CCCC Ember Coals of Thought

To all recipients of the bimonthly publication of the CCCC:

Many thoughts rush to centre mind. Seated in my upper chamber, watching the lonesome fire burn, watching the embers glow in somberness, and my soul takes comfort in their death. Somehow the dying embers give their all in the last moments of their lives to give me some peace and warmth. Relaxation – the soul is in dire need of it. Immortal and mortal alike – we both need rest. I have found my beliefs in question this past week.

An atypical opportunity presented itself last Sunday. I traversed down the dark underground of the CCCC headquarters wherein the chambers of confinement lie. Here, in his cell, rests the Keeper we captured. So, summoning the clarity of mind to converse with the keeper in the flesh, I descended. The Keeper sat ostensibly in a peaceful state, his hands folded, head bowed to the ground. Around him hovered a paranormal ambience, sending glimmers of light through heightened dimensions. This sight delivered astonishment upon my senses as I stared for a moment at this sight of a fellow immortal being. Suddenly, astonishment was broken as the Keeper leveled his gaze at me and we locked eyes. The world between our souls filled with questions, anger, past joy, different things I cannot express in words. It seemed in that solitary moment we conversed without words. Finally, I broke the silence.

“Finally, I have you in my possession. The time for Reckoning of Keepers is drawing near! What have you to say to our actions, kind sir? Do you wish to cry for mercy, or are you quite content in your current habitat?”

“Quite fine, sir. I must contest, though, I am kept from pressing matters that need fulfillment.”

“And what might those be?”

“Many lives of humans have been entrusted to me. I must see to the well-being of the flock.”

“The flock? What ignorance is this? How can you say you work for the ‘well-being’ of anyone? It is you and your fellow brethren who have worked to destroy humanity for millennia!”

“Your predispositions have blinded you. We know no evil…”

“Evil is what guides your every action! Evil handles you as a marionette on the stage of deception, you liar. Evil defines the content of your soul.”

“There is no evil in God. We work…”

“You mean the same being who thwarts humans to his selfish ambitions? I sneer at anyone who would see to the demise of my fellow human friends. You are mistaken, I declare.”

“We work for the one true God. We are his possession, not yours. His rule reigns supreme. This organization will not endure, never if you oppose God. As for the ones He has thwarted, I cannot recall any case except for yours, sir.”

“It may be so that our organization shall end, but not until the demise of the Keepers!”

“Why does this hatred fill your soul against your brothers of the ancient times?”

“Simply because you are the only obstacle standing in my way. I will succeed. I will free Mankind from your grip.”

“Ah, so you are the one with the selfish ambitions.”

“What do you blabber? No, you wish to undermine humanity to ‘fulfill’ God’s purposes.”

“Never. God is love. He reaches out to humanity with an arm of grace.”

“Then why is suffering so rampant among mortals?”

“God does not wish for humans to suffer. I’m sure you remember that sad day when sin entered into the world of men. Sin breeds death. Do you not remember? Did you not listen to Adam’s oration before his death, recounting his error? His sorrow? As far as suffering goes, humans have a blessed life on earth and thereafter if they follow God. Perhaps they suffer the pains of life, but the blessed joy of salvation far outweighs any misfortune they undergo.”

“You speak strange ideas into my head. I could almost mistake this second-rate speech for rational arguing. Your powers of persuasion work well, my fellow immortal. But I will not succumb to these powers. I have seen too often the evil nature of this supreme God. When men try to reach out to him, live good lives, do everything in their power to please Him, He does not listen. He stands with his back on humanity, ignorant to their pleas.”

“No man can reach God on his own accord. Sin mares the connection between God and Man. Because of this, God provided a sacrifice, a redemption for Man, and sent Incarnate Ye’shua to die on the account of the sins of man. But only those who choose to believe and accept the death of Ye’shua for themselves can receive this salvation. Therefore, God is loving and full of grace, granting salvation for many, forgiving a multitude of sins.”

“But you would also say that man does not have a say in his salvation. Man cannot simply choose to accept this so-called Ye’shua on his own accord. Therefore, God chains the wills of humans to his supreme ambitions, his ultimate plans to receive a multitude of glory from the chained wills of mortals.”

“God does not chain the wills of humans. On their own accord, Man inherently does not seek God. Were you a Keeper long enough to witness the prophet Isaiah when he spoke of this matter? He compared Israel to dumb sheep, sheep who had “gone astray,” sheep that without guidance stumble down the pit of sin and death. No, God does not chain humans to his will. Instead, he draws humans in love to Himself into salvation, giving them a true chance to live in spite of suffering.”

“But do you agree with me on this point: Does God seek his own glory or the bettering of humans?”

“Both. God has created everything for his glory, and the bettering of humans gives him glory. But I believe you see God in a different light than I. I see God’s glory as an ultimate fate, something that will happen regardless of circumstances; because God created everything for his glory, everything inherently gives Him glory. God’s focus is the redemption of Man in love, the sanctification of the church for the marriage. This is God’s greatest desire, to see his Church fulfilled and perfected, united in marriage to Ye’shua. This is also my desire, as I work to not only record the works of Man, but also to give to humans the chance for salvation. I hope, in time, this will be your desire, too.”

Here I stood silent, unable to confront this well-presented reasoning, this example of love in God, God himself being the object of love. I could do nothing but walk away in silence, confounded by my blindness to this subject of love and grace. So I sit here still, staring at the dying ember coals, pouring my thoughts into this journal, attempting to debunk the Keeper’s strong arguments, still unable to do so.

I apologize profusely for this paradoxical stream of thoughts I hold, but I uphold honesty, and if my efforts are indeed contrary to what is true and right in this world, I will not continue. But as for you, I do wish you to continue your efforts in spite of my searching soul.

Immersed in remembrance and intense thought, I remain,

Dr. Townsmite

Founder and CEO of the CCCC, in establishment since 1948