The Adventure of the Forest of Burdens
It all begins with an idea.
Weekly Reading: Sir Knight of the Splendid Way Chapter Ten
A dark and distressing forest stands between our hero knight and the marvelous City beyond. Here he meets an aged man, bowed under a burden he can hardly carry. He tells sir Constant the reason.
“All who dwell in this Forest, and they are many, must pay a tribute to their lord, Sir Justus…This is the law of the Forest of Burdens: and there is none that may escape it… the way is heavy, and the burden more than I can bear. Yet bear it I must, for it is the law.”
A choice is set before Sir Constant: continue on the path of protection and hope or join an afflicted burden-bearer that could require uncalculable costs.
Sir Constant, with a heart to hear the quiet voice of his King, could not let this suffering soul pass by without offering aid.
“I must share his burden with him…I must aid him, even if I never reach the City Royal.”
Oh, to have a love that loses sight of oneself!
To the man’s surprise, the kind knight not only relieves his burden, but in doing so, he takes on himself the thorns and briers that wound his exposed hands and brow. The pain is great, but for the sake of the one whose burden he carries, he does not utter a word of complaint (see Isaiah 53:7). His actions reflect the words of the King,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Finally, through much toil and anguish, the old man and the seasoned knight arrive at a grim and foreboding fortress whose lord is called Sir Justus.
Here Sir Justus has full right to demand a toll from the dwellers in the Forest of Burdens. Each must pay his way. Yet, as Sir Justus reveals,
“There is one law greater than the law of the Forest, and that is the law of the Pierced Hands and Feet and the Bleeding Brows.”
This New law, established by the sufferings of the King Himself, has paid the toll for all who come by that way, and has conquered the Old law of the Forest, under which no man can stand. Like the King, Sir Constant now bears similar marks of suffering. Throughout his journey he was able to bear the burden of others and by doing so, he fulfilled the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).
Upon seeing the sacrifice of the servant of the King, the work of love began to break the burden of the law.
“Long [the old man] gazed at those wounds, and suddenly he broke into tears, and gently kissed the marks, and cried, ‘These wounds were for me!’ Then he stood before the Emblem of the gallant shield, and said, ‘This is the Sign of the King who sent thee. By thy deed, I know that He is love, despite the pain and mystery of this Forest. So let me be His man forever!’…The sight of those wounds had touched his heart as nothing else had touched it through all the days of his life.”
It is this love that lifts those burdened by the law of sin and death. This love is shown in the wounds of a King who humbled himself unto death, even the death of a cross (see Philippians 2:8). It is shown in the one who would lay down his life for his friends (see John 15:13).
Finally, our hero reaches the City of his youth’s desire. What a welcoming surprise he receives! He was not weary in well doing; for so an entrance was added to him abundantly in the everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (I Corinthians 15:58).
He was finally home.
“Come,” said the Voice. “You have fought a good fight, you have finished your course, you have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for you a crown of righteousness, which my Father Himself shall give you. Come, He has been waiting for you.”
Memory Verse: Galatians 6:2
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Sir Knight of the Splendid Way
Deep into the Vale of Promise ventures Sir Constant, a young knight who desires nothing more than to be in the service of the Great King. Though unworthy of this high calling, he sets forth on the Splendid Way—the perilous road that all who desire to serve the King must take. His faith and valor will be tested, his strength and endurance will be challenged, and his allegiance to the one true King will be proven. A rich allegory wrought with biblical truth.
The Adventure of the Flowers Immortal
It all begins with an idea.
Weekly Reading: Sir Knight of the Splendid Way Chapter Nine
“It was a full noble deed,” said Sir Constant, “yet none saw it who would reward her. It was as water cast out upon the desert sands, and she who loves her neighbours is left unblest while the hard hearts ride by in pomp and power. So as I came, I grieved that so much of love should go unregarded.”
Burdened by a shadow of that which he understands not, Sir Constant wonders,
“Why do the good and loving go unrewarded, while the wicked prosper?”
Then he witnesses a scene that shows him the beauty of a life lived under the influence of the King’s love.
An old woman hobbles on her staff with disbelief in her aged eyes. A garden, whose loveliness cannot be compared with anything on the earth, spans before her. In all directions, pure white flowers reflect the glory of the Gardener, filling the air with a fragrance like nothing she’s ever smelled. She should not be here—no, no—an old, useless cripple like herself surely does not belong in a place of such beauty.
From the path beyond emerges a man dressed in white, his countenance as pure and simple as light. It is the Gardener.
She stops, afraid that if He sees her, she may have to leave this beautiful place. But he meets her with a smile, and her fears pass away. Then, in tones of great tenderness he tells her a story. It is a story of hardship, sacrifice, weakness, and above all, love. Could it be that this was her story? Who was she, that the King was mindful of her?
