A powerful story was told in the 4th century by Athanasius, one of the most important theologians in Eastern Orthodoxy of his time, that I would like to share with you.
Once upon a time there was a good and kind king who had a great kingdom with many cities. In one distant city, some people took advantage of the freedom the king gave them and started doing evil. They profited by their evil and began to fear that the king would interfere and throw them in jail. Eventually these rebels seethed with hatred for the king. They convinced the city that everyone would be better off without the king, and the city declared its independence from the kingdom.
But soon, with everyone doing whatever they wanted, disorder reigned in the city. There was violence, hatred, lying, oppression, murder, rape, slavery, and fear. The king thought: What should I do? If I take my army and conquer the city by force, the people will fight against me, and I'll have to kill so many of them, and the rest will only submit through fear and intimidation, which will make them hate me and all I stand for even more. How does that help them - to be either dead or imprisoned or secretly seething with rage? But if I leave them alone, they'll destroy each other, and it breaks my heart to think of the pain they're causing and experiencing.
So the king did something very surprising. He took off his robes and dressed in the rags of a homeless wanderer. Incognito, he entered the city and began living in a vacant lot near a garbage dump. He took up a trade - fixing broken pottery and furniture. Whenever people came to him, his kindness and goodness and fairness and respect were so striking that they would linger just to be in his presence. They would tell him their fears and questions, and ask his advice. He told them that the rebels had fooled them, and that the true king had a better way to live, which he exemplified and taught. One by one, then two by two, and then by the hundreds, people began to have confidence in him and live in his way.
Their influence spread to others, and the movement grew and grew until the whole city regretted its rebellion and wanted to return to the kingdom again. But, ashamed of their horrible mistake, they were afraid to approach the king, believing he would certainly destroy them for their rebellion. But the king-in-disguise told them the good news: he was himself the king, and he loved them. He held nothing against them, and he welcomed them back into his kingdom, having accomplished by a gentle, subtle presence what never could have been accomplished through brute force.
God came into this world through Jesus Christ to show that there is a better way, to share with us the heart of God, to empower us to be the embodiment of Christ's love and grace in this world. Through Jesus, we discover not only personal salvation, but the salvation of the world of which we are a part. The more we learn from Jesus "the ways of the king", the more we can influence others in His ways, too.
Teach me Your ways, O God, and forgive me of my rebellious spirit. Forgive me for the times I have decided to live my life independent of You. Forgive my waywardness and take away the things, thoughts, and lifestyles that distract me from walking with You. Thank You for Your grace. Help me to commit my time to listening to You and hearing Your voice as you speak to my spirit, "This is the way...walk in it." In Jesus' holy name. Amen.
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