Life had settled into an uneasy rhythm since
the Great War had ended. Many had fallen under the spell of the
Great Deceiver. These journeyed blindly through their days, with no
knowledge of the trap they were in. A few, immune to the deception
that plagued the time, studied the Ancient Words and waited for the
Great King to return. These knew that He had not been defeated, but
was assembling a great army that would put an end to the Great
Deceiver and his reign of terror, once and for all.
Among the followers of the Great King, known
as Believers, was an elite unit known as the Gatherers. The
Gatherers had but one assignment: locate the Chozen and free them.
The Chozen had been set apart from the beginning of time. Each one
had been given an assignment that was crucial to the final defeat
of the Great Deceiver, and great powers with which to carry out
this assignment. When the Great Deceiver heard of this, he set out
to destroy the Chozen and foil the plan of the Great King.
The Great Deceiver had convinced multitudes
of people that the Great King either did not exist or was, in fact,
evil. When this seemed to work, he wove intricate webs of deceit
that trapped his unsuspecting victims in an invisible prison. The
Chozen, however, were subjected to a much more diabolical plan.
They were attacked in every conceivable way.
They were beaten, abused, and demoralized. They were fed a steady
diet of lies, mistrust, and hatred. And then the Great Deceiver
stripped them of their true identity. He gave them names like
Loser, Delinquent, Troublemaker, Liar, Worthless; and before long,
they accepted this false identity without question.
The Great King did not forget His Chozen. He
sent out the Gatherers with instructions to find every last one and
bring them to Him. So, with love and compassion, they drew the
Chozen in and took them to stand before the Great King.
He looked upon the Chozen and began to speak,
“I set you apart from the beginning of time. You are my Chozen. You
have suffered greatly at the hands of the Great Deceiver and I do
not take this lightly. I gave the highest price to purchase your
freedom; every drop of the life and the blood of my only Begotten
Son. However, it does not end there. With your help, the Great
Deceiver will pay for his crimes and will repay double all that he
stole from you!”
At this, a great cheer went up from the
Chozen.
The Great King raised His hand and the fell
silent. “Today I give you new names: Holy, Righteous, Redeemed,
Beloved. I give you also great weapons: Truth, Holiness,
Righteousness, Mercy, Grace, Favor, Love. With these you will be
unstoppable!”
As they prepared themselves to go out and
push back the darkness to the Great Pit, they were handed copies of
the Ancient Words that became mighty swords in their hands. They
let out a great war cry. The Great King look out over the army He
had purchased with the Blood of His Son, and He called their name
VICTORIOUS.
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