With tears in her eyes, the Gardener leads her to patch of ground filled with the most beautiful and precious flowers in the King’s garden—and they are all hers! Too overwhelmed to pick them herself, the Gardener picks three flowers from the ground and adorns his humble servant with their beauty, changing her failing body into immortal youth, her filthy rags into the purest white, and enduing her dimming eyes with the light of heaven, which for so many years was masked behind her weak humanity.
Though weak and poor in the flesh, she was great in love; and that love, which never goes unnoticed, would not go unrewarded.
“The King knew His servant, and each precious deed of hers was a seed for a certain garden which He loved well… they immediately sprang up, Flowers Immortal, fairest of all the King’s flowers… So as the years sped on, she planted in the King’s garden a wealth of star-lilies, filling with joy the heart of the Gardener.”
Sir Constant beheld this scene with great wonder and a renewed joy. Surely, “the memory of the righteous is a blessing” (Proverbs 10:7a).
Dear knight, though all your good works may seem like “water cast out upon the desert sands,” Jesus tells us that if we abide in Him, and He in us, our fruit will remain (see John 15). Though sometimes you may feel like your righteousness is all for naught, our Father, who sees in secret, will Himself reward you openly (see Matthew 6:4). And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up (see Galatians 6:9).
Covered in the King’s love, our good deeds become fragrant flowers in His garden that will never die. So do not lose heart in working for your master, though it seems like so little you can do—nothing is too small to escape His notice.
One day, may the King himself grant us to see the fruit of our labors, and may our lives bring joy to our King with the fragrance of a life consecrated to Him.
“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession,
and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere” (2 Cor. 2:14).
Memory Verse: Galatians 6:9
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Sir Knight of the Splendid Way
Deep into the Vale of Promise ventures Sir Constant, a young knight who desires nothing more than to be in the service of the Great King. Though unworthy of this high calling, he sets forth on the Splendid Way—the perilous road that all who desire to serve the King must take. His faith and valor will be tested, his strength and endurance will be challenged, and his allegiance to the one true King will be proven. A rich allegory wrought with biblical truth.
The Adventure of the Grey Questioner
It all begins with an idea.
Weekly Reading: Sir Knight of the Splendid Way Chapter Eight
No more does Sir Constant seem to have the grand and dramatic battles that he encountered when he was young. The obstacles along the way however, are no less perilous. Nay, as Sir Constant continues his travels on the weary way, his trials become more subtle, unnoticeable, and almost imperceptible in their deceitfulness, and even more consequential in their danger.
Lonely and needing a friend, Sir Constant is greeted by a grey-clad man, known as the Grey Questioner. His words are full of kindness and pity. They touch the heart of our lonely knight.
During this time of weary travel, questions arise in Sir Constant’s heart. They are honest questions, but questions that arise from a weakened faith. It is at this juncture that Sir Knight will meet one of his greatest opponents. But not an opponent of might and sword but an opponent of distraction and doubt.
His words are masked in a veil of kindness and pity, but his attitude on life is manifested in his colorless apparel—no beauty is seen in his life, no joy, no hope. Only questions and confusion. His questions serve to solidify the small doubts that have already crept into Sir Constant’s tired mind. What if those long distant hills were only the passing fancy of a young and passionate heart?
“Could it be that the Vision was but a vision, and the glory of the Face but a reflection of the ardent hopes of youth?”
The Grey Questioner deceives under the guise of a “seeker of truth.” His subtle nudges to be “open-minded” may seem beneficial, but only leave Sir Constant with uncertainties; uncertainties that lead to backsliding and betrayal.
The Questioner’s words disorient; his promise of peace, is unobtainable; but the way of the King, who is not the author of confusion, but of peace, is marked clearly for all to follow (see 1 Cor. 14:33). Beloved knight of the King, remember, “do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).
The only way to escape such Grey Questioners is to keep our armor on at all times, and to look to Jesus who dispels the darkness in the mists of doubt. Flee also youthful lusts oh knight, but follow righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes (2 Tim. 2:22, 23). “Let no man deceive you with vain words” (Eph. 5:6).
Like Sir Constant, when we lift our eyes, if even for a moment, the storm will begin to still and the great name of the King becomes our guiding light; then all the doubts, weariness, and lies of the enemy will begin to fade away like the morning mist on a sunny day.
Many are the deceivers in this world, and varied are their disguises; but our help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth (see Psalm 121). Many are the afflictions of the righteous, and many are the dangers and snares that lay along their path, but the Lord delivers him out of them all (see Psalm 34:19)!
Know that if you stumble, as Sir Constant does, the King’s love overcomes all, and no one shall be able to snatch you out of His hand (see John 10:28).
