Table of Contents
Theater
Traveler and Cain were outside a large building. Come on inside said Cain. It looked like a theater. There was a stage with lights and curtains. The actors were performing a frivolous, irreverend, sketch. The audience was laughing at the performance. In a dark side room there was a big screen, where scenes of violence and immorality were projected. The viewers looked like they were hypnotized by the flickering light and the images. Traveler said: by beholding you are changed. Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Acting in the Church
They went behind the stage. There was a door. A sign said: Do not enter. Traveler opened the door and they went inside. It was the front of a church. There was a baptistry and a pulpit. The stage had been built up in front of it, so it could not be seen. There was a large Bible open on the communion table. Three verses were underlined. Traveler read:Isa 59:1-3 “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.”As they came back out the door they saw again the mockery that was taking place, so that the building could not even be recognized to be a church.
Cleansing of the Church
Suddenly a voice was heard: “take these things hence”. Immediately a large crew of men marched in, starting to take the stage apart. One of the actors fell as they were taking apart the stage. Why are you doing this? he said. The Bible doesn’t say acting is wrong. Traveler answered: In the Bible Jesus does speak about actors. The Greek word for actor is hupokrites. In most translations it is rendered hypocrite. The things he has to say about them are not good. Through your acting you are lying about God. We might speak a few white lies, said the actor. It doesn’t seem like a big deal. Traveler: The Jews brought false witnesses against Jesus. Their lies nailed Him to the cross. So it is also today. Many Christians claim to keep the 10 Commandments, but in reality they don’t care about God’s law. They are actors. They are hypocrites. When they preach God’s word it has no benefit, it is worse than useless. Truth is mixed with lies and a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
Resistance to the Cleansing
At this time Cain shouted to the leader of the crew, who was on the stage, dismantling it. Please stop this. Come down so we can talk about this. The man said: I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? Neh 6:3 The big screen was very heavy, but the men were strong enough to carry it out. Cain cried softly. The stage and the theater equipment was piled up outside and burned. Cain was now sobbing. When all was removed, the pulpit and baptistry could again be seen. More seating was brought in, where the stage had been. With all the acting, the fact that this was a church, had been forgotten.
Repentance
A preacher took the open Bible and entered the pulpit. Some of the actors had left to find another theater, but many remained. Now they sat down to listen to the preacher. He read in their hearing. Isa 59:12-17 “For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.”
The preacher said: Repent of your sins and be baptized. Stop the acting. Stop the hypocrisy. Stop speaking lies. Stop trampling God’s laws underfoot. Stop shedding blood. Serve the Lord in Spirit and in truth. Jesus is about to return. He needs workers to bring in the harvest. Many were touched by the message. They vowed they would give up the life of acting. They burned their masks and costumes. They entered into the water and were baptized and they rose to new life, speaking the truth about God. The preacher closed the service, reading from the text: Isa 59:20-21 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever. Isa 60:1-2 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
