Once upon a time in a land not too far away there lived a young boy that worked in the Kings stables taking care of the royal horses. He loved them, cared for them, and knew each one by name. "One day, I will ride one of these grand horses as a knight fighting for my King," declared Taylor as he fed and watered his friends.

Laughter bellowed from a knight standing nearby who had overheard his words. "You are too young and short lad," said the knight. "You don't have the muscles and you will never be able to fit into a knight's armor. Ha! Ha! Ha! You are just dreaming child." he roared as he walked away.

"I am not a child!" declared Taylor. "And one day, I will grow tall and strong and have muscles! You will see!"

The knight walked away laughing and shaking his head. Taylor sat in the stable feeling hurt and frustrated. But Noble, his favorite horse, touched Taylor's cheek with his muzzle and spoke quietly in his ear. "Do not lose your dream Taylor just because someone else does not share it. You have a knight's heart, and one day, your body will grow tall and strong. Set your mind to serve your King and to love his kingdom, and one day, you will be rewarded by seeing your dream come true."

Taylor stood to his feet and hugged Noble. "Thank you Noble. Thank you for believing in me and not laughing at my dream."

Suddenly, a falcon flew into the stables and landed on a sack of grain next to Noble and Taylor. She spoke quickly and urgently! "Taylor! Noble! I was flying in the southern part of our great kingdom I have seen an enemy marching toward us through the cover of the thick forests!"

"How many are there Rachel," asked Taylor!

"Hundreds! Thousands! Too many to count! But I have heard there plans. They are traveling through the cover of the trees and the cover of night and will enter the city by secret tunnels that were built many years ago that have been forgotten. They want our kingdom. They want our homes. And they want to make us their servants! We need to warn the King!"

"Wait a minute!" shouted Taylor. I will go tell the knights. He ran to the knights' quarters and stood in front of them out of breath. "Knights! . . . My friend, . . . Rachel . . . the falcon has seen . . . an enemy coming from . . . the south through the . . . thick forests to attack our kingdom! We must warn the King!"

The knight who laughed at him earlier stood up. "Oh Taylor, what an imagination you have! We are at peace with the kingdom in the south. We have treaties and alliances, and your friend Rachel; a talking bird has told you this? Oh fellow knights, the wild stories a child can dream of!"

"But it's true," said Taylor. We must warn the King or the kingdom will be taken and we will become servants!"

The knights just laughed and continued talking amongst themselves. Frustrated, Taylor returned to the stables and told Noble and Rachel that the knights did not believe him.

"We need proof!" said Noble. Rachel, can you fly back to the forests and bring back proof that the enemy is there? It will be risky."

"I will!" declared Rachel, and off she flew. Circling over the forest with her watchful eye she looked for the things that would prove the enemies presence. In a small clearing, she saw a few men gathered pointing at some papers. Quietly and swiftly, she flew down right in the middle of them and with her talons, snatched up one of the pages and flew off. She circled around and spotted and enemy flag, and swooped down, and with her sharp talons, tore part of the banner. Her keen eye saw an arrow fly through the air as one of the enemy's archers was practicing. She retrieved it and brought the three items back to Noble and Taylor.

Noble looked at the three items retrieved by Rachel. "Very good Rachel; You have brought back what looks to be part of a map showing underground tunnels, a piece of banner that shows the southern kingdoms insignia, and an arrow bearing the southern kings colors and markings. Quick Taylor, pick these up and mount on my back! Come with us Rachel! We are going to see the King!"

Taylor did as Noble said. He gathered the items and climbed up onto his back. Rachel flew up and perched carefully onto Taylor's shoulder. And with grace and speed that only one of the Kings horses could display, Noble charged out of the stables heading straight for the King's palace. He charged passed the guards entering the great hall of the King. Everyone in the hall turned and looked as they heard the gallop of Noble and his intense breathing from his nostrils. He stopped short of the Kings throne and spoke with boldness to the King.

The King beaconed to Noble and said, "Speak to me my noble friend and guardian of truth."

"Your Worship, Rachel the falcon has learned of imminent danger to our kingdom and has brought proof. But alas, she is a bird and Taylor is a boy. And since many believe that a bird cannot speak and boy is filled with dreams, their warning of love that was meant to protect King and kingdom has been ignored and considered fantasy. Please hear their report."

