. Mansheart had strong walls and would not let the gang in. Foolishly she was sure she could withstand and thought it impossible that this gang could ever broach the city walls. However, this gang (who called themselves the Immorals) portrayed themselves very enticingly to Mansheart. Up till now the city had resisted the gang’s enticements. But Flesh and Lust-Much saw their chance, and they took it quickly. One day Willing and Piety were conversing at a place of refreshment so Flesh and Lust-Much asked the patrons of the restaurant to provide them a table near the duo. Flesh and Lust-Much began to loudly describe the beauty of the Immorals and the pleasures that such noble persons could bring to the city. At first Willing and Piety ignored the conversation of the incognito two. But Flesh and Lust-Much began to speak even louder so that it was impossible for Willing and Piety to not hear. Flesh and Lust-Much described the great delights that could be enjoyed if the stingy gatekeepers Holy-eyes and Truthful would not be so prudish, letting the gang of Immorals into the city. Lust commented that he was unsure as to why New-Man was so unwilling to have these gracious, wonderful citizens enter the city and even join with Mansheart—they had so much to offer Chief Pleasure. Willing and Piety left the restaurant troubled yet certain that this was some form of foolishness they had heard, but neither could sleep that night. Willing spent the entire night sweating profusely and tossing and turning as he began to think more and more of the conversation he had overheard the day before. “Maybe Holy-eyes and Truthful were being a bit prudish, a little conversation with the Immorals to determine their intention and what they could offer our fine city could not hurt,” thought Willing. The next day, Willing remained uncertain as to what he should do. He knew that being so respected and living such a long time in the city of Mansheart, that many of the citizens relied upon him for his decision making. Once during this battle of his mind, a thought passed his mind that he should seek out the counsel of New-man and Holy Spirit, maybe there was something in the Great One’s book that would help him. So now he was determined to do so, he rose up from his rest, put on his coat and made an approach toward the center of the City of Mansheart where New-man and HolySpirit often communed and instructed the city. This was good, and Willing was determined to do good; but along the way, he had to pass through some dark shadowy alleys. Willing did not know that Flesh and and his gang of former generals were waiting for him in one particular alley of Mansheart. As Willing was hustling along, suddenly out of the darkness of the alleyway he heard a nose. He paused and looked behind him. When he turned back around, Flesh was standing right in front of him. Startled, Willing, turned from flesh, but Lust-Much was behind him. He tried to go left and then right but Pride stood to his left and on his right Selfish stood menacingly. He was surrounded. Now these deviants had no authority over Willing, but they were determined to do their best to convince Willing otherwise. Flesh spoke up as the leader of the group reminding Willing of all the years they had served their master, All-Depravity, with loyal distinction. With many words and much pressure he spoke convincingly to Willing that he really was already in the service of All-Depravity and that his service to New-man who communed with Holy Spirit was abnormal and true rebellion against what is good for the city. Just as Flesh began to intimidate Willing, calling on him to serve him as his true leader, Lust-Much chimed in. “The Immorals camped outside the city are beautiful, Willing, you will bring such pleasure to this city, you will be greatly rewarded by the rest of the citizens, lauded as a hero for bringing such pleasures into Mansheart. Besides think of good Pleasure, you know how much influence he has—he will love the Immorals and no doubt give you the honor.” Pride spoke up, “Are you really going to let the Great One’s book guide you? That book was written so long ago, no one can really trust what it says.” Selfish did not remain silent, “Holy Spirit and New-man really are not looking out for you, Willing, it is up to you to do what is best for Mansheart.” Willing was confused as to what to do and was shaking with concern. Flesh saw this and pounced on the opportunity. “You MUST serve me. You owe me your allegiance. I am bigger, stronger, and more powerful than you will ever be. If you do not serve me, you will pay dearly. Is it not easier to yield, friend Willing?” Willing could take no more, he fled from the alleyway, not to the residence of New-man as he should have where HolySpirit was meeting with New-man, but back to his own home in the city. There he wept as he struggled with what he had heard. Flesh and his authoritarian fiends would not leave him alone. Day after day, the traced his steps. They pursued him relentlessly reminding him of his former allegiance. At one point, Flesh told Willing that All-Depravity, (the Old Tyrant) was not really dead, but had simply gone on a holiday and that he would come back. Willing would be so sorry if he did not obey Flesh with the soon returning All-Depravity. Of course this was a bold lie intended to coerce Willing into obedience–All-Depravity, that Old Man was indeed dead, but little by little Flesh with his forceful generals convinced Willing otherwise. This was not all that Flesh and his fiends were doing. More and more they had began to boldly roam the streets of Mansheart flashing horrible weapons seeking to convince all the citizens of their responsibility toward them and All-Depravity (who is dead, but they convinced the city otherwise) not to the Great One. Finally, Willing broke, he called several chief men of the city together. He had been convinced that the Immorals were no real threat, but really New-man and Holy Spirit were keeping great delights and pleasures from Mansheart. Willing, Piety and Pleasure found themselves at the city gates. The Watchmen, Holy-Eyes and Truthful were surprised when Willing order the opening of the gates. But seeing how certain Willing and Piety were and how much Pleasure beamed with anticipation, they opened the gates. The Immorals wasted no time and entered the city slowly at first, but the gang kept pouring in. It was not long before the gang had infiltrated the whole city. Mansheart was contaminated with the debauchery of the Immorals. At first the gang did satisfy the citizens speak kind words and offering delights not before known in the city, but then Shame began to walk throughout the city in sackcloth and ashes, mourning the city’s wickedness. Shame was a messenger of the Great One and although New-man had sought to convince the city of the words of Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit being grieved was giving less and less encouragement to the city. Willing who was supposed to lead the city closer to Holy Spirit had been the chief offender, and now he was holed up in his house letting the rest of the city do as they wished while he sought to remove any blame from himself. Chaos reigned and the battle for Mansheart’s purity raged. Sadly, it had been some time since Mansheart’s citizens had even spoken to the Son of the Great One or the Great One himself. A valuable lesson was needing to be learned by Willing and all the citizens. Since All-Depravity was dead, and Flesh was an impostor, and since the Son had purchased Mansheart, the Great One would certainly teach this lesson and would not let go of Mansheart, but for a season, Mansheart was allowed to continue in their rebellion, guilt and foolishness. But for how long?
To be continued. . .
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