by Chuck Black
CHAPTER 1
From childhood, Carliss understood there is more to life than what meets the eye. This kind of perspective precipitates maturity in a person beyond their years. The yearning Carliss feels means her heart is searching for truth, and this makes her receptive to the story of the Prince. This can happen in our lives as well, and we can only find truth in Jesus Christ.
Two possibilities are Acts 10:34–35 (“In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him”) and Galatians 3:26–28 (“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus”).
CHAPTER 2
While passion is an important factor in following Jesus, He also tells us to be careful (1 Peter 5:8: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour”). It is always best to seek the counsel of those older and wiser than we are, those who have the experience and emotional distance to assess the situation and provide appropriate counsel.
CHAPTER 3
When people we care about make foolish choices, we should still love them, but we do not have to condone their behavior or go along with it. Answer based on personal experience.
CHAPTER 4
Suffering can occur because we are in sin and we therefore suffer the consequences of the sin. Or it may be the result of a spiritual attack because we are doing God’s will and fighting the good fight. It could also be a consequence of living in a fallen world full of sin and death—as in the case of cancer victims, those who are abused, people who are bereaved, and so forth.
Romans 8:28 gives us important perspective on suffering: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” We also learn in the Bible that Jesus understands our suffering (Isaiah 53:3), provides us with comfort and hope (see, for example, Jeremiah 31:13 and 2 Corinthians 1:6), and of course provides remedy for the sin that can lead to suffering (1 John 1:9).
CHAPTER 5
James 4:17 indicates that sin is not only doing the wrong thing but also knowing what is right and not doing it.
Possible answers include Deuteronomy 15:11; Psalm 138:6–7; Proverbs 3:34; Luke 14:13–14; James 4:6; and 1 John 3:17.
In Luke 10:30–37 we read the story of the good Samaritan. Jesus commands His disciples to “Go and do likewise.” That means you!
CHAPTER 6
Psalm 34:18 says, “The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” Also see Psalm 147:1–5 and Isaiah 57:15.
CHAPTER 7
Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” This verse indicates that the heart, the source of our emotions and feelings, is a vital part of our lives, but that it can also lead us astray and take us to places that are not good for us. With our minds, however, we can influence or protect our hearts from entering and dwelling in such places. Carliss’s heart “battle” involved her feelings for Dalton, her respect for what she thought was his commitment to Brynn, and her desire to serve the Prince wholeheartedly. She was in danger of pining for something she assumed she could not have—an unhealthy place for a heart to dwell.
Second Timothy 2:3 says, “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Oftentimes, being a warrior for Christ means putting up with conflict or difficulty.
Eunice cares for Petolemew and helps him with his memory loss by writing down what he says about the black powder. Petolemew tenderly expresses his gratitude to her for her help and commitment. Read 1 Corinthians 13:4–7. This kind of enduring love transcends any selfish feelings we might have.
CHAPTER 8
These activities and the experiences these pastimes offer can feel more enjoyable or interesting than the real world, and they require much less work. In a way, the desire they fuel is just another form of “the lust of the flesh [and] the lust of the eyes” that John writes about in 1 John 2:16. The Bible says that this desire is not of the Father. Satan can play upon it to turn these activities into a stronghold of sin.
CHAPTER 9
Matthew 5:9 says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Even though we cannot force people to get along, being a peacemaker and speaking encouragement—as Carliss did—may help in such situations.
CHAPTER 10
Love is the identifying mark of a Christian (see John 13:35). Our words and actions should always demonstrate that love for others, thereby indicating that we are indeed followers of Jesus Christ. Did you know that Christians did not come up with their own name? Instead, other people actually named them because they lived in such a way as to be easily identifiable as followers of Jesus.
CHAPTER 11
One possibility is Jeremiah 29:13: “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” See also Acts 17:11.
Proverbs 24:9 and Proverbs 12:23 warn against foolish thoughts, while Philippians 4:8 encourages the practice of choosing to think only on that which will honor the Lord. It is important to understand that imagination and creative thought are wonderful gifts from God. However, just as with so many other gifts from God, they can be improperly used. When imagination and creative thought are used to “fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16) or to devise wicked activities, sin is the result.
The stronghold is escapism, which can be described as the habitual practice of retreating from reality through diversion or fantasy.
To occasionally escape from the stresses of life is a good thing. God even commanded that we rest from our labors on the Sabbath. Jesus often escaped from the crowds and even from His own disciples when He needed some time of recovery. However, these examples also show us that true, healthy replenishment really comes from spending time alone with God and not from fantasy and alternate realities that can easily become a stronghold.