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
He made the storm be still,
and the waves of the sea were hushed.
Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
and he brought them to their desired haven.
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of men!
~Psalm 107:28-31
Memory Verse: Psalm 34:19
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.”
Sir Knight of the Splendid Way
Deep into the Vale of Promise ventures Sir Constant, a young knight who desires nothing more than to be in the service of the Great King. Though unworthy of this high calling, he sets forth on the Splendid Way—the perilous road that all who desire to serve the King must take. His faith and valor will be tested, his strength and endurance will be challenged, and his allegiance to the one true King will be proven. A rich allegory wrought with biblical truth.
The Adventure of the Nameless Knight
It all begins with an idea.
Weekly Reading: Sir Knight of the Splendid Way Chapter Seven
Once, in a distant land, there stood a lonely outpost nestled in the hills, far from the sun’s warmth and the roads where knights rode to glory. Here, an old Keeper, known as the Keeper of the Well, tended his post. Faithfully, he watched over the water that sustained weary travelers. He had not always been old. Once, he had been a young man, eager-hearted and full of dreams, burning with the desire to serve his King in mighty ways. But on his journey, he had come across one of the King’s wells, left untended, its life-giving water at risk of being tainted and lost.
He would take up watch here until someone else came to do so. Surely, a warden would be sent soon, he thought. Surely, his duty here would be temporary. But as summers turned to winters and winters melted into spring, no warden ever came. He watched as others passed by on great quests, marching toward battles, fulfilling noble missions. The call to adventure never came for him, though he longed to unsheathe his sword in the name of the King! Though lonely, not once did he abandon his post. Not once did he leave the well unguarded.
One day, Sir Constant, the hero of our story, arrived at the outpost, weary from his own journey. He paused to drink from the well, served by the Keeper’s weathered hands and open heart. As he rested, he watched the old man and marveled at the dedication and joy he took in such a humble task—offering nothing more than a cup of cold water, always with the same blessing: “Drink in the King’s Name!”
Sir Constant could not help but wonder why the King had never called the Keeper to a greater purpose. Surely one so faithful could have been a noble knight, leading charges and fighting battles. Yet as he considered this, a thought struck him: Was this man’s cry—“In the King’s Name!”—so different from the battle cry of a knight in the heat of combat? Both were acts of service. Both required unwavering devotion.
Years had already passed, and the Keeper had grown weaker, his steps slower. On what would be his final day, he still made his way to the well, leaning on a staff for support. That afternoon, a Shepherd arrived and sat with him and Sir Constant, telling stories of the valley below—the Place of Fair Waters. He spoke of how the river running through it was so pure and noble that one could see the King’s reflection smiling upon its surface.
The Keeper listened with quiet wonder. This land had once been barren, and having never left his post, he did not know what had become of it. But now, at the end of his life, he learned that the waters he guarded all those years had flowed beyond his sight, transforming the valley into something beautiful. His faithfulness, though unseen and uncelebrated, had not been wasted.
Then the Shepherd revealed something more: the Keeper’s name had never been recorded. It was not necessary, for all who drank from the well, remembered only the King. At this, the old man smiled and said,
“And that is enough… it is ten thousand times more than enough.”
Many long for great callings, for grand purposes that will make a mark on the world. It is easy to wonder why some dreams remain unfulfilled, why certain paths seem closed while others are opened. Yet in the quiet places, in the unseen acts of faithfulness, the King is watching.
In the final moments of this chapter, the King’s voice speaks at last:
“Never for an hour wast thou forgotten, for I came often to see him who kept the well… For the King forgets none who are faithful.”
This story lingers in the mind, a reminder that no service is small when done in the King’s name. Some are called to battle, some to adventure, and some to a quiet outpost, where the work seems unseen and forgotten. But the King sees. He never forgets. And one day, every faithful servant will understand just how much their quiet obedience has meant—because when you have given a drink to the thirsty, you have quenched the thirst of the King.
“And the King shall answer and say unto them, ‘Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.’” (Matthew 25:40).
Memory Verse(s): Matthew 10:42
“And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.”
Sir Knight of the Splendid Way
Deep into the Vale of Promise ventures Sir Constant, a young knight who desires nothing more than to be in the service of the Great King. Though unworthy of this high calling, he sets forth on the Splendid Way—the perilous road that all who desire to serve the King must take. His faith and valor will be tested, his strength and endurance will be challenged, and his allegiance to the one true King will be proven. A rich allegory wrought with biblical truth.
The Adventure of the Pass of Tears
It all begins with an idea.
Weekly Reading: Sir Knight of the Splendid Way Chapter Six
Dear knight, we’ve come to a place in our story where every true follower of the King must travel—through the Pass of Tears. This is a place where even the most promising of knights have fallen by the way.
