“Eddy’s Test Of Faith” Part One

In “Faith VS Doubt” Karen and Eddy journeyed to the Mountains of Trouble to free the Small Faith People from the Natives of Doubt. Their mission becomes extremely dangerous when the Master of Darkness uses Chief Much Cruel to capture and condemn the two Lightbearers to death in the arena. But the Good King intervenes for them which causes a young warrior to regain his faith and the queen of the Natives of Doubt to believe in the Good King. But tragedy soon strikes when Karen suddenly becomes very sick and dies of the mysterious illness. Eddy now must fulfill the mission without his strong friend by his side. His faith will surely be put to the test. But he will not be alone.

*******

Eddy was in the cave crying. He didn’t want to believe that Karen was no longer going to be with him. They had grown so close during their adventures together. How could it be the Good King’s will for them to be separated permanently? He still needed her. She had helped him to be strong in his faith and he hoped that she would continue to be by his side until his faith had fully grown. But it didn’t happen that way. Karen was gone and he was going to have to get his people out of this horrible place without her. How can a little man do such a big thing all by himself? Thinking of the challenges that were before him made him cry harder.

Billy and Sally quietly entered the cave. The queen had told them what happened and made it possible for them to see their fellow Small Faith Person without getting into trouble with the slave masters and the chief. They saw Eddy crying and heard him saying, “Why Master? Why her? Why?” Billy placed his hand on his shoulder causing Eddy look up at him. “Billy?” he asked sniffling.

Billy had tears in his eyes too. “Eddy, I know this is hard. We feel bad too. Karen was such a good friend to us. We will miss her greatly. She and you helped us to regain our faith in the Good King. We are so grateful for that.”

Eddy wiped the tears that were still streaming down his face. “We were sent here to free you from the Natives of Doubt. Now I must do it alone and I’m scared. I feel so weak without her.”

Billy patted his back gently. “You’re not alone Eddy. The Good King is still with you. He will help you just like He did before. If you believe with all of your heart He will use you in a mighty way to save us from our enemies. Sally and I will help you in this mission, and I’m sure others will too before the mission is done.”

Eddy wiped more tears from his eyes and gave a small smile. He knew that now more than ever he had to be strong in his faith. Karen would have wanted that. Perhaps his times with her was meant to prepare him for this moment. Though his heart was breaking he made the decision that he was not going to let the lessons Karen taught him be in vain. With fresh determination he got up and said to Billy and Sally:

“Let’s pray together so that we may know what His Majesty wants us to do now.”

Then the three of them joined hands and prayed in the cave.

 

To Be Continued

 

 

 

“Karen The Lightbearer: Faith VS Doubt” Part Nineteen

The doctor monitored Karen. She was becoming weaker and when he tried talking to her the poor teenage girl couldn’t answer back. He gave her some water and Karen coughed and sputtered. Then she drifted off to sleep. Karen dreamed about Eddy and the Small Faith People. She saw them freed from the Natives of Doubt and rebuilding their home. It was such a happy picture. Then she saw Eddy all by himself in his house crying. She heard him questioning the Good King on why He allowed him to be alone in his life. She then saw him neglecting to pray and read the Holy Word. He became so miserable that his people didn’t want him around them. So Eddy left Small Faith and went to live in Carnal City where he spent his time in worldly amusements. Karen then heard the voice of the Master of Darkness. “Edward Matthews is finally mine! He has so turned away from the Most High that nothing can save him from my grip. Hahahahahaha!”

Karen tried to speak but the words wouldn’t come out. After much struggling she managed to say weakly:

“Eddy don’t! Please keep holding on! The Good King will help you!”

The doctor heard her. He quickly went to her and checked her pulse. It was still faint. Karen kept on talking in her sleep.

“Eddy be strong! The Good King has a plan for you!”

Though the words were a faint whisper the doctor heard her. This “Eddy” would have to see her before it was too late. He quickly called for his assistants. When they showed up the doctor told one of them to go and fetch the queen immediately.