Technological advances such as high-definition video, high-speed Internet, elaborate games, and even music-on-demand create an atmosphere of escapism for many people because the visual and audio productions are so realistic and the experiences they create are so intense and involving. They provide stimulation for the senses and imagination without truly involving people in the experiences of real life or requiring them to take responsibility or to grow.
Romans 12:2 warns us against being conformed to this world, and this includes feeling we need to involve ourselves in popular forms of escapism. We must constantly be vigilant and renew our minds so that we will accomplish God’s perfect will.
Despon Swamp represents despair or despondency, and “walking the bridge” indicates the extreme outcome of such despondency, which is suicide. Escapism, like many other strongholds, seems like a wonderful release from the pain of the world for a time. But eventually people realize that the pleasure gained is fleeting and empty. By then they have become prisoners of the sin and are unable to break free. At that point they may become despondent or even kill themselves.
CHAPTER 12
Although we may encounter those who belittle our faith—even other Christians—we must remain true to our convictions. Think about Noah and Job, two righteous men who were ridiculed unjustly, and about how God ultimately blessed them for their faithfulness to Him. Rest of answer based on personal experience.
James 5:16 tells us to “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” When we are young, it is best to take our struggles to our parents or other wise mentors.
Read Proverbs 14:7, 12. We shouldn’t listen to the counsel of the unwise, because that which our culture thinks is right often leads to spiritual or even physical d
eath.
Intar, Romnov, and Vi Dogam represent Internet, romance novels, and video games, respectively. These are just three of many that could lead to a stronghold of escapism.
CHAPTER 13
Jesus said in Matthew 5:11, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.” We need to remember, as Si Kon says later in the chapter, that although we may suffer and even shed our blood, “our blood is not wasted on the vanities of an ignorant life.”
Many countries have outlawed Christianity, including North Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan. Christians in these countries continue to undergo severe persecution, and the most important thing we can do to help them is pray daily. There are also many organizations we can support with our time and money that help our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world.
Two possible examples of biblical betrayal are Joseph’s brothers selling him into slavery (Genesis 37) and Judas’s telling the chief priests of Jesus’ whereabouts (Mark 14). Betrayal obviously feels horrible and may make us extremely angry, but Romans 12:19–21 tells us to abandon our feelings of revenge, because God will do that work. Also, we should be kind to our enemies, and overcome evil with good. Rest of answer based on personal experience.
Christians have multiple resources available to guard against Satan’s deception. God’s holy Word is the ultimate source of truth and is a powerful weapon to use against this great enemy. The Lord is also present with us through the Holy Spirit, who gives us an ability to discern spiritual truth and deception. Another resource we have is the wise counsel of a godly friend (see Proverbs 1:5).
CHAPTER 14
Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.”
This ancient battle represents the time when the angel Lucifer rebelled against God and convinced one-third of the angels to fight with him. (See Isaiah 14:12–14 and Revelation 12:3–4, 7–9.)
In the Bible, angels are usually depicted in a warriorlike form and sometimes equipped with swords (Genesis 3:24; Numbers 22:22–23). Although they may “go undercover” and appear as humans, in their angelic form they have wings (Exodus 25:18–20; Isaiah 6:1-5). Their appearance often causes great fear in the people who see them (Luke 1:11–13, 19). Conversely, our culture often depicts angelic beings in very unbiblical ways—as babies with wings or as sensual fairylike creatures.
Psalm 37 and Jeremiah 12:1–4, 14–17 both say that the wicked will prosper for a time but that ultimately only those who are faithful to God will have a future of promise.
Malco is short for malcontent or discontent. Escapism ultimately causes people to become discontent in the real world and the challenges we must face.
CHAPTER 15
The word esca comes directly from the stronghold in this book, escapism. Romans 6:12–14 warns us to not let sin control us. Ephesians 5:18 also warns against letting wine or drink (forms of escapism) control us.
These are video games, Internet usage, romance novels, alternate-reality games, television and movies, alcohol, gambling, and drugs, to name a few.
Sin is tempting because it appeals to our flesh. The Bible tells us that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to bear and that with each temptation He will make a way for us to escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). We must look for that avenue of escape and take it. Remember that according to Romans 6, we are free from the power of sin because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We can be and are victorious through Christ! (See also 1 John 5:4.)