What lessons can we glean from a place with a title so unpalatable to our ears and a theme so distasteful to our hearts? They are the lessons of Suffering and Pain; Hopelessness and Despair. Who delights to read of these subjects or takes heart in the lessons they teach? Let us read on.
Sir Constant has already faced many great perils, conquered many deadly foes, and even faced the silent horseman. But the Pass of Tears poses a new and deadlier threat. It is here the greatest danger lies, in this land where darkness and despair cause those who dwell there to forget and forsake all—even their King.
“If the King had Lordship here, could the loss and terror of the Pass go on forever? Nay, there is no King, there is no Warden, and the story is but a story!” says his despondent companion.
And our young knight is not exempt from these same doubts. When two mysterious sisters come, shrouded in mist and darkness, one touches his heart, leaving his senses deadened and his courage crumbled to pieces. Just one touch and his steadfast heart is tempted, if even for a moment, to believe that it’s all just a lie.
“Nay!” said his quivering heart, “if there were a Great King, this evil could not be!”
Have you ever been here?
Maybe, dear knight, even now you are abiding in the Pass of Tears, and Sorrow and Pain are daily visitors to your door. Maybe you too are tempted to believe your King has abandoned you, or worse, was never real in the first place. Maybe you’ve thought your suffering was a punishment?
This is not so! The King Himself has trodden through the Pass of Tears and has felt the touch of Sorrow and Pain. As Sir Knight gazed upon the noble appearance of the Warden, he noticed the scars upon his brows.
“These are the scars of ancient thorns, and they shall never pass away: for they are a sign to all mankind that the Warden himself has faced the direful peril of the Pass of Tears and knows the utmost of its power.”
Look up faithful knight…“weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5b). “Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness” (Psalm 30:11). Take heart my friends, even the veiled sisters of suffering, pain, hopelessness, and despair are under the King’s command, and they cannot go beyond what he allows.
Why the suffering? Because the Pass of Tears is the teacher of advancement. It is there that our character is formed, our hope is revived, and where we experience the deepest love (Romans 5:3-5).
Perhaps you have never travelled through the Pass of Tears or had your heart touched by Sorrow and Pain. Know that your time will come, as it must to every true servant of the King. But you need not be unprepared. Learn how to wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, hold fast to the shield of faith, and wear the breastplate of righteousness firmly over your heart (Ephesians 6).
And finally my brothers and sisters of the Splendid Way, remember that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought unto the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4, 5). When we do this, the sinister sisters of Sorrow and Pain will have no power to make us despair.
So look up dear knight. Like Sir Constant, may we also look to our King, “the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds” (Hebrews 12:2, 3).
Memory Verse(s): Hebrews 1:1-2
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Sir Knight of the Splendid Way
Deep into the Vale of Promise ventures Sir Constant, a young knight who desires nothing more than to be in the service of the Great King. Though unworthy of this high calling, he sets forth on the Splendid Way—the perilous road that all who desire to serve the King must take. His faith and valor will be tested, his strength and endurance will be challenged, and his allegiance to the one true King will be proven. A rich allegory wrought with biblical truth.
The Adventure of the Silent Horseman
It all begins with an idea.
Weekly Reading: Sir Knight of the Splendid Way Chapter Five
The journey was long, the battle perilous. A moment of respite was all they required. Sweat caked their foreheads, and dirt stained their cheeks. Mist shrouded their steps, hiding the path and planting doubt…would the journey ever end?
But then from the darkness, hope arose—a homely cottage appointed by the King to provide comfort in the midst of that darkened land. Sir Constant and Sir Valoris ran to the entrance of the cottage, the fragrance of flowers greeting them. Stepping inside, the knights found friendship, warmth and respite. Yet the darkness faded not away.
That night, Sir Valoris faded into a deep sleep. Yet sleep eluded his young companion. A heaviness seemed to hang over Sir Constant’s soul. A mist of unknown fears filled his heart. He reached for his sword, determined to remain vigilant for the remainder of the night. Night waned slowly and still Sir Constant’s heart felt heavy and uncertain. All at once, a figure emerged from the darkness. A horseman shielded by night, leading another horse by the bridle.
“Who are you?” Constant asked. Yet nought but silence greeted him. “Have you come for me?” he dared to ask.
The soft night breeze brushed past Constant’s cheek, yet not a hair stirred upon the horse or his rider. Without hesitation, Sir Constant unsheathed his sword. To what end did the horseman seek? Fear clutched his heart. He had heard of the silent horseman. Those whom he summoned never returned. The unmounted horse awaited a rider. Had it come for him? Before Constant could put his thoughts into words, Sir Valoris awoke. Stepping from a peaceful dream into the reality of encroaching night, the feeble knight merely smiled at the horseman and his young friend.
