Saved and Lost:

            This chapter explores redemption through Jesus Christ alone. 

            The week passed, and all the followers spent time daily praying for the other believers while working. Each person felt stronger knowing their prayer united them as a group. Work became less of a chore and more of an opportunity to serve others. As the week finished, everyone had the same question: “Who would violate the law? Would they meet at their gathering?”

            Before dawn, each follower woke, dressed, and met at the base of the mountain. Kylie had brought a lamp to help light the way up the mountain. Everyone had brought tools, pails, and candles. So, before Stan or any of his followers had awakened, all of Joshua’s followers were at the base of the mountain and waiting to walk up to see their friend. Kylie guided the group with a lantern, following the path where Joshua had led. The small group walked slowly and carefully, supporting each other on the ascent.

            When they arrived on the topmost terrace, Joshua brought a warm breakfast for each follower. “How did you know we would all be here?” Joshua smiled and said, “You are learning quickly. I am so delighted with each of you. You supported each other this past week, and I am ecstatic with your unity.” Joshua had prepared the area with lanterns.

            “Do you have a story for us over breakfast?”

            “Joshua laughed. “I always have a story to help prepare you for the next week. Joshua pointed to the patch of seedlings that the women had planted. “Is there any way to tell the good seeds from the bad? Is there any way to tell what seeds are the same or different?” All the followers walked carefully around the seeds that started growing. “The seeds are just bursting forth. Forgive us, Joshua, but they all look the same.”

            “Have a seat, my friends. I have a story.” Joshua told a story about a man who went to plant seeds. “Most seeds are essential and valuable because they provide life and new growth. These seeds are the provision of the Word of God. When our women planted seeds, they dug the ground, carefully placed the seed, watered, and fed it. However, this man didn’t care as much, so he threw seeds into the field. Some seeds fell onto the road where there was no ground. The birds, ready for a quick meal, followed, swooped in, and ate the seeds.

            “Some seeds fell onto the ground with rocks but had some ground, but soon found an obstacle. They stopped growing because they had encountered the rocky ground and couldn’t develop proper roots. These people find the truth and accept it without considering the cost. When difficult times come to test them, they shrink away, and their spiritual life dies because the storms, struggles, and deficiencies in their spirit destroy what little growth they might have developed.

            “A third group of seeds fell on better soil; however, there were also seeds of weeds on that same ground. The two seed types grew together, and the weeds overwhelmed and choked the life from the good seeds. Like the seeds, people let the world’s cares and concerns become their primary focus. That choice lets others around them control their spirit. These people then become susceptible to control and manipulation caused by the cares and concerns all the while their growing spiritual seed starts to die from the manipulation of others.

            “The last group of seeds fell on good soil with no rocks or weeds, which let their roots grow deep and strong in the faith  ^[1] Their roots dug into the soil, so when trials and struggles tried to wear away their strength, they provided the strength to survive and grow throughout the squalls that eventually passed. These powerful plants overcame the few weeds and became stronger and healthier.”

            Joshua explained, “Storms sometimes appear to destroy but can serve to strengthen the world. Humans don’t see that windstorms sometimes break dead branches that would drain the plant’s energy. Fires destroy homes and plants, but they also provide for old dead plant’s destruction and new plant’s growth.”

            Obadiah questioned Joshua, “So, Joshua, are you saying that destructive storms are good?” 

            Joshua looked at everyone and stated, “No, God is not the source of destruction, and it is not what He wants. However, He uses the damage caused by the enemy to help people build and grow stronger, make wiser decisions, and help support each other. He may also help people make radical changes, never previously considered, that are necessary for their personal growth. These changes give them opportunities to start new growth in different areas.”

            Joshua reached down to the blossoming plants and said to his followers. “God knows what each plant is capable of, and each plant’s progeny is given all it needs to survive. If it is placed in an inhospitable place, it won’t be given the opportunity for its full growth. God cares about the plants, animals, birds- everything that lives.”

            Joshua continued, “Plants, birds, and animals sometimes show more wisdom than people. Have you noticed that when storms in life are coming into an area, most animals and birds leave the locale? People who discern the seasons ^[2]won’t always leave, and sometimes pay for that choice.”