Soon the queen ran into the room. “What is it doctor?” she asked breathing hard.

“She is calling out to a fellow named Eddy, your majesty. Do you know where he could be?” the doctor asked.

“Yes, I know where he is,” said the queen.

“Bring him here quickly. According to my readings Karen doesn’t have much time and she may be able to speak to him.” The queen hastened out of the room.

*******

Eddy was in the cave hiding and praying for Karen. It had been two days and he hadn’t heard anything about her. Eddy begged intensely for the Good King to heal her of the pain that she was going through. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing her. What could he do without her and her encouraging words? He was so concentrated on his prayer that he didn’t hear the queen enter the cave.

“Eddy,” she called gently.

The little man heard her and opened his eyes. “How’s she doing, your majesty?” he asked.

The queen looked at him with sadness. “You must see her now. Be strong in the Good King, Eddy.”

Eddy sniffed and wiped his eyes as he followed the queen out of the cave. He saw another cave up ahead and asked the queen, “is that where Karen is, your majesty?”

“It is, and we must see her quickly, Eddy.”

When they got inside the cave the doctor ran to greet them. He shook the little man’s hand and said, “you must be Eddy. Come this way.” He then showed him a room and there laying on a stone bed with a heavy blanket on her was Karen. The doctor and the queen stood back as Eddy went up to her. Karen’s once rosey face was now pale. Her breathing was shallow and her eyes were glazed.

Eddy swallowed hard. “Karen?” he managed to say.

Karen turned her head and tried to smile amid the pain. “Hi Eddy, I’m happy to see you.” Her voice didn’t sound so weak this time and she was able to speak with little difficulty.

Eddy’s eyes glistened. “Karen…I…” He then threw himself on her and hugged her tightly. “I DON’T WANT YOU TO DIE!” he then sobbed into the blanket. “What will I do without you? You have been very good to me during our adventures. Please don’t die, Karen!”

Karen gently stroked Eddy’s blond hair. “Eddy, it will be okay. I know you will be fine because you have the Good King in your heart. And you have grown on our adventures. You’re becoming a courageous Small Faith Person.”

“I don’t know,” said Eddy. “I’m not completely free of my fears yet. I still have a long way to go.”

“But you are getting there, brother. You are becoming the kind of person that the Good King wants you to be. And He is going to use you to free your people from the Natives of Doubt. You will lead in the rebuilding of Small Faith. Then you will teach your people how to be Lightbearers so that they can go out and share the Good King’s Truth with those in the darkness of this world.”

Eddy chuckled through his tears. “I’m not worthy for that, Karen.”

“None of us are worthy of the callings that His Majesty gives us. I wasn’t worthy to be His Lightbearer but He used me to lead others to Him and to His eternal Truth. Believe in Him and surrender yourself to His will for your life.” Karen said as she started to cough.

Eddy held her hand gently. “I will never forget you, sister. I will tell everyone about you and the difference that you have made in the lives of people. I will tell of our adventures and how the Good King led us through them.”

Karen smiled. “I love you, Eddy. We will be together again at the Good King’s Second Coming.” She then closed her eyes and whispered, “my work is done. Thank you, Your Majesty for using me.” Then she breathed her last.

“Karen! No!” Eddy shouted as he shook her, hoping that maybe she’d wake up one last time. There was no response. Eddy ran out of the cave. The queen called after him but he didn’t listen. He didn’t care if he was spotted by the Natives of Doubt. His best friend was gone. GONE! He had to get out of there! He ran back to the cave where he and Karen were hiding. He collapsed on the stone floor and cried his heart out.