“Shrouded he is in darkness, yet it may be that this is but the darkness of our own fears, and the darkness of the mists of our journey. For surely it cannot be darkness if it comes from the King.”
Dear reader, I shall pause here for a moment. Does this story sound familiar? Does it stir within your heart an all-too familiar fear? The silent horseman comes at an hour which we do not know, beckoning faithful knights to journey to that land where there is no sorrow, no tears, no pain. Yet we must be ready to accept that which is from above. We must learn to let loved ones go and be ready ourselves when he calls. Are you afraid of death? Remember that we who are God’s children can be of good courage because we know that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2nd Corinthians 5:8). Your King loves you more than you could ever imagine, and death is only a door to the wonders and joys of a new life.
What becomes of our noble knights? For whom does the horseman come? Let us return to our story…
Sir Valoris responded not to his young companion’s doubt. Fearlessly, he stepped forward to the silent horseman.
“If you are a messenger from the King, reveal yourself to me.”
The silent horseman drew back his helmet for one long moment. Just a moment it was, but that was all Sir Valoris needed to assuage his remnant of doubt. Constant stood, immobile in the shadows. Valoris turned to face the lad; peace imprinted upon his countenance.
“This is where we part,” spoke Valoris. “Your path lies through the valley below. Mine is in the heavenly mists.”
“I shall not allow it.”
“It is not your decision to make. I have been summoned by the King.”
“When shall I see you again?” Constant began to say—but alas! The words were never to leave his lips. Without a sound, Sir Valoris slowly mounted the led horse beside the silent horseman and slipped into the mist, never to be seen along the path again.
Realization dawned and sorrow enshrouded the heart of Sir Constant, the gallant young knight. The paths of the two knights would forever be separated this side of the journey. A solitary path now lay before him. Drawing his shield close to him, Sir Constant allowed his tears to fall freely.
“One day I shall meet you there, Valoris. One day I shall come.”
All at once, a marvelous thing happened. Behind Sir Constant a glimmer of light highlighted the horizon. Blinking the tears from his eyes, Constant raised his gaze heavenward. A cascade of colour rippled across the sky, dispelling the mist and bringing a strange new beauty to the darkened valley below. A sudden peace and tranquility lit up that lonely path.
Constant sheathed his sword and dropped to his knees. He tried to bring himself to speak, but his lips could not move. Speechless, overwhelmed, yet comforted in a quiet sort of way, he offered up a prayer deep within his heart and remembered the ancient words:
“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?... But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
Memory Verse: Psalm 27:4
"One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life.”
Sir Knight of the Splendid Way
Deep into the Vale of Promise ventures Sir Constant, a young knight who desires nothing more than to be in the service of the Great King. Though unworthy of this high calling, he sets forth on the Splendid Way—the perilous road that all who desire to serve the King must take. His faith and valor will be tested, his strength and endurance will be challenged, and his allegiance to the one true King will be proven. A rich allegory wrought with biblical truth.
The Adventure of the Wood of the Beasts
It all begins with an idea.
Weekly Reading: Sir Knight of the Splendid Way Chapter Four
Sir Constant has traveled far already, but many great dangers he still must face along the perilous, yet Splendid Way. In a cheerless land, Sir Constant finally comes to the Hall of the Glowing Heart in the Valley of Toil, a place of warm welcome and rest. How could anyone help but be be joyful in this place of rest?
Still basking in the joy of his recent defeat of the Black Knight, Sir Constant’s joy is unbounded, and what’s more, tonight he has the honor of sitting in the company of two of the most highly esteemed knights of the King, Sir Valoris and Sir Felix of the Clean Heart. But for a knight of the Splendid Way, there is always a battle to face, and, “before the evening was past, his joy was over-clouded, and peril lay about his path once more.”
And it all begins with a whisper.
…there came to his ear a whisper, gentle and low, but deadly clear. “Some good knights come by great honours with wondrous ease”…and thereafter the feast was tainted with bitterness.
As Sir Constant hears these words and beholds Sir Felix’s pure countenance, his own countenance grows darker (and greener) as his heart is overcome by a gnawing enemy whose name may be familiar to you—Envy.
This is the subtleness of envious and bitter thoughts that can so quickly overtake our minds. For Sir Constant, it is a bitterness so controlling that he cannot bear to face the knights that he had so recently admired and esteemed. With a burdened heart, he isolates himself, leaving himself completely open to the enemy’s attacks. Even worse, he allows the enemy to continue to whisper against his fellow knights, “…for this evil talk found some echo in his own heart.”
