Mansheart was in a place they had never been before. Prior to the Great One winning the city putting New-man in leadership, and before Holy Spirit had been communing with New-man various roving gangs had experienced free access to the city. Certainly, Guilty and Shame had troubled their Uncle Conscience, but usually they were hardly effective and Mansheart simply dealt with the aftermath of the gang’s work. All-Depravity, when he was alive, would often reassure Conscience and Willing that it was normal for all cities to have gangs roam the streets, and that it was best to simply let them do as they wish, they would go away when they lost interest. But now, since the Son had crucified the Old Man known as All-Depravity, Conscience and his two nephews, Shame and Guilty were not turned back, even at Willing’s insistence. Holy Spirit had instructed them too well, and they knew that the Immorals would ruin the city that was redeemed by the Great One and his Son. Shame was relentless in his crying while the Immorals ravaged the city. In spite of his woeful complaint the citizens continued on because one of the generals of the Old Man, Pride, had found himself a pulpit from which to proclaim loudly that Mansheart could do whatever Mansheart desired. “After all,” shouted Pride, “New-man was an impostor the Old Man was really their rightful leader and he was coming back for them.” This went on for some time. Outside the city, things were not much better. More and more gangs, seeing the Immorals have their way with the city, began to siege the city. The gatekeepers made an effort to repel these marauders, but with Willing showing such lack of concern while under the deception of Flesh and Lust-Much, and with Holy Spirit no longer speaking much to the citizens, the gate-keepers only half-heartedly protested. So Great-Gain, Good-Ease, Satisfaction, and other such gangs entered Mansheart. Before long the city was so overwhelmed with her sinfulness that other cities around the countryside began to smell a foul odor emanating from the city. This was the center of the city, a place of delightful gardens and waterfalls, a place where Peace and Joy and Love lived providing the city of Mansheart with praises to give to the Great One. Holy Spirit often frequented these gardens, and the gardeners mentioned are those whom he has trained and equipped to worship the Great One and his Son. But now, that which was intended for praise had become a great stench. And if the other cities were noticing the smell, how much more as these smells rose to the nostrils of the Great One? What was most egregious, however, was that the inhabitants of the city were still meeting regularly with other cities in their alliance and whereas all the cities would bring the fruits of their gardens tended by the Holy Spirit to their times of fellowship, Mansheart was bringing rotten fruit and flowers and offering those along with the precious delights of the other cities. Amazingly the citizens of Mansheart seemed not to notice the stench of their offerings. Mansheart was grieving her neighboring cities, but she could not see that she was the cause. She assumed that the other cities thought they were better citizens than Mansheart’s citizens. They also began to think that no other cities really cared for them and were just being too judgmental. Willing was offended by the other cities complaints and thoughtlessness so he determined that the city should associate with others in the country. . .Other cities who were not so serious about repelling the gangs outside their walls–other cities who could sympathize with their position they found themselves in; other cities who were more tolerant. Willing went in search of New-man to declare his intentions to separate themselves from their former alliances at the next town meeting, but Willing could not find New-man anywhere. Willing gathered Conscience and Wisdom and they sought out New-man, but to no avail.
Now, New-man had not left, he was assigned to this city by the Great One Himself, he could not leave, and New-man did care desperately for the city of Mansheart longing for the renewed filling of Holy Spirit in the city. But due to the growing dark cloud that hovered over the city from the pillaging and plundering of the various gangs that entered therein, the city had become dark and little light was shining through. One evening, New-man was returning from a fellowship with Prayerful and was met by Flesh and Selfish in the streets. Whereas before in the light of day, Flesh and Selfish would have run from New-man, they sensed that New-man was weak and so they set upon him violently. Flesh and Selfish, hidden by the dark cloud overshadowing them, disfigured New-man so much with many wicked blows and tearing his spotless garments; New-man weakening his voice so with calls for help. Thus, New-man was unrecognizable to the trio of citizens who sought him. Having no success in looking for New-man (although he was there all along), Willing, Conscience and Wisdom decided to go ahead and make the announcement at the next town meeting that they would be leaving their alliance of cities and forming a new alliance with more “like-minded” cities. This would be a travesty as the Great One had commanded them not to forsake their good alliances and meetings with these cities, but to reject all alliances with cities that were still controlled by All-Depravity’s cousins.
Flesh and Lust-much along with their band of misfits sat back with delight and ease as the city was once again theirs to rule. “Sure, All-Depravity is dead,” thought Lust, “But who needs him when Willing and Wisdom and Pleasure will do our bidding whenever we desire.” But woe to the one who thinks that the Great One will abandon a city so quickly that he has purchased so completely with the blood of his Son.
To Be Continued. . .
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