To Be Continued

Author’s Note: Wow! What a twist! Karen The Lightbearer has died. What will happen to poor Eddy now? Will he be able to live out the calling that the Good King gave him? What will happen to the Small Faith People? Find out next time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Karen The Lightbearer: Faith VS Doubt” Part Eighteen

The queen freed Karen and Eddy from their cells. She knew that such an act would greatly anger Much Cruel, but she wasn’t afraid of him. He no longer wanted anything to do with her so she decided to join the Lightbearers and the Small Faith People. To keep Karen and Eddy safe from Much Cruel and his guards the queen showed them a secret passageway under the cave. She told them that she had discovered it long ago when she wanted to be away from her husband during his times of ranting and raving. It was her peaceful hideaway and she had occasionally gone there to read or to gather her thoughts. No one else, including the chief, knew about this place so the two Lightbearers should be safe from being recaptured. They walked down the tunnel until they came to a room. The queen placed her torch on a stand and said: “It isn’t much but I hope that you will be comfortable here.”

Karen looked around. There was a rug on the stone floor, a soft red chair, and a table with a vase of flowers. “This is very nice, your majesty,” she said as she sniffed the flowers.

Eddy nodded. “Yes, very nice indeed.”

The queen was pleased that her new friends liked the room. She then realized that Karen and Eddy didn’t have anything to sleep on. “Oh, dear! I knew I forgot something! Tonight I’ll go to the bedroom and get some blankets and pillows. I certainly will not have you two sleep on the hard stone floor.” she said to them.

“You’re very kind,” said Eddy.

*******

The chief was still fuming about his wife’s decision to be a believer. He felt that she betrayed him and his people. How could she do such a thing? His hatred of the Lightbearers grew stronger. He wished that he could kill them but that would be extremely difficult.

The Master Of Darkness watched him invisibly with two of his comrades behind him. “Okay here’s my plan,” he said to them, “I am going to appear to him as a human again and you two will appear as humans also. We will have a meeting with him and tell him how to handle the meddling Lightbearers and the slaves. We will also work with his slave masters visibly so that things will get much harder and the Small Faith People will lose their hope of being free.” The two demons applauded their leader’s idea. Then at his signal the three of them appeared to the chief. Much Cruel recognized the one as the friend he had made and was delighted to see him again. “It’s been a while. What have you been doing?” Much Cruel asked him. The Master of Darkness answered, “I have been secretly keeping an eye on things for you and your people. I have noticed that things are not going well for you on account of Karen and Eddy.”

Much Cruel pounded his fist on his stone throne in anger. “Those young ones took my wife away with their ridiculous religion. I wish I could get rid of them but they have a power on their side that protects them.”

“Yes, I heard about what happened at the games. But don’t worry, we will find a way to destroy them. Won’t we boys?” the Master of Darkness then turned to the two who were by his side. They smiled and nodded in unison. Then he turned toward the chief. “And we have a plan that will surely work. We will tell it to you so that you can help us.”

Much Cruel became excited like a little kid at Christmas time getting ready to open his presents. He had complete trust in this man and felt that with him by his side there will be no more Karen and Eddy. Sure the plan to discourage them by destroying their Lanterns didn’t work but he had confidence that this plan would. Much Cruel grinned and said to the three men, “I’m listening…”

*******

In the cave Karen and Eddy were eating a small meal that the queen had prepared for them. When Karen stood up to put her empty plate away she moaned and quickly placed her hand on her side.

Eddy noticed. “Are you okay, Karen?” he asked.

Karen continued moaning. The pain felt like someone was stabbing her. Then it went away.

Eddy watched her in great concern. “Karen, what’s wrong?”

Karen removed her hand from her side and said, “I don’t know. I felt this awful pain but now it’s gone.”

“Maybe it was the food we ate,” said Eddy.

“Yeah, maybe that was it,” said Karen. The pain then came back making her double over.

Eddy became scared. “How bad is the pain?” he asked her.

“It’s bad. It feels like my whole body is on fire,” Karen answered moaning.

“Maybe you should lie down for a bit. Perhaps sleep will help you get better.” Eddy advised her.

“I think I will, little buddy,” she said as she slowly walked to where her blankets and pillow were. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“See you in the morning,” said Eddy. He prayed that the pain Karen was having would go away.

