There once was a town called Stubbornness. There were no buildings in the town. Everyone lived underground in secret holes. Each person lived in their own hole in the ground. No one knew what the other was doing in their hole and no one cared.
One day a young Man walked into the town. He saw the many deep holes that contained each citizen.
He asked, as He looked down into one of the holes, “Why do you stay in this hole? It is dark down there and difficult to breathe.”
The occupant looked up at the Visitor and replied, “Because I want to. This is who I am and where I live.”
The Visitor asked, “Do you want to come out?”
“Why should I? This hole is one of the very best holes in the whole town of Stubbornness. Lots of people would like to have my hole. This hole is accepted by the rulers of the town. They all say that it is a good and proper place to be.”
The Visitor stepped closer to the opening of the hole so that the occupant could get a good look at Him. His clothes were clean and white. His face was clear and full of Light. His Hands were beautiful and had no dirt.
The occupant’s eyes, accustomed to seeing only darkness, squinted at the beautiful Light. He then looked down at his own soiled clothes. He remembered when they were new and clean. He felt the grime on his face and saw the dirt on his hands.
As He looked up at the Visitor again, he said, “The rulers of Stubbornness told me that this hole was just what I needed and wanted. I believed them. After all, they live in choice holes themselves.”
The Visitor stretched out His Hand. The occupant took hold of it and instantly he was in the Light. He looked down and saw that his clothes, face and hands were now clean and glowing! Before, he could only see a few inches in front of his nose. Now he could see for miles!
“Now I see,” the man said. I wasn’t at Home at all, was I?”
“No,” said the Visitor. You were in prison. Now you are set free. ”
The next day, a celebration could be heard for miles, as the citizens hung up the sign on the outskirts of the town that read,
“Welcome to Freedom. We used to live in holes of darkness but now we live in the Light.”
- Isaiah 9:2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.