Just the smallest whisper changed the entire course of Sir Constant’s path and left scars that would last the rest of his pilgrimage. This small, whispered thought blinded his eyes to the peril before him and clouded his judgment. In our own pilgrimage, we must remember that it is “the little foxes, that spoil the vines” (Song of Solomon 2:15). The little thoughts, the little lies, the little whispers of jealousy can set the trajectory for our lives.
Dear knight, do not let the subtle whispers of the enemy make you want what God did not intend for you. Do you not believe that if God wills to honor you, then honor you He will? But don’t grasp after what has been given to another, whether it’s their looks, their personality, the favor they receive from others, or how they seem to be good at everything. Nor should you shrink from the particular trials that God has given you and desire the trials of another. God knows exactly what is needed to shape you into the vessel of honor that will make you most useable (see Ephesians 2:10).
As the wise Sir Valoris counseled the young knights:
“His battle is not thy battle, and thy place is not his place…Nor shall each wonder at the other, or desire the other’s place, but do his own part faithfully and well, waiting the King’s good time.”
So catch those “little foxes” before they destroy your contentment and the fellowship you have with others. With Jesus’ help, try to redirect those envious or bitter thoughts as soon as they enter your mind, and fight them the same way that Jesus fought the Tempter—with the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God! Remember Christian, He will keep you in perfect peace if your mind is stayed on Him (see Isaiah 26:3), and “No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).
Now go with the shield of faith and the Sword of the Spirit as you faithfully obey the orders of your King!
~Your Friends at Lamplighter Ministries
Memory Verse: Psalm 84:11
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
Sir Knight of the Splendid Way
Deep into the Vale of Promise ventures Sir Constant, a young knight who desires nothing more than to be in the service of the Great King. Though unworthy of this high calling, he sets forth on the Splendid Way—the perilous road that all who desire to serve the King must take. His faith and valor will be tested, his strength and endurance will be challenged, and his allegiance to the one true King will be proven. A rich allegory wrought with biblical truth.
The Adventure of the Lost Sir Ardent
It all begins with an idea.
Weekly Reading: Sir Knight of the Splendid Way Chapter Three
The battle was hard, the memory fading dim. Sir Constant dragged his feet, not able to remember the last time he had rested without fear for his life. A fog seemed to shroud the path all around him. He placed one foot in front of the other, blindly walking onwards.
As he traversed the weary path, a city seemed to emerge from amongst the shroud. The scent of flowers wafted in the air, silver glittered imperceptibly, and the distant sound of laughter tickled the young knight’s ears. Sir Constant quickened his step, hardly daring to believe his own senses. Lovely it seemed, indeed, to the poor knight. His mind filled with one thought: rest. Sweet rest.
His mouth watered, his eyes strained to catch a glimpse of the city, and his foot stumbled on an unnoticed stone. Sir Constant fell to his knees, disoriented, his shield clattering to the ground. Startled by the sound, he blinked once, twice, three times in an attempt to clear his mind. A sudden fog seemed to take hold of him. He groped about for his shield. Drawing it to himself, Constant rested his head upon that emblem for a weary moment, unbidden tears stinging his eyes. A deadly question creeped into his mind—
“Will the battle ever end?”
He sighed deeply. All at once, a sign arose before him. Shimmering golden letters displayed—The City of Good Intent.
A great temptation lay before the knight: to step inside and claim rest for but a moment, or continue on his way. As he pondered what to do, an old man appeared and rang a bell. Sharp and loud was that bell—driving away any remnant of mist and fatigue from Sir Constant’s mind. Rising to his feet, the noble knight unsheathed his sword and approached the city. Duty, the faithful bell-ringer, spoke with caution and force. This was not a place of rest, but one of deadly peril. Many knights had fallen in the magical City of Good Intent. Sir Constant prepared to flee, but Duty had another plan in mind.
Within the city dwelt a fallen knight—Sir Ardent. Sir Constant might be able to break the spell that entrapped the knight, if he were willing. But it would require much fortitude and strength of mind. Sir Constant accepted the charge, and, thus bequeathed with a quest of love, he stepped inside the City of Good Intent. But a word of admonishment followed him inside: to—“keep his sword drawn. It hath another use than warfare. Some may see it and remember.”
Peace was written upon the brows of those in that glorious city, but it was one of falsity. Beautiful dwellings destined to crumble and fall. Wondrous beauty and glorious visions—yet they too were doomed to fade away. Sir Constant held his sword at the ready.
Led to a luxurious garden bursting with flowers of all color, texture, and variety, Sir Constant spotted his fallen comrade. Filled with passion, Sir Constant commanded the knight to “awake and arise!”
A dreamy smile was all the response he received.
Duty spoke, low and clear to Sir Constant—“bitterness is of no avail. If he may be reached at all it will be by another road.”