The next morning the pain in Karen’s chest grew worse. She couldn’t walk so she laid back down. Eddy watched her and feared that if she didn’t get healed she would…

“No! I’m not going to think that!” said Eddy fighting the thought of losing her. “I’ll tell my people what’s happening and ask them to pray for her. With all of us praying Karen will be all better. I believe it!” then he thought, But how can I get out without being caught by the Natives of Doubt? I can’t stay here though. What do I do?

The queen then walked into the cave. When she saw Karen laying on the blankets moaning she knew something wasn’t right. “What happened to her?” she asked Eddy.

“I don’t know. She was like this last evening after dinner. The pain seems to have gotten very bad. Poor Karen,” he said as he turned to see the teenage girl curling into a fetal position and screaming.

The queen went up to her and felt her head. “She’s burning up with a fever. She’s very sick. If she doesn’t get medical attention she will die.”

“No!” Eddy gasped.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take her to one of our doctors.” said the queen.

Eddy’s eyes widened in fear. “But will she be safe? I don’t want the chief and the Natives of Doubt to harm her.”

The queen assured him. “I’ll stay by her side so that she won’t get hurt. Don’t worry little Eddy.” She then gently picked Karen up from the stone floor and carried her in her strong arms. “Be brave and stay strong in your faith.” She then walked out of the cave.

Eddy closed his eyes tightly. If Karen died he didn’t know what he was going to do. He couldn’t lead his people out of the Mountains of Trouble without her by his side. Eddy had to talk to his people now. He prayed that the Natives of Doubt wouldn’t notice him when he went back out there.

*******

The doctor looked Karen over. The queen watched him as he checked Karen’s pulse and read her temperature with a thermometer. The doctor turned to the queen. “Your majesty, I’m afraid that within a couple of days this young girl will not be here anymore. This sickness is severe and there is nothing I can do about it.”

The queen’s eyes filled with tears. She was sad that someone so young was going to die. The doctor then said, “the only thing that can save her is a miracle, but we Natives of Doubt don’t believe in such things.”

“I do.” said the queen. “And I will ask the Good King, the God of Heaven to heal this young one.”

The doctor was stunned. Did the queen of the Natives of Doubt really say that? “Do you really believe in the God of Heaven?” he asked her.

The queen nodded. “I believe that He is the One and True God.” she said.

The doctor didn’t say anything. The queen then said to him. “I’m trusting you to take care of this dear soul. Can I trust you to protect her from my husband and his men?”

The doctor said to her, “I’ve never agreed with the chief’s ways. I always felt that he was way too brutal on people. I’ll make sure that she is protected. You can trust me.”

The queen thanked him.

*******

Eddy managed to speak to Billy without being detected. He told him about Karen and how worried he was for her. “Please pray for her.” Eddy pleaded.

“Of course I will and tonight I will have everyone in Small Faith pray for her.”

Eddy felt a little better. “Thank you, Billy. Thank you very much.” He began to walk away when Billy called him back. “Yeah?” he asked.

“Whatever happens don’t lose faith in the Good King.” Billy answered.

Eddy didn’t want to hear that but he knew it was true. He must keep trusting in the Good King even if for some reason Karen wasn’t spared from death.

“I’ll see you later, Billy,” he said. He walked back to the cave and knelt on the stone floor. He bowed his head and covered his face as tears fell from his eyes.

To Be Continued

 

 

 

“Karen The Lightbearer: Faith VS Doubt” Part Seventeen

Much Cruel sat on his stone throne. He had been sitting on it for hours that his muscles were aching. He was thinking deeply about the miracles that he had witnessed in the arena. He had never seen such power displayed for those who believed in the Good King. What if he and his people were wrong about the invisible God? The miracles seemed to prove that He existed and that He cared deeply for those who followed Him. But the chief didn’t want to believe in the Good King. For centuries the Natives of Doubt had lived for their gods and the tribe gained many victories through the power of the gods (or so he thought). He tried to forget about the tigers that wouldn’t eat the teenage girl, and how the gladiator fight between the little man and one of his best warriors was stopped abruptly. The Holy Spirit kept on reminding him of those instances to convince him of the truth, but he was stubborn as a wild donkey. There was no way he was going to accept that the Good King was the One and Only God.

