A Tale of Three Kings
Visit Tyndale’s exciting Web site at www.tyndale.com.
TYNDALE
and Tyndale’s quill logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
A Tale of Three Kings
Copyright © 1980, 1992 by Gene Edwards. All rights reserved.
Designed by Erik M. Peterson
Cover photograph copyright © by Dan Eckert/iStockphoto. All rights reserved.
This book was formerly published by SeedSowers (Christian Books Publishing House), Newnan, Georgia 30263.
Scripture quotations are taken from the
Holy Bible,
King James Version.
Dedication
To the brokenhearted Christians coming out of authoritarian groups, seeking solace, healing, and hope. May you somehow recover and go on with him who is liberty.
And to all brokenhearted Christians: May you be so utterly healed that you can still answer the call of him who asks for all because he is all.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Preface to the Second Edition
Author’s Preface
Introduction
Prologue
Epilogue
Book Discussion Guide
About the Author
Acknowledgments
To Helen, Carman, and Patty for aiding in the preparation of this manuscript.
Preface to the Second Edition
When I first penned
A Tale of Three Kings,
I would have been encouraged to know it would live long enough to go through two or three printings. I utterly underestimated the number of devastated Christians out there. A far broader audience than I anticipated has taken up this book. It is an audience made up of Christians damaged by such things as church splits and individual “Christian to Christian” clashes.
I have been a little awed by the reception of this book and the fact that the reception has been worldwide. The number of Christian workers who have ordered this book in bulk, to be passed out to their people, has been only short of phenomenal. That
A Tale of Three Kings
has been turned into plays and has been read publicly from pulpits turned awe to amazement.
Obviously, there is a great deal of pain and hurt out there in Christendom that is rarely addressed or ministered to. I hope this book, as well as
Letters to a Devastated Christian,
Crucified by Christians,
and
The Prisoner in the Third Cell,
will minister to those needs.
Author’s Preface
Why this book and what is its purpose? The answer can probably be traced to my mailbox. As one who receives correspondence from Christians all over the world, I noted some years ago a growing number of letters from Christians devastated by the authoritarian movement that had become so popular with many evangelical groups. A reaction to this totalitarian concept eventually set in. A mass exodus was soon under way. The stories being told by these spiritual fugitives are often terrifying and sometimes unbelievable. I am not at all sure if it is the doctrine itself that is causing such widespread carnage or the inordinate practice of this doctrine. Whatever it is, in all my long years as an evangelical Christian minister, I have never seen anything that has damaged so many believers so deeply. The wreckage appears to be universal, and recovery from it is almost nil.
This book reflects my concern for this multitude of confused, brokenhearted, and often bitter Christians who now find their spiritual lives in shambles and who are groping about for even the slightest word of hope and comfort.
This book, I trust, will serve in some small way to meet this need.
There is one thing, dear reader, this book is most certainly not intended to be. It is not intended to be additional fodder in your cannon to better blast your adversaries, whatever your view. I would beg you to be done with such ancient and brutish ways. This book is intended for individual healing and for private retreat.
I trust this volume will sound a note of hope, even if that note is heard ever so distantly.
Gene Edwards
They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not . . .
Hosea 8:4
Introduction
Well, dear reader, how nice to be with you once more. It is a privilege to spend this time with you. Thank you for meeting here, and I suggest we hasten into the playhouse, as I see that they have already dimmed the lights.
There are two seats reserved for us not too far from the stage. Quickly, let us take them.
I understand the story is a drama. I trust, though, you will not find it sad.
I believe we will find the story to be in two parts. In part 1 we shall meet an older king, Saul by name, and a young shepherd boy named David. In part 2 we shall once more meet an older king and a young man. But this time the older king is David and the young man is Absalom.
The story is a portrait (you might prefer to call it a rough charcoal sketch) of submission and authority within the kingdom of God.
Ah, they have turned off the lights, and the players have taken their places. The audience has quieted itself. The curtain is rising.
Our story has begun.
Prologue
The almighty, living God turned to Gabriel and gave a command.
“Go, take these two portions of my being. There are two destinies waiting. To each unborn destiny give one portion of myself.”
Carrying two glowing, pulsating lights of Life, Gabriel opened the door into the realm between two universes and disappeared. He had stepped into the Mall of Unborn Destinies.
Gabriel spoke: “I have here two portions of the nature of God. The first is the very cloth of his nature. When wrapped about you, it clothes you with the breath of God. As water surrounds a person in the sea, so will his very breath envelop you. With this,
the divine breath,
you will have his power—power to subdue armies, shame the enemies of God, and accomplish his work on the earth. Here is the power of God as a gift. Here is immersion into the Spirit.”
A destiny stepped forward: “This portion of God is for me.”
“True,” replied the angel. “And remember, whoever receives such a great portion of power will surely be known by many. Ere your earthly pilgrimage is done, your true character will be known; yea, it will be
revealed
by means of this power. Such is the destiny of all who want and wield this portion, for it touches only the outer person, affecting the inner person not one whit. Outer power will always unveil the inner resources or the lack thereof.”
The first destined one received the gift and stepped back.
Gabriel spoke again.
“I have here the second of two elements of the living God. This is not a gift but an inheritance. A gift is worn on the outer person; an inheritance is planted deep inside—like a seed. Yet, even though it is such a small planting, this planting grows and, in time, fills all the inner person.”
Another destiny stepped forward. “I believe this element is to be mine for my earthly pilgrimage.”
“True,” responded the angel again. “I must tell you that what has been given to you is a glorious thing—the only element in the universe that can change the human heart. Yet even this element of God cannot accomplish its task nor grow and fill your entire inner being unless it is compounded well. It must be mixed lavishly with pain, sorrow, and crushing.”
The second destined one received the inheritance and stepped back.
Beside Gabriel sat the angel Recorder. He dutifully entered into his ledger the record of the two destinies.
“And who shall these destinies become after they go through the door to the visible universe?” asked Recorder.
Gabriel replied softly, “Each, in his time, shall be king.”
PART 1
Chapter 1