Thus admonished, Sir Constant fell to his knees, resting upon the hilt of his sword. Realizing that bitter words would not awaken Sir Ardent’s drowsy spirit, he remembered the ancient words, “In gentleness, he has made me great.” Taking his comrade’s hands in his own he told a story that began to awaken long-forgotten memories, remembrances of an unfathomable love and a battle yet to be won.
The scales seemed to fall off Sir Ardent’s eyes at these words. Regret and despair filled his soul as he saw the city for what it was—The City Dangerous. As the old knight’s conscience began to revive, Sir Constant heard the command, “You must flee, at once!”
Once awakened, it was too easy to fall back into despair and regret. There was no time to lose—onward and upward! Sir Constant helped the fallen knight to his feet. Sir Ardent sought for his armour, rusted and discolored as they were, and donned them as fast as he could. Tears soaked his cheeks as Sir Constant helped him prepare to depart. But those tears were the very agent that began to melt away the dross and rust.
Urged on by Duty, the two left the city far behind them, a testament of brokenness and redemption to all who still dwelt in that city; forgotten memories waiting to be rekindled.
“And thereafter, it is said, others were awakened, and presently armed themselves also and pursued their journey. For the good knight who does a stout deed makes the whole world his debtor.”
“Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light,” (Ephesians 5:14).
Your Friends at Lamplighter Ministries
Memory Verse: 1st Corinthians 16:13
“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.”
Sir Knight of the Splendid Way
Deep into the Vale of Promise ventures Sir Constant, a young knight who desires nothing more than to be in the service of the Great King. Though unworthy of this high calling, he sets forth on the Splendid Way—the perilous road that all who desire to serve the King must take. His faith and valor will be tested, his strength and endurance will be challenged, and his allegiance to the one true King will be proven. A rich allegory wrought with biblical truth.
The Adventure of the False Sir Joyous
It all begins with an idea.
Weekly Reading: Sir Knight of the Splendid Way Chapter Two
A humble Carpenter, in dress and countenance, meets Sir Constant on the road. His bearing is both gentle and genteel, and he is clothed with grace and dignity. He travels side by side with the young knight, like Jesus and His disciples on the road to Emmaus, blessing his ears with words that cause his eager heart to burn with greater zeal for the cause of the King.
Little does the young knight know that a beguiling temptation will soon turn a pleasant journey into a night of the deepest danger. This temptation comes in one of its most subtle forms: pleasure.
A sumptuously dressed, and fair-tongued knight enters the scene.
Sir Joyous, for that is his name, seems to be the real deal. He certainly talks like it, and even more convincingly, there are many other followers of the King abiding in his marble palace. Why, it must be a safe place if other knights are lodging there! Here, the richly dressed knight promises rest and pleasure, which are both good and godly things when enjoyed in their proper time. All seems well, but there is a discordant unrest in Sir Constant’s soul.
As Sir Constant observes the beauty and pleasure that surrounds him, he begins to see through the façade. There is an appearance of godliness, but no power (See 2 Timothy 3:1-5) within. As Sir Constant explores the palace, he notices the Great Book with the emblem of the King! Perhaps this is a place of rest and pleasure. What could possibly be wrong when guided by the Book of the King? Upon closer examination, Sir Constant turns the pages of the book only to find to his shock and dismay that the Book has been altered. Most of the pages of warning and instruction are missing.
Quickly, removing his sword from his sheath, Sir Constant is prepared for the battle, a battle for his life, he is about to encounter!
So my friends, how does a knight in the service of the King escape such a deadly and subtle foe? Let’s observe the actions of our young protagonist.
Sir Constant remained soberminded and watchful. Although he fell into the trap of Sir Joyous, he did not completely let down his guard.
“Through all the feasting he had kept himself sober and vigilant, as became a knight of the Splendid Way (See 1 Peter 5:8); but he had seen others of the same Service strangely heedless, as though no journey lay beyond the gates, no battles to fight, no wrongs to meet and conquer.”
As Sir Constant observed, his comrades were completely anesthetized to the dangers before them. And that is what pleasure will do—it disarms and destroys without resistance or defense.
Secondly, he knew the words of His King. When it came to investigating Sir Joyous’ Palace of Pleasures, Sir Constant knew the words of his King well enough that he could see right away that the book so highly esteemed by Sir Joyous was full of falsehood, laced with lies, and deleteriously lacking the complete truth.
“Of these things he had made a world that Sir Constant knew not at all, a world that had no love but the love of ease and power.”
And, when Sir Constant knew that he was walking in a dangerous situation he took quick action to fight his way out—immediately! May our cry be like that of Sir Constant, “I will not yield even though I be slain.”