He heard footsteps and lifted his head to see his wife enter. She was very happy and joy was shining through her eyes. Much Cruel wondered what happened. “Why are so happy? I have never seen you this joyous before?” he asked her.

The queen came up to him. “Dear husband, I have accepted the Lightbearers’ Good King as my Lord and Saviour. I believe that He is the One and Only God. All the gods that we have worshiped and pledged our allegiance to are not real. The God of Heaven is real. We must tell our people and…”

Much Cruel angrily arose from his throne and slapped the queen’s face. “You are a stupid woman! You’re going to throw away what has been handed down to us for the Lightbearers’ God?”

“But husband…”

“If you want to join them then go ahead! Leave my sight! You are no longer my queen!”

The queen hurried out of the throne room with tears in her eyes.

Much Cruel sat back down and repeated to himself. “I will not accept the Good King. I will not accept the Good King.”

*******

The queen went outside and cried. The feeling of his rough hand across her face and his cutting words was hurting her heart. She wondered how she could have pledged her life to a man that was so cruel and heartless. She saw the Small Faith People working their hardest to do their tasks with the slave masters showing both verbal and physical abuse toward them. But the slaves were no longer moaning and crying. They were showing happiness because they believed that their day of freedom was very close. They were even singing songs about the love of the Good King and being free. She hoped that they would be free one day. Seeing them having to bear such heavy burdens was now making her very sad.

“Your majesty, what’s wrong?”

She recognized the voice and turned her head. “Sally?”

The little woman went up to the queen. She heard that she had become a Believer in the Good King and she was no longer afraid of her. The queen wiped her tears and looked at her. When she saw how genuinely concerned Sally was for her, she began to feel guilty for the time she had mistreated her. She hugged the little woman and said in a broken voice:

“I’m so sorry for beating you. Can you ever forgive me for being so cruel?”

Sally smiled compassionately at her. “Your majesty, I have already forgiven you. What you have done is forgotten.”

The queen hugged her tightly. “Thank you, Sally.”

Sally asked again what was wrong and the queen told her what happened between her and Much Cruel. Sally listened to her story in sadness. She assured the queen that everything would work out for good. She also added that the Good King would not give up on her husband. He would do all He could to save him from the evil that held him.

These kind words made the queen feel hopeful. She thanked Sally for her understanding. Sally pointed up to the sky and said, “Thank the Good King, for what I have said came from Him.” The queen did. Then she asked Sally if she could walk with her and teach her some of the songs that she had heard the Small Faith People sing. So Sally taught her the songs that were given to them by the Holy Spirit.

To Be Continued

 

 

 

 

 

“Karen The Lightbearer: Faith VS Doubt” Part Sixteen

Back in her cell Karen prayed for Eddy. She hoped that the Good King saved him just like He saved her. It was a miracle that the tigers didn’t eat her. How grateful she was for being rescued from their jaws. As Eddy was going through his ordeal with Gabriel, Karen remained in close communion with the Good King. She didn’t know how long she was praying but she wasn’t weary to continually bring her friend before the heavenly throne. Then when she didn’t know what else to say she heard the voice that she feared she would never hear again.

“Karen, you’re alive!”

Karen opened her eyes in surprise. She saw Eddy looking at her through the bars of her cell. “Eddy, my dear friend,” she said as she reached out her hand to him, “are you okay? You didn’t get hurt did you?”

Eddy smiled. “I’m all right. The Good King saved my life out there.”

“But how did He do it?” Karen asked wanting to know what happened.

