The Lightbearers of the Inheritance blog finds its inspiration in Donna Sundblad's Christian allegory "The Inheritance." Centered around the concept of lightbearers—characters who carry the light of Truth within their hearts and guide others journeying within the Valley of Shadow toward citizenship in the Eternal City—this blog mirrors their role as beacons. Through biblical historical insights and devotional posts, it offers a deeper understanding and inspiration for spiritual growth.
For those who follow this blog, you know I started it back when my book The Inheritance came out. This Christian fantasy is written in the allegorical style of books like The Pilgrim's progress but set within a fantasy backdrop. The story follows a young man by the name of Jejune
who decides to head to the Eternal City, but every village, along the River
of Tradition, offers a different way to gain citizenship there. They
can't all be right! How can he find his way?
I thought I'd share the latest book trailer. Enjoy! (And while you are there, please take a moment to "like" or share it. Much appreciated.
"And I, brethren, could not speak to
you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you
with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive
it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where
there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving
like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of
Apollos,” are you not carnal?" ~ 1 Corinthians 3:1-4
What does it mean to be a carnal Christian?
In 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 the Apostle
Paul uses the word carnal four times in reference to Christians in Corinth. The
definition for carnal is: pertaining tothebody, its
passions and appetites. Being called carnal is not
a compliment. It is the opposite of the spiritual person Christ has called us to
be and Paul removes the guesswork of what it means as he offers clear insights for how to identify a carnal Christian.
Perpetual
spiritual infants: In verse 2, Paul points
out that these carnal Christians are still on the same spiritual diet as when
they were first saved. They are unable to take in “solid food” which the writer
of Hebrews describes as food that belongs to those who are mature, that is,
those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and
evil.
Sin is
unchecked: In verse 3, Paul tells these
carnal Christians that they are acting like people who haven’t been saved.
There is envy, strive and divisions. Once we belong to Christ, we are not to look or act like the world.
In fact, Matthew 5:16 tells us to “Let your light so shine before men, that
they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
The sad
reality is that carnal Christians are real. Their witness is not a good one
because they do not let their light shine. Instead it is covered in the grime
of this world, and to the outsider they look just like anyone else in the world. In
my allegory, The Inheritance, I call these characters Carnals. Some of
them even mislead others. I’ve included a short excerpt below. Photo credits: pxfuel, TC Morgan,
Excerpt from chapter 40 of The
Inheritance by Donna Sundblad
"What is a Carnal?" Chary asked. "I still don't
understand."
"A Carnal is one who received the Light of Truth but turned
aside from following it. Over time, their Light dims. The loam of this realm
hides the Light. Little by little, they take on an appearance like those
infected with the Condition [sin]. The longer they remain separated from following
Truth, the crustier they become." She shook her head. "I've almost
given up hope."
"You mean people that receive the Light can walk away
from Truth? How? Why? I can't–" Jejune's shoulders drooped.
"The Dragon deceives." Mother shoved her feet into
shoes unlike anything Jejune had ever seen. The hard-soled footwear extended just
above her knees. She stomped each foot to adjust the fit. "Nothing gives
the Dragon more pleasure than making a Light Bearer stray from the way of Truth.
Then he can use them to lure others to his way of life. Pride struck your
father in the wilderness and he never recovered."
Pick up your copy of The Inheritance today! And when you've read it, be sure to leave a review. Thanks, and be blessed.
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean)" (Matthew 23:27).
What did Jesus mean by whitewashed tombs?
Jesus pronounced seven "woes" on the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees. Did you ever wonder what woe means? Or for that matter, what did Jesus mean when he compared them to whitewashed tombs?
Before we look at the term whitewashed tomb, we should look at the word "woe." In Greek, the word for woe is οὐαί (oo-ah'-ee). It is a term used to express sorrow, grief, pity, concern, or apprehension of evil. In the case of the woes listed in Matthew 23, Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites, and they knew, exactly, what he was saying when he called them whitewashed tombs.
Why they whitewashed tombs
At this point in Jesus' earthly ministry, People were flooding into Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. The surrounding roads leading into the city were spruced up and readied for the influx of pilgrims. Along these roads were tombs of holy men painted with fresh whitewash. They did this for a few reasons.
First, they looked clean. But the real reason was to warn people not to touch them because if they did, they would be unclean for seven days and unable to participate in the Passover, according to Jewish Law. "Whoever touches a human
corpse will be unclean for seven days" (Numbers 19:11). These tombs,
with their fresh coat of whitewash, looked clean and attractive and they
also had religious significance. They were the graves of holy
men. But because they held the dead, they were to be avoided.
When Jesus compared the Pharisees to whitewashed tombs, they recognized the condemnation against them. Plus, he couched this woe with six other woes pointing to even more of the hypocrisy evident in their lives! The Law they said they upheld, told them about Jesus. Yet, they rejected him. In the times of Jesus, the Jews believed in the Torah (first five books of the Bible) as the Word of God, but they also accepted the Oral Torah.