“So it was that when he set out he looked not at all to the palace of marble that lay in the park behind, but turned his face steadfastly to the road which led to the Valley of Toil and the Pass of Tears.”
Be on your guard, dear Knight, for in this world of vain comforts you will be sore tempted to take your eyes off of your Savior and on to the passing pleasures of this present world. And then, oh so quickly, your once fervent desire to serve and obey the King is choked out by the “cares and riches and pleasures of life” (Luke 8:14). Remember that pleasure before toil, leads to enslavement. Toil before pleasure, leads to enjoyment. In the words of the King, “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is all of man”!
Vocabulary Words
Sumptuously: extremely costly, rich, luxurious, or magnificent
Discordant: being at variance : disagreeing
Façade: a false, superficial, or artificial appearance or effect
Protagonist: the principal character in a literary work (such as a drama or story)
Deleteriously: harmful often in a subtle or unexpected way
Memory Verse: 2 Timothy 3:1-5
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Sir Knight of the Splendid Way
Deep into the Vale of Promise ventures Sir Constant, a young knight who desires nothing more than to be in the service of the Great King. Though unworthy of this high calling, he sets forth on the Splendid Way—the perilous road that all who desire to serve the King must take. His faith and valor will be tested, his strength and endurance will be challenged, and his allegiance to the one true King will be proven. A rich allegory wrought with biblical truth.
The Adventure of the Chapel in the Valley
It all begins with an idea.
Weekly Reading: Sir Knight of the Splendid Way Chapter One
For years, the faithful boy watched knight after knight embark on the Splendid Way, each one’s armor glittering in the bright sun. Before he knew it, a noble desire filled his breast and grew with each passing hour. Dreams of high adventure and noble quests for the Great King filled his thoughts night and day. Yet, he dared not hope that he would ever be able to set out on such an adventure, for he had seen the worth of the King’s knights, and knew it was far beyond his ability.
But the Great King looked not upon the outward appearance. He did not think the boy too young or ill-fitted for such a task. The King was known for using the weak things of the world to baffle the strong. And so, he sent his humble servant, Sir Fortis, to deliver a special message:
“Which of us all is worthy?” [Sir Fortis] said. “Yet who is there that may not be made worthy? I have watched thy longings for many days, and I bid thee fear nothing. It will be my joy to set thee on thy way” (page 10).
Can you imagine the joy that must have filled the young squire’s heart? The Great King called him, lowly as he felt, to set aside his old work of being a squire and become a knight in the army of the King. But first, there was a test that he must pass—a night’s vigil in the Chapel of Voices.
How about you? Do you desire to be called by the King to serve in a special way? Are you passing the tests that he’s placing before you each day? May you be encouraged in knowing this:
“[The Great King] has made everything beautiful in His time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
The Great King is faithful and kind and good. He puts desires into the hearts of his children so that He may fulfill them in His perfect timing, or else replace them with better, kingly desires. We must simply learn the art of obedient surrender. Such is the journey our young squire has set out upon. And what is his reward?
As night fades and morning dawns fresh and clear, a brave voice speaks from the doorway:
“Rise, Sir Knight, for it is morning!”
Can you imagine the thrill in hearing his new name and title? A boy had stepped into the Chapel, but a young man had emerged. A strange new light was upon his countenance. He had seen the King—and that made all the difference.
Questions for Deeper Reflection
1) Why do you think the Splendid Way looked gloomy and foreboding at night but filled with hope and companionship in the day? Do you think the Splendid Way might have both difficult and rewarding times?
2) How did Constant survive his night in the Chapel of Voices?
3) When did Constant become a knight?
Digging Deeper
The following sentence in the story reveals a significant and often overlooked theological truth:
As night fades and morning dawns fresh and clear, a brave voice speaks from the doorway: ‘Rise, Sir Knight, for it is morning,’”
During the first six days of creation, God began each day with the evening. The biblical text reads,
“And evening and morning were the first day.”
Why did God have the day begin with evening. Surely, if you were to go out and randomly ask when each day starts, people would say that the day starts in the morning. But God created the days to start in the evening for a reason. Starting the day with sleeping is a picture of the grave. Each morning that we awaken represents resurrection! God has had mankind practicing the “gospel” since the day he created us!
Memory Verse: Ecclesiastes 3:11a
“He has made everything beautiful in its time.”
Sir Knight of the Splendid Way
Deep into the Vale of Promise ventures Sir Constant, a young knight who desires nothing more than to be in the service of the Great King. Though unworthy of this high calling, he sets forth on the Splendid Way—the perilous road that all who desire to serve the King must take. His faith and valor will be tested, his strength and endurance will be challenged, and his allegiance to the one true King will be proven. A rich allegory wrought with biblical truth.