Within the lord of the rings I see many parables. stories within stories deeply woven with the truths of another world.

antiquities struggle, the battle within birthing without. abundance and abyss pulling within the hearts and minds of all mankind. the voice of truth encouraging towards light and the lies of evil breeding fear in the mind. the elves representing angels or spiritual leaders spoke truth encouraged and prophesied into their lives as Saruman the evils lies brought fear into gandolphs mind. This is the battle we all face, and the message of this site (tfcotld) to live dead to the illusions of evils embrace and cling to the eternal.   

just as Christ had to face the evil one in the wilderness of temptation and resist  trading his destiny for satans offers of power and fame so they had to face the evil ring with the strength of its draw promising power, greatness and escape. those who gave into its lies found they became eternal slaves of the evil saar. 

 

so we must also face the test of the ring - will we follow after greed , money, power, or fame  and when problems come the temptation of temporal escape allowing evil to grow stronger - in us and in the world ?  as some of them forsook the draw of the ring and longed in their heart to see the white kingdom restored - so through Christ we can follow our brother our King resist evil - dead to this world - crucified , buried, and risen with Him walking in resurrection power we can see the kingdom restored - God's will done on earth as it is in heaven. where your heart is there your treasure will be so set your affections on things above - not on the things of this world - not on the things of the ring.

just as Saruman tried to turn Gandolph to the dark side so they will try and turn you - and you also must scream out boldly to all the powers of evil - legions of the dark princes of the air - there is only one Lord of the rings and He does not share power - then   Saruman  replied ... "then you have chosen death "...  yes ...dead to the temporal pleasures of the ring that breed eternal slavery - and alive unto God who gives eternal freedom - (to all seekers)

yes  it is a struggle but through Christ we have already won ( He said in this world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer for I have overcame the world) He fights for us so we must fight for Him -  as Frodo so must we realize to rise to the challenge of the times we have been given - for God uses the foolish to confound the wise and nothing to bring to not those things that are - even the smallest person can change the course of the future!  I Frodo will take the ring though I do not know the way...

 

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 there is a destiny a quest which must be fulfilled - while others squabble over why not - restrained by fear, reasoning, and sight - we must arise as Frodo to the challenge set before us - as the lady of the trees    (Galadriel) forewarned , the future of us and others lies in our hands.

lose your life and you will find it - live dead to this world and the immediate gratification of temporal pleasures that end in eternal slavery - walk in the power of the shadowlands  in the image of the perfect man - you are dead and who you truly are you will find only in Him...

we must stand together no matter our differences - the fellowship of the ring we are all from different people, backgrounds, and styles but they united and fought together - so we must stand together and look past the differences in styles , age, race, and faults of our brothers - they had disagreements but they stood together like a family!  when one of them became seduced by the draw of the ring another one would encourage them to resist -

at the end of the movie as they sent Frodo off the comment was made that the fellowship had failed Aragorn said (paraphrased) "not as long as we stick together and fight it has not failed " and they went off to rescue the two who had been captured and to fight the orcs (demons)

even though we face setbacks it doesn't mean we have failed - if we fall to temptation we must get right up again - help each other up and encourage each other on - God needs soldiers and not judges! soldiers don't judge each other when one falls to enemy fire - they pick up the wounded and encourage each other on - they fight like brothers and they are willing to lay down their lives to protect the others... this is the attitude we must have - as Christ's soldiers - as Christ laid down His life for us so we must lay down our lives for our brothers.

 

             

the beginning