            Abigail asked, “So, people are at fault if a disaster happens?”

            “God loves every person, and He has a specific good plan that doesn’t include suffering for people. But remember, the enemy is the source of the storms; God uses the destruction and plans to use the evil of this world to make more blessings than anyone can know. A person must accept that there are obstacles that God knows people don’t see or understand. Some hurdles are stones, and some are mountains.

            “If a person is in a race, sometimes people think they are helping the racer if they remove the hurdles or impediments to help the runner. But that won’t help the runner develop their skills. Sometimes, people blame God when He’s not responsible.”

            Joshua said that a famous writer named Shakespeare once wrote a book called Hamlet, saying, “There are more things in Heaven and Earth than are dreamt of in your philosophies.”^[3]

            Kylie looked stunned, “You know Shakespeare?”

            Laughing, Joshua quipped, “Who do you think gave him the ideas for the stories?”

            As the day started, the followers sat on the ledge worshipping God; they held hands, sang psalms, and taught others the words and melody of ancient chants. Joshua was singing the chants, and Kylie noticed his voice reverberating and echoing through the valley. After the sunrise, Joshua asked if they were ready to start. “Women, would you mind helping the men? We need no plants on this terrace. I have something different planned for this terrace. So, women, if you would make sure the men are given water and help the seedlings develop. This will be a long morning, but the afternoon will be another “getting to know you” exercise.”

            The women took shifts as they used the tools to loosen the soil after the men worked to build the terrace, and because the women were in good condition, this terrace took little time, and they broke three times the soil. This was their largest terrace, and they looked proudly at their accomplishment as the sun sparkled high in the sky at noon. Joshua took the time to prepare the lunch, and then everyone sat on the last terrace, satisfied with their progress. They were curious about what Joshua had planned for this terrace.

            Joshua asked, “Hannah, is there anyone in Sanctuary you knew from before?” Hannah looked surprised as she started explaining her story. “Peninnah and I were married to the same man. She had many children, but I couldn’t have any, and she was merciless in her teasing. My husband loved me more, but that made her more jealous.^[4]”

            Joshua looked with compassion, “How much did that harassment hurt you, Hannah?”

            “I didn’t mind her having children. She was just abusive and angry when my husband would give me twice as much. Even the priest mocked me when I prayed, but I was so serious about my desire for a child. My family finally went to give a sacrifice, and afterward, I got pregnant. My son, Samuel, was such a joy, and I took him to the temple to dedicate him when he was old enough. He became so joined to the Lord that he heard His voice from the time he was a child until he died. He was such a joy for my country and me — as a matter of fact, my son anointed and directed the kings.^[5]”

            Joshua asked Hannah, “When you were going through the trouble, how would you like to have Peninnah treated for her persecution and bullying of you?”

            “Joshua, it was not my fault that I had no children, that she had children or that my husband loved me more than her. Perhaps, he loved me because she was bitter and jealous. Those characteristics don’t always win someone’s love.”

            “Hannah, how would you have liked to have her suffer?”

            “Joshua, I wanted her to suffer the physical pain she was inflicting on me emotionally. Whenever she mocked me, I wanted her to suffer the searing pain from her words. As time passed, I wanted to see her on a stick over a fire because she couldn’t look at me without making a comment. Every day, my food was cooked poorly and made her sick; my wash wasn’t bright enough, and moment by moment, the berating about my not having any value because I remained childless seared more intensely.”

            Joshua looked at Hannah reassuringly. “I understand how words can be like constant thorns in the flesh. Every step, every day, and even when you’re asleep- you think, hear, and steep in the words that hurt so much. So, I understand that you wanted her to suffer over a roasting fire from the painful words that she said about you. Would that have made the abuse easier to bear- seeing her in pain also?”

            “Joshua, if she spent all the days and nights suffering and roasting over a fire, it wouldn’t have made my pain better- but it might have made her less likely to open her mouth in judgment. Still, I was justified in the end because my one son was more famous and faithful than all her children. Samuel redeemed the pain she gave me every day, and then, as my Samuel gained strength and power, all Peninnah could say was that he was a relative. He was and is always my son.”

