Whose Strength are you using ?

Okay... finally got some break time... school is stressful and holidays come with an extra " " by its sides T_T... anyway, lets get down to business... :s

Well, i've been thinking about whats happening for the past term. To be honest i haven't really been spending much time with God, mainly because i come home from school tired, over-use the com and just sleep after a small prayer and so-called 'thanks', if i see it from my current point of view. So.. well, since the past week its been an effort to get back, especially with the Wanted camp just 33 hours away from now. But thank God, yeah, thank Him that i am allowed to draw back, to really set aside all the screw-ups, internal stress and frustration which tends to build up everyday in school.

Okay, its time to finally share something which i had learnt through this experience, from my complacent start leading to how i've actually allowed myself to go drained, and back now...

[ This is a situation which i remembered from a game i played 10 years ago. ]

Once during the Medieval Age, soldiers trained extensively for any threats, be it internal rebellions, or from the threat of invasion by a neighbouring state.
In Antioca [ some random country =x ] , legions of well-equipped soldiers stood by in their forts, training regularly for the day where their expertise will be needed.
However, the soldiers noticed one problem - their swords broke easily after several months of vigourous usage.

For all its might, Antioca lacked raw metal deposits by where her citizens can mine the precious metal to supply their local troops. Thus, they have to import large quantities of weapons from foreign traders.

In a particular month, an offer to teach individual soldiers the art of metal-working came around the country. Some took it, and some didn't.

So the months passed, where a part of Antioca's troops spent their time making their own weapon using the skills they have learnt, while the others continued their daily routine, replacing imported weapon, with imported weapon.

One year later, an unknown army of raiders descended upon Antioca. Taking the call to arms, the well trained legions set off from their forts to do battle against the enemy.

Individually, each soldier has his own feelings about the war.

Soldier Endern - A person who does not believe in allocating training time to forging swords.

Before the battle...

Knowing that his weapon has been used for several weeks, he decided to carry a spare sword into battle, with the precaution of having another weapon 'just in case' of any situation in the chaos of the battle.

During the clash...

Squaring off with his opponent, Endern's first weapon broke under the pressure of his opponent's sword. Expecting this to happen, he drew his second blade in a swift motion and struck back at his enemy.
However, the invader was expecting this to happen. Regaining his balance, he used his momentum to bring about a more powerful strike than before, meant to finish off Endern and move on to the next opponent...

As the invader struck, Endern brought his sword up to deflect the strike. However, the added weight of the superior weapon simply snapped Endern's blade cleanly into two... the duel is decided.

Before the invader finished him off, Endern shot a question - Who forged your sword ?

The reply - I made it myself. I made it specifically to break what inferior weapons the world has comfortably offered your pathetic army.

The killing blow came...

...But was stopped in a resounding clash...


Soldier Selven - One who believes in forging a bond with what he has.

After completing the course of metal-working, Selven immediately set upon the task of forging his own weapons from the metal brought in by the instructors.

Spending several months in the forge, the soldier finally completed not own his weapon, but a complete suit of armour as well. Taking pride at his work, he made gave a prayer of thanks to God for blessing him with such knowledge for self-improvement.

Before the battle -

Selecting only his personal belongings, Selven immediately marched off to join his company in the defence of his country.

During the clash -

Wave after wave of invaders came crashing upon the human wall which is Selven's company. As the line wavered and broke into a series of skirmishes, Selven found an invader with a deadly axe charging his way.

Knowing that it is madness to use a sword to parry an axe, Selven threw his shield up, trusting in its strength to deflect the blow.

The axe came down, and away, as it bounced off the heavy shield. Taking the chance, Selven struck at his attacker, swiftly ending the duel.

By the side, a fellow soldier is being hard pressed by his opponent.

As the invader stood to land the finishing blow, Selven's outstretched sword caught the strike in mid-swing. Jumping from the unexpected arrival, the invader faced Selven and struck.

However, Selven was ready. He swung his blade with similar ferocity, and their swords met each other in a bonebreaking clash...

Selven dropped his sword, arm aching from the ferocity of the strike. Looking at his opponent, he realised that he has won the skirmish.

His opponent's sword was shattered... not just broken, but shattered into a thousand pieces... all because of a difference in quality...



Okay, well, i guess that the message was pretty clear eh.

Whose strength are you using ?

Endern's Path - Your own strength with what the world has given you ?
Selven's Path - Accepting hardship in order to break convention with the world ?

Endern chose to stick with his daily routine, swinging swords and laying by the side. Sure, that maybe easy, hes been doing that for years that it has become a habit.

Selven chose to change, seeking ways to improve his resources to engage in a war. Its not easy straying from your routine to do something hard and tiring, but he took the step.

The scenario in our lives is this - Which soldier are we? That when our minds and bodies come under spiritual attack, whose path have we taken?

Will our defences crumble just like the Walls of Jericho ? Or will we stand strong against the forces of darkness, just like Israel stood strong against the Arabs ?

Will we take the step to break our worldly routines ? To take the step to absorb what oppurtunities the Lord has given us in order to further prepare ourselves for the End Times ?

When exams are over, when holidays and free time is abundant, comes a new danger, of over-indulgence in the time which was given to us. Will the time we had set for the Lord be overcome by our worldly desires ? Or, will we be able to maintain what we have forged with the Lord during our Times of Troubles ?

It is hard for me. Even now, it is hard to take myself away from what i can be doing for self-interests. And i believe that faced with the same situation with each person's different desires, it will be hard as well. With many distractions in this world that we live in, its no wonder why the only time when i can take a proper breather is during the standard 5-6 hours every sunday as well as when i gathered enough strength to counter what distractions the devil has planted in me.

Hmm, its late, but as an ending note, i pray that, should the above scenario be brought to life, we all will be able to stay strong with God's strength.

Be strong, the final wave has yet to come.

In His Love

Dino