“I was face to face with a warrior, who was a former Small Faith Person. I tried to reason with him but he wouldn’t listen. He was bent on killing me. But just as he was about to the Good King stopped the sword from delivering its deadly blow. I wish you could have seen it. It was actually frozen in midair! The warrior then gave up his violent ways and is now going to rejoin the Small Faith People.”

“That’s wonderful! What a merciful Good King we serve!” said Karen.

Eddy then said to her. “I feared that those tigers had eaten you. How did the Good King help you to escape that fate?”

“I thought for sure that I was going to perish. But miraculously those beasts became gentle like domestic cats. They purred and nuzzled me. That was quite an experience.” then she added, “Though we have lost our Lanterns the Light of Truth is still sustaining us through dangers. The Holy Spirit is bringing the promises to my remembrance just like He has done for the Small Faith People.”

“The Holy Spirit does a wonderful job in reminding us of the things from the Holy Word that we have stored in our hearts.” Eddy said.

Just then the queen appeared with some guards. The two Lightbearers looked up at her, wondering what she was going to do to them.

“Guards, bring Karen and Eddy to the throne room. I want to have a word with them.” she commanded.

The guards quickly obeyed her.

*******

The Master of Darkness and his minions invisibly held a meeting. He was furious that the two Lightbearers were once again rescued from his evil hand. The day of freedom for the Small Faith People was getting very close and he wanted to interfere with the Good King’s plan in that. He paced back and forth trying to come up with another wicked idea.

One of the demons said to him, “Boss, I think we are wasting our time. It’s obvious that the Most High doesn’t want the Lightbearers to die and as far as the slaves go, it looks like that no matter what we do they will be free.”

The Master Of Darkness growled. “I know that fool! I just think that if we work harder at destroying the faith of the little people they will be oppressed by the Natives of Doubt forever. There must be something we could do.”

“Like what?” a frustated demon inquired. “We did what we could. We took the Lanterns away from the Lightbearers and destroyed them before their eyes through Much Cruel; we tried executing them in the arena and the Most High performed miracles on their behalf, which strengthened the faith of the slaves. What else can we do?”

The Master of Darkness pounded his fist on the stone wall. He knew that no matter what he tried he would lose again. Then an idea came to him. He remembered what he did in the Ancient Times when another group of slaves were promised freedom from their bondage by the Most High. His efforts in hardening the heart of the king of that oppressive country and making the people’s faith dwindle from the hardships that were placed on them so damaged their faith that many of them didn’t make it to the Promised Land when they were finally free. Maybe if he worked extra hard the same thing would happen to the Small Faith People.

The wicked being turned from the wall and faced his dark helpers with a malicious grin on his face. “Gather around, I have a plan that will not fail this time.”

*******

The queen had a private interview with Karen and Eddy. She asked them many questions about the Good King and His Kingdom in Heaven. The two Lightbearers were joyous that she was interested in His Majesty and His eternal ways. They answered her questions by quoting verses from the Holy Word that the Holy Spirit brought to their memories. The queen was impressed by their answers. She began to see that their God was a benevolent Being, a King who loves everyone and who desires that every soul be saved. She wanted to be a Believer so she asked them:

“Karen, Eddy, what must I do to be accepted by the Good King? I want to join His family.”

“Believe in the Name of His Majesty and you will be saved. You will be accepted into His family if you let Him be your Lord and Savior.” Karen answered gently.

“I have tried to find satisfaction in the many gods that I have worshiped for years, and they have only made me empty inside. I believe that the Good King alone can satisfy me and I believe that He is the one true God. Yes, I want Him to rule my life.” the queen said as she felt an overwhelming peace deep down in her soul.

“Would you like to pray and ask His Majesty to come into your heart?” Eddy asked her.

The queen smiled at him. He was so kind and gracious that she began to feel guilty for agreeing with her husband in enslaving the Small Faith People. “Yes, I would like to.”

As Karen and Eddy prayed the queen poured out her heart to the Good King. She gave Him her heart and told Him that she wanted to be His servant. After she said “amen” she looked at her new friends and smiled. She was now a Believer

To Be Continued