            Joshua looked at Caleb, “Do you know anyone from before Sanctuary?” Caleb responded, “Yes, I was surprised when I first saw Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. When I last saw them, they were being swallowed up by the earth.”^[6]

            Joshua asked Caleb to explain the story. “Korah, Dathan, and Abiram were well-respected men in our tribe. Korah was a highly ranked priest. They all joined together in a rebellion against an honest, responsible, and humble man who followed where God led him.^[7] They really were weak, angry, foolish men who wanted power and authority which would have destroyed them—and the tribe—if they had the permission and influence.”^[8]

            Joshua asked Caleb, “If you had the ultimate power when you were going through the rebellion, what punishment would you have inflicted on them and why?” Caleb looked embarrassed and said, “I often thought that since they were against God’s appointed leader and were always trying to get others involved in their defiance, they should be forced to herd stubborn donkeys who were each determined to take their own path. The anointed leader was following God’s directions, and these men always had a better idea; they were always complaining about the food, water, the path’s rocks, the long trudge, and weather conditions.”

Ruth asked, “How long did they complain?”

            “We left slavery, and the waters closed off their path back to servitude. God provided everything we needed- heat at night, coolness in the day, shelter, clothing, food, and water. They complained every day from dawn to dusk until they convinced others that they knew better and demanded that they have more control and were asked to attend a meeting with the anointed leader. God made it clear that they should not question an anointed leader.”

            Eliphaz asked, “So what happened to Dathan, Abiram, and Korah?” 

            “God asked for a meeting with every one of them, and they were told to bring all their wives, belongings, and complaints to an assembly meeting. They thought that they would be promoted, but they were really demoted. God opened the ground underneath every person infected with the spirit of criticism and closed the ground- no more objections from that or any other group. ^[9]Still, it took forty years of wandering in the desert to get the complaints and rebellion out of the group.”

            Joshua asked the followers what specific wrong action Korah’s group that deserved death. The followers shouted various answers, “Pride?” “Rebellion?” “Selfishness?” “Greed?” “Lust for power?”

            Joshua looked at everyone, “Everyone is right and wrong at the same time?”

            Barak looked confused and asked everyone’s question, “We’re all correct and incorrect. Can that be?”

            “Korah’s group knew all these laws at the same time; however, they chose which rules they wanted to follow. They didn’t complain and disobey because they couldn’t understand the commandments but because they made themselves to be judge over the rules and over the God who gave them. But Korah’s group weren’t the only ones to intentionally choose which rules they wanted to follow, were they?” Joshua asked.

            Caleb looked sad, “No, some others chose which rules they wanted to follow but made sure the others followed all the rules. They were secretly hiding their own surprises. Cozbi was sleeping with a man named Zimri. Cozbi was not one from our tribe. Zimri was a respected leader of our group who fell so in love with Cozbi that when he was told to get rid of her, he refused and went to the tent to be alone with his beloved, right in front of everyone. An observant leader had to go into the tent and spear each of them. ^[10] Ruth looked confused. “I was a foreigner, and though some people didn’t treat me well and were mean and suspicious, they didn’t try to kill me.” Joshua looked at Ruth with love, compassion, and respect. “You wanted to adapt to become one of us. Cozbi had used her influence to change Zimri to accept her beliefs were superior to his new faith.”

            There is a difference between someone who is sinful and someone who is misguided. Sin is a specific rebellion against God’s laws. It’s been defined by thoughts, words, and deeds that are against God’s best for people. Sin starts out pleasant, comfortable, and relaxing. It starts controlling and enslaving the person. It changes your nature slowly, and you become darkened and distorted from the original intent.”

            Joshua said, “Let me give you a specific example.” He stood and gave each person a thick glass that he poured in some hot water. Then he passed each follower a tea bag. “Let me ask you, this water and this tea are separate. Two different compounds, right? The tea can’t influence or change the water at all in this container. But when you mix the two together over time, can you separate the tea and the water? Can you ever get the clear, pure, perfect, hot water back without the tea?”

            Joshua continued, “Ruth, you were the tea, but you wanted to become one of us; over time, you would become so much a part of us that a ruler came from your loving influence. ^[11] He became a ruler of immense power through your love. He could not have been the same without your loving blood in his veins. Your goal was to change the tea into water; Cozbi’s ambition was different.”

