TANGLED Episode 8

Episode 8.

"You said you heard a footstep or something" Mr. Abbey who has been listening keenly reminded my dad where he stopped.

"Thank you very much. I kept hearing the footsteps for more than two minutes but I still didn't see the person's face. Suddenly, a man appeared wearing a white agbada, his face was looking fresh as well as his skin, he had a staff in his right hand and a handkerchief in his other hand. The moment the man that was hitting me sighted him, he went on his knees and shouted master" my father sighed heavily.

"Master? What kind of master?" My aunty interrupted.

He started by saying he forgave me when I hurt him, even when I hurt him to the point of him regretting he ever called me his own. He added that if he had killed me when I first offended him, then I wouldn't be here.

"The more he talked, the more confused I got because I found it hard to recognize his face or voice, and also I couldn't comprehend what he was talking about" my father continued.

"He said to the unknown man that has beaten me to remove the mask on his face and show himself to me. I wanted to say no because I didn't want to see the face of this wicked and unfair man that has been hitting me mercilessly as if he would beat the life out of me. The master asked him to open his mask and he did, I was shocked when I saw the face" my dad said holding his arms and sighing at every interval.

"Which face? Was it someone you know somewhere? A family member or who?" My aunt asked. It was obvious she was curious. Well, we all were curious.

We couldn't relate to the story yet. We needed him to spill everything.

"I saw myself. I was so shocked and I started shivering on the stool I was sitting. How can I be the one beating myself all this while and I was still calling the unknown man a wicked and an unfair person".  "Does that mean I haven't been fair to myself and that was why I was beating myself?" I thought to myself.

We all were confused too. How can a man beat himself? that wouldn't be anything else but a mystery. We all wanted to know what happened after that and how he got a second chance back at life.

"He said to me that I have been the one beating myself because I've been swimming in the pool of unforgiveness".

Every day we pray to God to forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespassed against us. I had to ask for clarification because I wasn't sure I had anyone I have not forgiven. 

"I'm a child of God and a worker in his vineyard" I added and this made him laugh and clapped. I wondered why he laughed.

"Why did he laugh? Tell us daddy" I interrupted him.

Immediately, his face changed and he stood on his feet from the invisible chair he was sitting on. His eyes became red and the handkerchief in his left hand changed to a white plain book. I was wondering what kind of book it was and what it was used for. 

He asked if I haven't heard or read of a certain man who his master forgave of his debt and even asked him to go home but he met a fellow servant and killed him for owing him less.

"He concluded with what broke my heart more".

"What exactly was that? Tell us please" Mr. Abbey said.

"He said many Christians are just working for God today but doesn't have a walk with God". "They are swimming in the pool of unforgiveness and it's sad that they see nothing wrong with it" he added.

"If he can forgive us of our debts that is way bigger than we can pay, how much more forgiving someone that owes us less" he said with much grieve.

"Many assume they are children of God because of their good deeds, forgetting that it was by Grace they are saved".

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that Grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? The man kept talking and his words kept hitting me so hard but I still couldn't remember anyone that offended me that I refused to forgive.

"He said what led me here was my unforgiving spirit which had led to the accident that happened earlier yesterday. He added that he allowed the accident so as to correct me. He reminded me that every time there was an issue with my wife and I, the first sore point I always remember is the part where she offended me many years ago and I kept on rubbing it on her. I always get very angry whenever I remembered what she has done for me. I have refused to forgive her"

"Don't you know that old things are passed away and everything has become new? Or you don't know that whoever Jesus frees, is free indeed? Why then do you keep counting the sin of the past that Jesus has cleansed?" 

"He said on a final note that my name was found in the book. I shouted and wanted to start dancing that my name was written in the book of life despite my flaws but he said it's not the book of life but the book of works, therefore I should be carried outside where I belong".

"Then it dawned on me. I started begging and asking for mercy to prevail over judgment.  He turned his face away because he heard me talk about mercy".

My dad was in tears. I can't remember ever seeing my dad cry before.

"He gave me a condition and why he will send me back to go and make my ways right," Dad said sobbing

"What's it, we are with you? My uncle asked while my aunty was just crying.

"He said he wants me to go and make my ways right and tell others about how serious unforgiveness can be and then he added that the praises of my daughter to the master was what saved me".

"Immediately he said that, the room became empty, my hands and legs were set loose" 

"It was then that I shouted please Father! I promised to make my ways right and tell everyone about my encounter".

"Is there anyone here who has something against someone? How long have you been keeping that brother or sister in your heart? The Lord is sending me to tell you to release that person".

Everyone started praying and weeping profusely. 

INTERMISSION 

What happened next?

Watch out for it.