Though the finer details may vary,

we all share the same story. 

 This is God's story. 

This is also your story. 

Open the curtains and let us continue.

***ACT III***

Romans 5:6

 When we were utterly helpless,

      Christ came at just the right

       time...         

(www.ambassadorsforJesus5.com)

     Our love story resumes backstage where the King is equipping the Prince with a body to offer up as a sacrifice for the sins of the Princess.  By her disobedience she introduced sin and death into the world.  In contrast His obedience unto death will grant righteousness and life to all those who would enter in.  All creation yearns and eagerly waits for release from this life of death and decay.   

     The Prince is also eager to bring his light into her world which is currently overrun by the prince of darkness.  This Tree of Life to plant within its sterile ground his seeds to life and reconcil it to himself.  After seeking her out and spending some quality time with her, He will propose.  Then upon completing his mission He will return to his Father's house.  There He will prepare a place for his beloved bride-to-be.  His love runs deep for his Father and is so in love with the Princess that He is willing to lay down his life for hers, and in such a generous act on their behalf we find no greater love. 

     Their love for her is what drove them to lay down the Prince's life for hers.  Their reason was to pay for her sins.

     Like an underhanded salesman the evil villian offered her a corrupt life insurance policy that only assured her death, and the arrival of her noble Knight revealed the seeds of sin within as she sprung forth its fruits unto death.  Her huge debt had to be paid if she was to break free and attain life, but the Princess was totally bankrupt.  She doesn't have the funds to pay it off for just as an apple tree can only bear fruits of its kind, the seeds of sin and death cannot produce righteousness and life.   Even if she tried with all her might she cannot earn life, and like a pesky bill collector that evil villian continues to knock on her door.  Yet our selfless Prince has given himself over as her collateral and now arrives to pay her debt; to release her of her obligation to sin and its penalty of death.  The King will stamp her bill "paid in full" by the shedding of the Prince's blood.  The Prince will then personally delivery her receipt to the evil villian, then the King will raise him from the dead.  With him He will hold the keys to death and the grave.  She need only accept his hand in marriage and put her trust in Him to enter into his life with the King, for by paying the price to set her free He has become her door. 

     And therein lies the free gift of life from the King to their beloved Princess.  It cannot be earned by her and is presented to her as a priceless gift. 

     Back onto the stage of her darkened world currently ruled by the evil villian the Prince makes his entrance equipped for the task on hand.  Everywhere He goes his light pierces the darkness and reveals the truth hidden in the dark.  Although the Princess need not worry, she need not hide in shame.  The Prince was not sent to condemn her.  He only wants to dispense of the lies, reveal the truth, and gather her to himself; to do away with the lies buried in the dark and heal her of her broken and diseased condition.  He will help her to understand his arms are not meant to imprison her.  Unlike the evil villian the King does not want her bound.  His arms are meant to reveal the lies of attaining life independent of the King.  She need only come to know him through the Prince to be captivated by his love, and willingly yield her heart to him with the understanding that there is no real life, goodness, and love apart from him.  It is a lie from the evil villian intent on her destruction, but joined two-as-one in marriage to her better half her life will be complete and she will have finally found her home.  Unlike her life with her noble Knight, her life with her Prince will be a relationship of love.   

     And her dashing Prince is no ordinary Prince for his Kingdom is not of her world.  His beauty is so different than her world's idea of beauty for it is not based on outward appearances or majesty that she should desire him for such.  His beauty is like a rose bush blooming with flowers, its fragrant essence comes from within.  While He lives in her world his fragrant life abides with him alone, but when He has poured out his life as an offering for hers his seeds will be released into the Earth.  Then as they come to grow and bloom they will spread his beautiful fagrance of love.

     So the Prince from the Kingdom of Light is now in her world shining his light for all the world to see.  And guess what?  Yep, that evil villian saw it too.  He didn't like this turn of events in his deceptive schemes.  This something new and different was a serious threat to his darkened kingdom.  The Prince's great light stood out to him like a sour thumb looking to rain on his parade of death.  Determined to stop him the prince of darkness goes about his thing, up to no good.  He is scheming to snub the Prince's light out by bringing about his death.  Ah, but remember I told you the King is wonderfully bright and his light is his Son.  No one can outshine him.  He can turn evil around to serve his good purposes and this is just one of many circumstances where he does just that.  The evil villian may be clever but he is no competition for the King.  By allowing the evil villian this battle, the King will have won the war. 

     The King's creation cannot boast of greater power than their Creator, and it's a good thing that He is the most powerful for He doesn't use it for evil but for love and the greater good. 

     His love conquers all.

     And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

~Romans 8:38-39

Song:  God Blessed the Broken Road

Artist:  Selah

Proceed to Act IV