            Joshua put the tea in the water; as he continued talking, the water slowly clouded and turned from clear to dark. Joshua looked at the group. “Can the water ever change back to the pure water that it was without any tea?” All agreed that the water will be transformed forever once it is changed. “If Cozbi’s beliefs mixed with our new faith, our beliefs would be eternally different. Our beliefs would never have formed, and Ruth’s grandchild could never become king. Pure water must stay unadulterated, or it isn’t water.”

            Caleb laughed, “Strange you use the word adulterated because that is what they were doing when Zimri and Cozbi got the point about following the law. Details weren’t exactly stated, but to say that Cozbi wouldn’t mix with any water would be accurate.”^[12]

            Joshua continued, “Our early beliefs were like the pure water, so different from all the other beliefs. Mixing our faith in God with their gods would have changed our faith. It happened many times thereafter.”

            “Ruth, you were from a different culture; what was the one thing you had the hardest time adjusting to when you met your first husband?”

            Everyone looked at Ruth, who held herself much higher and whose dignity had grown since she heard about her great-grandson, “My first husband, Elimelech, was a good man. He spoke of his One True God. That always confused me because almost everywhere around my birthplace- every culture believed in gods of fertility, rain, and war. . .  different gods for all our needs. He firmly believed, worshiped, and served One God, and He is abundantly able to meet all needs.”

            Ruth continued the story, “After he died, I went to help my mother-in-law, who was the most wonderful woman I knew. I helped her, and she interceded to help match me with the most wonderful man in town. He taught me of the true love among Elimelech, Naomi, Mahlon, and Chilion and their God.”^[13]

            Joshua looked at her, “Would you give me your tea?” Ruth passed the cup, and Joshua poured the cup into his hand and into a pot. Everyone saw Ruth’s tea, but it flowed clear into the pot as it passed through Joshua’s fingers. As everyone looked at the cup, the tea water that was poured out was now as clear as it had been originally. Joshua said, “Ruth’s sins were filtered through her desire to know the True God.”

            Joshua told the followers about Athaliah’s story. Her parents were of different faiths; her mother, Jezebel, focused on the faith of Ba’al. Athaliah married a weak king, and she was quite manipulative. She became a widow and then a queen of the realm who had all the power, but because she wanted complete control, she killed her children and grandchildren to prevent her loss of power. ^[14]Her other goal was to change the faith of the nation, and she worked hard to destroy any worship of the faith in the One True God. She had people executed simply because they fought against her god.78

            “She had the opportunity to keep the water clean and pure; however, she wanted to pollute everyone else’s beliefs with her poison. Her sin remained because her thoughts, words, and deeds completely violated the faith she already knew.” Joshua took a pot and a cup of tea and poured the tea through his hands. The concoction became darker and more like mud than tea. “Does anybody want to drink from her tea?” Everyone grimaced and refused.

            “The results of sin can become filtered through the love and forgiveness of God. Through God’s mercy, sin can be separated from the person; and through forgiveness from others, relationships can be restored.” Joshua took a teacup and poured its contents on the ground. “Once a person dies with that sin, there is no restoration possible. Can the water from the ground be put back into the cup now? Once a person dies, he has decided his own fate. While there is life, there is hope.”

            “So, can any of those who have great sin become clean?” Rahab asked. 

            “God, in his love for all His people, offered a filter for sin. But the mixture must be cleansed by being subject to the filter. Sometimes the filter needs to be used many times to remove the sediment. Joshua took some water and mixed the soil into it. He swirled it. “Anyone care for a drink?” Then Joshua took the mixture and put it through the filter held over a cup, turned the filter over, and showed how some of the dirt was removed. Then each follower repeated the process until the water was clear. “Would anyone have the courage to drink this water?”

            Kylie looked at the water that looked like tap water. “I’ll try it.” The water was clean and pure as she drank, filtered through the love of Joshua and her new friends. She had faith enough that Joshua wouldn’t allow anything harmful to happen to her.

