Not A Failure

Photo by British Library on Unsplash

Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding. Remember the Lord in all you do, and he will give you success

Proverbs 3:5-6

“EZRA”, A large voice booms out of the throne room, shocking Ezra out of his reverie.

The voice of God. It chills Ezra to his core every time he hears it, especially when it is directed at him. Like now. It is finally time for him to take his vows. The child is about to be born.

All the hosts of angels have already gathered before the Lord to witness the taking of vows. When he enters the throne room, they part to let him pass. He gets to the front of the crowd and answers, “Yes, my Lord.”

“It is time to take your vows binding you to the soul of this child, from the moment it enters the earth till the moment it leaves. Are you prepared?”

“Yes I am, my Lord.”

“If you are, then repeat after me.”

“I, Ezra of the kingdom of the Most High God, do solemnly swear to stay with this child from the moment he is born into the world of man until the moment he dies. I swear that I will do all that is within my power to guard him from evil — the evil that is in the world and the evil that is within himself. So help me God.”

Ezra recites his vows, more from memory than from what the Lord says. When he is done, the spirit of the child is sent forth to meet it’s body as it is pulled out of it’s mother’s womb. Ezra is supposed to follow it, but the Lord calls out, “Ezra.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

“Do you believe that you are wiser than I am, Ezra?”

Ezra cries out in alarm, “No, my Lord! How could I presume to-?”

“Then why do you doubt my wisdom? Why do you say to yourself, ‘If the Lord could give me more power over my wards, perhaps I could convert more of them to the path of righteousness’?”

Ezra can not speak. He can only hang his head in shame. The Lord was the Omnipresent and Omniscient God. Of course He knew what everyone was thinking.

“I see everything, Ezra. I see your efforts. I see your sadness when they fail. But you must understand that humans must make their own choices. They have everything they need to make the right choice. My Son had to be killed for the sake of their sins. The Holy Spirit is available for as many who call on him. You and all the other guardian angels are also with them. Why do I need to burden you with the extra job of more cajoling? They do not need it, Ezra. The human heart is stubborn and no one knows it more than I. Do not worry. Do your part and leave the rest to me.”

“I understand. I will do better not to question your decisions in the future.”

“Go. I wish you better luck this time.”

“Thank You.”

Ezra took a quick look at the throne room of heaven one last time and went down the portal to earth to meet his new ward.

For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone.

Psalm 91: 11–12