The people in the great hall stood in astonishment as the King turned to Rachel and spoke to her. "Tell me my watchful one, what have you seen."

"My King," spoke Rachel, "I was flying in the southern part of our great kingdom when I happened to see an enemy marching toward us through the cover of the thick forests! There were hundreds . . . thousands; so many that I could not count them! But I heard them speak their plans. They are right now traveling through the cover of the trees and the cover of night and plan to enter this city by secret tunnels that were built many years ago that have been forgotten. They spoke of taking our kingdom and our homes. And they plan to make us their servants! This is what I heard my King!"

Taylor stepped forward. "Oh King, we needed proof because no one would believe us, so Rachel went back to the forests and gathered these items to prove that what she witnessed is the truth." Taylor handed the King the document, torn banner and the arrow.

The King looked at the items, arose and summoned his guard to ready the knights and armies for battle. His forces moved swiftly and defeated the enemy before they were ever able to enter his beloved kingdom. And in recognition of the love in Taylor and Rachel's heart, he rewarded them before the eyes of everyone.

"Rachel, my faithful servant, you have a pure heart and a watchful eye. You look out for those of my people who need my love and protection. Thank you for your warning of danger. For that, I bestow my favor and blessing upon you. Continue to bless my people. Continue to watch over my people. Come to me with the things you see so that I can bless the people you watch. Because of your heart, I have made you my watchman over this land.

"Taylor, you have the heart of a Knight. Your love for your King and his kingdom saved the lives of many. When others did not listen because you were a child you did not quit but helped to plan a way to warn the people of this kingdom of danger. I therefore make you a Knight and give you my horse Noble as your companion. Together with Rachel, watch over my people. Bless them, encourage them, and share with them the love you have from me in your heart.

So Taylor and Rachel became the eyes, ears, and hands of the King extended to the kingdom. Together with Noble, many enemies were defeated. Many hearts were encouraged. Many lives were touched by their love. And their fame spread throughout the kingdom because of the love for their King that lived in their hearts.

“Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for He guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 97:10 (NIV)

In the days of Noah, the Bible records that men did what was right in their own eyes. Sin was rampant. But one family chose righteousness and served God in the midst of a perverse and wicked generation. God spared that family from His wrath and the destruction that He poured out onto the earth.

Jesus said that in the last days before His return, it would be again like the days of Noah. In a day and age where the Ten Commandments are being taken out of our courtrooms and public buildings, and where teachers can be sued for saying “let’s pray” during a moment of silence; my friend, we are living in those days

We live in a day of political correctness where those who would stand up for righteousness are branded as intolerant. Sin is watered down so that no one is offended, and that which is profane and vile becomes acceptable and tolerated. Meanwhile we witness shipwreck throughout the sea of humanity because sin comes at a price. The spiritual law of God states that the wages of sin is death (and destruction.)

Suicide is on the rise. Drug and alcohol abuse is stealing the innocence of our children. These are just a few of the symptoms of the disease that results from the rejection of God’s word as we rebelliously choose our own path. Isaiah 5:20 says “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter.”

The answer is right in front of us. God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours. Romans 12:9 reads “abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”

With obedience comes blessing. I close with God’s promise to us written in Isaiah 33:15. As you go through this day, meditate on these words. Let them soak into you spirit. As you do, you will find yourself being changed from the inside out. You will also witness the hand of God moving in your life and on your behalf.

"He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, He who despises the gain of oppressions, Who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, Who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, And shuts his eyes from seeing evil: He will dwell on high; His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks...."
 

If I gained the world, but lost the Savior,
Would my gain be worth the life-long strife?
Are all earthly pleasures worth comparing
For a moment with a Christ-filled life?
O the joy of having all in Jesus!
What a balm the broken heart to heal!
Ne'er a sin so great, but He'll forgive it,
Nor a sorrow that He does not feel!
If I have but Jesus, only Jesus,
Nothing else in all the world beside
O then ev'rything is mine in Jesus;
For my needs and more He will provide.

A hymn by Anna Ölander, 1904