            Jabez investigated his small pile of dirt and thought he saw a glint of light, so he started sifting through the dirt. He took out a small, beautiful, clear rock that sparkled in the light. As all the others did the same, they found in the dirt a beautifully colored and cut rock. Although all the stones were of different sizes, each was that person’s favorite color and was beautiful, perfect, and flawlessly cut. They all looked at Joshua. “How did you do that?” 

            Joshua smiled, “You will find whenever you submit to the filtering of God that beauty comes from the experience.”^[15]

            “So, what are the directions for today?”

            Joshua said, “We need another terrace, so, for the men, it’s the usual day. For the women, we need fences placed around last week’s ledges and grass seed on last week’s terrace.” So, the men gathered the tools and netting, started down the terraces, and threw the netting over the bottom terrace.

            Joshua climbed up the net and arranged lunch for the followers. He lifted a beautiful screened-in tent which he attached to the edges of the terrace. When lunch was ready, the followers sat in a circle to eat. They all bowed their heads and prayed a blessing over the food. Joshua passed the food, and everyone filled their plates. As they ate lunch, Joshua said, “I know that Stan will be very irate over your being with me, but please remember God oversees everything that happens, and He will reward everyone who is faithful to His way for their life. Stan believes he is in charge. In everything that happens, God the Creator, who can crush evil, allows evil to exist to strengthen His children. Think of it as a spiritual exercise that is like your physical regimen, a type of exercise called isometrics, where you press against a solid object like a wall. It builds muscle, stamina, strength, and endurance. God wants His children to be powerful warriors against the enemy.”

            They all chatted, told jokes, and laughed. After lunch, they were all filled. Joshua said to his friends, “What you are filling yourself with- the food and water sustain your body. The struggles you overcome strengthen your spirit.”

             Joshua taught them words that have great power. “Remember, whenever you speak God’s will, your words become destruction to the enemy. Remember, you must speak the Truth of God, but that Word is powerful enough to annihilate the enemy’s kingdom. You must be speaking with truth and faith in God’s power.”

            Then Joshua asked, “Does anyone know the differences between body, spirit, and soul?”

            “The body is the physical, and the spirit and soul are the parts of us that go to be with God when we die?” Kylie guessed.

            Joshua corrected Kylie. “Yes, you are somewhat right, but also wrong.” Joshua explained that the body is like a tent. The body is the tent, whether large or small, attractive or repulsive, tall or short, dark or light, made from expensive or shoddy material. The tent is simply covering. It is something you can see, touch, and even hear.

            “The soul is different from the body. The origins of our faith deal with the soul more than a surface covering. The soul drives deep into the essence of that person. The soul is like the tent’s stakes that bind the body to the Earth and to the other tent’s stakes. When one stake weakens or breaks, the other can take up the tension.” Joshua took a large post, pushed it into the center of the ground, and continued explaining. “The foundations of our faith are established by making our minds, motivations, emotions, desires, goals, and choices match the perfect will of God. ^[16] Remember the exercise with measuring other’s sins on the edge of the terrace? I want to try an exercise with everyone. The soul connects us as brothers and sisters together and relates each person to others through our minds, will, emotions, desires, goals, and choices. That gives us reason, emotion, understanding, imagination, and desires. But when several stakes are weakened, that soul also gives us feelings of inferiority, insecurity, inadequacy, guilt, worry, doubt, fears.”

            Joshua took out a huge 6-pointed star from the most magnificent sky- blue, sapphire material with circles at each point. The cloth was much larger than the whole terrace when stretched out. Joshua explained that there are many fundamental spiritual fruits that belong to souls. Devotion, self-control, compassion, peace, joy, and perseverance are essential in a mature follower, and six others will develop through time and practice. If a follower has these six fruits, the combination of various prerequisites will create highly developed attributes.

            Joshua explained, “People have faith, integrity, discernment, and endurance, or they don’t have the foundations. As your faith and integrity develop, your virtue will soar. Your sense and understanding of justice will heighten as your integrity and discernment grow. As your discernment and peace grow, your prudence develops. As your peace and joy increase, your forgiveness will strengthen. As your endurance and faith develop, your courage will improve.”

            Joshua looked at the group and asked, “How do you develop all these characteristics?”