The Oral Torah represented laws, statutes, and legal interpretations not recorded in the Five Books of Moses. It is considered a legal commentary on the Torah, which explains how to follow the commandments. Bible teacher, Beresford Job, explains it like this in his book Biblical Church – A challenge to unscriptural traditions and practice:
"The Mosaic Law was handed down to Moses directly by God on the Mount, and the Oral Law was put in place by man as a protector of the Mosaic Law (the Pharisaic law, or the laws of the fence or hedge as it is known)."
In Matthew 15:1-3, Jesus challenged the Pharisees and scribes regarding following the oral law (traditions of man) rather than the commandment of God.
"Then there come to Jesus from Jerusalem Pharisees and scribes, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. And he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?"
They thought that by following the law to the letter, they would be good enough for heaven. But Paul tells us the Law serves as a tutor to show us we can't obey the Law one hundred percent and that points to our need for a Savior.
* * *
Read The Inheritance by Donna Sundblad
Written
within the allegorical tradition of classics like Pilgrim's Progress, TheInheritance offers a literal but
symbolic story for today's fantasy enthusiasts. This cleverly devised tale doesn't
tell you what to think, but stimulates thought as to why you believe what you
believe in your own quest for the Eternal
City. The Inheritance
is an ideal discussion starter for youth groups, homeschoolers, and families
who enjoy meaningful discussions.
When you read it, be sure to leave a review! Thanks for your support.
For the Christian, good deeds aren’t a
checklist, part of program, or an app. They are a way of life. We are to be
like Jesus as we walk with Him in this world. It’s not a one and done deal. He never said, “I did my good deed
for the day.”
In my allegory, The Inheritance, the main character,
Jejune, starts the story living in the Village of Lofty Thought. His name means,
immature, lacking
knowledge or experience. In Lofty Thought, people are rewarded for coming
up with new theories about how people get to the Eternal City as each
generation declares a New Age of Enlightenment. Many don’t believe in the
All Knowing One. At their coming of age, young people deliver the first of their new theories, and
are rewarded with an embroidered ring to decorate their sleeves. The more new ideas, the
more rings, the more honor. It’s a reward and recognition of what they deem to be good
works. As the story opens, Jejune is about to celebrate his coming of age.
Good works and reward
In yesterday’s post, role
of good deeds in the Christian life, covered why we do good works. The
intent and motives behind what we do makes a difference. It's why we do them. It’s not supposed to be for rewards
in this world. In Mathew 6:1, Jesus says, “Be careful not to
practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do,
you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (2 Timothy 2:15)
In The Inheritance, Jejune,
questions the Illuminati, the authoritative lofty thinkers, who dress in their robes
decorated with rings up to their elbows. He asks how conflicting theories can all be
right. It creates an issue, and he is labeled a troublemaker.
He tires of hearing
about theories from people who haven’t even gone on a quest to learn the truth.
He talks to Wigglewot, and says, “Wig, my Coming of Age has arrived, but I feel
ill prepared. I know it's time for a change. Life in Lofty Thought leaves me
barren, like my ringless sleeves." He extended his arm, allowing his
sleeve to snap in the breeze. "The time is ripe for me to become a
Seeker."
Why I wrote The Inheritance
The reason I wrote The Inheritance, along with entertainment
the factor, is as a tool to help others seek the truth. I did my best not to use religious language so
non-believers will read it as well as believers. As they do, I pray it opens
opportunities to talk about things that really matter. Things above. Our
eternal destiny. It's a discussion starter.
Excerpt from The Inheritance
This excerpt is taken from chapter 4: "The Day of Preparation."
* * *
He turned the first few pages of the journal searching for
the place where he'd left off last night. "Here it is." His finger
marked the spot.
"The ancient stoics taught that when you find the truth,
it will set you free. Here within Lofty Thought many claim to have the truth,
yet I am not released from my distress. I find it curious that people who
believe differing ideas think all their beliefs together represent the truth."
Jejune raised his eyebrows and looked at Wigglewot.
"My father felt the same way I do. Maybe that's why the
Illuminati doesn't like me."
"You are surely your father's son. What else does it
say?"
They spent the afternoon reading of travels to far off
places. "The Way of Works could be a possibility." Jejune considered
the prospect. "Father says here that the people in Goodeeds are pleasant.
Listen to this."
"I could do well in
Goodeeds. The people respect me. I served as a mediator, settling squabbles
between neighbors and family members. They rewarded me with notches carved into
a walking stick. They tell me if I carry this stick to the gates of the Eternal
City, it will allow me to enter."
"Could that be the walking stick we saw upstairs?"
"It must be." Jejune glanced from the journal to
Wigglewot. "But if they were going to the Eternal City, why didn't he take
it with him?" He turned the leaf.
"Staid thinks the belief is absurd. At first, I
disagreed, but I think she might be right. If the requirement is a notched
walking stick, then only people from Goodeeds will gain access to the Eternal
City. This cannot be logical. What about those who live in Lofty Thought and do
not carry a walking stick?"
"Goodeeds sounds like a nice place." Jejune gazed
into the distance and imagined life where people accepted him and even rewarded
him.
"But he didn't choose to live there." Wigglewot
stretched and turned onto his stomach. "And he didn't plan to return there
with your mother."
Jejune sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "True,
but I would enjoy the company of pleasant people."
When you read The Inheritance, be
sure to leave a review! Thanks for your support.