In addition to those depicted in this book, consequences may include laziness and apathy when operating in the real world; losing valuable relationships with family, friends, and most important, Jesus Christ; losing jobs; wasting time, money, energy, and talent.
In Jude 9, the angel Michael is battling with the devil and rebukes him in the name of the Lord. In Luke 8:26–31, demons controlling a man recognize Jesus and cry out fearfully in His presence. In Mark 9:38–39, Jesus tells His disciples not to forbid others from casting out demons in His name.
Carliss was never deceived because she knew the Prince and His truth. She also understood about the great battle that was raging for the lives of fellow Arrethtraens.
In the letters to the church, there are multiple exhortations for believers to overcome. See Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; and 21:7.
CHAPTER 16
Second Chronicles 16:9 says, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”
Some examples are Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:9; 2 Chronicles 15:7; Isaiah 35:4; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Ephesians 6:10; and 2 Timothy 2:1.
As people become more enamored with the lifestyle of escapism, they invest more of their time, finances, and emotions in their chosen avenue of escape. This provides more resources for those who offer these activities to expand their influence to others. The cycle continues to grow as more people and resources are added.
The Life Spice represents eternal life.
CHAPTER 17
The book of Psalms has many verses addressing this. One example is Psalm 34:17: “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.”
This is the Prince, and His words come from Hebrews 9:22.
We frequently forget who we are and the power we have in Jesus. We often need to be reminded that we are sons and daughters of God! Read John 1:12.
CHAPTER 18
Sometimes we are moving too much or are too distracted with media or activities to hear the Lord’s call. When we purposely eliminate distractions in life, we are better able to focus on hearing His call (Psalm 46:10). Rest of answer based on personal experience.
The ancient text that told about the esca lizard in chapter 6 also mentioned the morning star. The passage in Revelation uses this symbolic name for the power of Jesus Christ, given to those who overcome.
CHAPTER 19
Hebrews 13:5 says that God will never leave us nor forsake us. During those times when we feel we have no real options, we should not rely on our emotions but on the Bible and the Holy Spirit. Wise counsel from godly friends or mentors can also help. Rest of answer based on personal experience.
CHAPTER 20
First John 5:5 says that simply believing that Jesus is the Son of God enables us to overcome the limitations of a fallen world.
Often it seems that evil prevails, and we wonder why God and His mighty angels do not stop the evil, but this can be because Christians are not rising up to answer God’s call to prayer and action. Often, revival starts with one man or woman who is motivated by the Holy Spirit and acts in obedience. Supporting verses include James 5:16; Ephesians 6:12; and 2 Corinthians 10:4.
Moses, Gideon, David, Esther, Elijah, Joseph, Ruth, Joshua, and many other biblical men and women accomplished great things despite their unfavorable situations. God works in this way so it is obvious that God is the one who should receive the glory for the victory.
Carliss is referring to the war between God and Satan, which will finally end at the last battle when Satan and his demons are cast into the lake of fire. See Revelation 20:10.
CHAPTER 21
John 3:19–21 explains that evil hates the light because the light exposes its wickedness.
CHAPTER 22
Any time we try to fix our sin simply by changing how we act, we aren’t addressing the true source of the problem: our heart. Rest of answer will vary with experience.
CHAPTER 23
The hawk Spirit represents the ways the Holy Spirit may work to bring protection, wisdom, insight, and even prophecy into our lives.
CHAPTER 24
We should forgive others without limit (Matthew 18:21–22). God commands us to forgive and promises to respond to us as we respond to others (Matthew 6:14–15; Mark 11:25–26). Rest of answer based on personal experi
ence.
He does this to affirm in our hearts that He truly is Lord of our lives and that nothing is more important than Him. However, in this He blesses us—not always in the ways we wanted or expected, but always abundantly, beyond what we can ask or imagine (see Ephesians 3:20).
Perfection will be experienced on the day the King creates a new perfect kingdom. This represents the future when God establishes His new heaven and new earth.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
A common temptation for many young people is to escape into a world of fantasy. This escapism has many forms, many of them made possible by a proliferation of technology in our society. Video games, romance novels, movies, Internet alternate-life sites, and role-playing games are just a few of these common escapist pastimes.
Although an occasional, temporary reprieve from the challenges and hardships of this world can be a harmless relief, escapism can easily become a powerful stronghold in a person’s life. This can become a serious problem even for believers. The list of negative consequences includes discontentment, laziness, apathy, disobedience, rebellion, stealing, lying, deviant behavior, even suicide.