            The men and women looked confused and said, “We don’t know.” Joshua explained that people develop these characteristics through their interaction with others. As we bump into others as life’s struggles continue, we either are strengthened in our battles or weakened by our imperfections. “Remember the stones you loved looking at?” Each follower pulled out their stone from the lesson of the filter. “Each stone doesn’t come out of the earth looking that good. It must go through pressure, heat, crushing, breaking, cutting, and rubbing against others. It is the same with the soul. People develop or break based on the wrestling with others.”

            “Well then, Joshua, what is the spirit?” Joshua reached to lean on the pole set in the center of the terrace. “The Spirit connects God to man. The Spirit connects us to God by our intents, consciences, and unity that guarantees salvation, the protection of God’s love, and authority if we have dedication through faith, hope, adoration, worship, and communication with the Father only. That Spirit only comes when a person accepts the Truth in his heart.

            Joshua took the large blue star, tied it over the pole, and let it float. “Is this functional for anything left by itself?” Everyone looked confused. “Boaz, would you take the top edge, pound it on the stake near the star, and sit next to it?” Boaz stretched the material and pounded a stake into the ground. “Jonathan, would you take the next edge?” Jonathan repeated the process that Boaz had done. Daniel, Gideon, Jabez, and Caleb repeated the process. When the men sat down, Joshua told them,      “Each of you men has become known for your spiritual fruit. The women also have developed their spiritual fruit. Dinah, please sit between Boaz and Jonathan. Deborah, sit between Jonathan and Daniel. Abigail, please sit between Daniel and Gideon. Rizpah, please sit between Gideon and Jabez. Hannah, please sit between Jabez and Caleb. And Puah, please sit between Caleb and Boaz.”

            Joshua took the blue star off the pole and stakes. “How useful are these collections of poles and stakes? What can you use them for in their current arrangement?” The followers were perplexed. “Without a body, the soul and the spirit are useless just as the star without the stakes and pole are useless.

            However, Joshua took the star’s material, put it back on the pole, and tossed a rope across the star to Boaz, who wrapped the rope around the stake, tied it to the circle, and tossed the rope across to Joshua. Joshua knotted the rope to the top of the large upright pole and tossed the rope across the circle to different followers. Each follower securely knotted the rope to the stake and threw it to Joshua, who threw the rope across the circle. Eventually, the tent was securely held by the stakes and poles. 

            At the end, a huge tent was assembled that covered most of the terrace. Joshua asked each person what made the tent work. Joshua went to a close stake and pulled on the rope attached to it. As he pulled on the rope, the rigging moved, “As things affect the soul of a person, the rest of the ropes moved similarly. But if the stake is solidly attached to the rock, nothing will shake the tent. When death separates the post, stakes, and material, the stakes may be left as a witness to the person’s life, but that is not its end. I would ask each of you to use your faith and offer a blessing, then anoint the tent’s entrance. Take this pure oil and anoint yourself and then anoint the entrance to the tent.” Joshua passed the oil to Kylie, who anointed herself and then anointed the side of the tent’s entrance. The other followers followed Kylie’s pattern.

            After each follower had blessed the tent, Joshua invited everyone to enter its protection, “Each child of God is welcome inside the safety and protection of this shelter. No faithless person can enter this tent, and if the sun, moon, and stars of Heaven exist, this star exists.” Joshua asked each follower to precede him into the tent. Everyone sat down in the center of the circle. As Joshua brought the light into the tent, the followers noticed the beauty inside of the tent. He stood next to the pole and attached a light to the crossbeam so all could see the beauty inside the tent. The light danced and sparked inside, reflecting on different hues inside the fabric.

            Each follower started to worship God in a distinctly personal way-some raised their hands, prayed, sang, kneeled, danced, and lay prostrate on the ground. Though it took only moments, the afternoon passed too quickly. Each person knew that this special time was coming to an end and sat in the circle, waiting for Joshua to give a blessing.

            So, Joshua gave the words most followers knew as the Aaronic Blessing. ^[17] Then, they all sang Psalm 76 in unison.

            When they walked outside, the sun was setting, and they all knew they would need to walk safely down the path. Joshua blessed each of them, and his followers walked down the path to the city of Sanctuary. Each follower spoke of how they now had a true place of refuge in Sanctuary.