The Two Islands

(This article originally appeared nowhere)

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago and far, far away, there were two islands in the middle of the ocean. These islands were quite large and were separated by many miles of shark-infested water. One island was quite beautiful, in fact like a paradise. Fruit of all colours and types grew freely from the trees, streams of pure clear water covered the island, separated by fields of the most amazing vegetables of all shapes and sizes. The other island was quite a different picture. The land was barren, things would not grow in the soil and water was hard to find - where it could be found it was murky and bitter tasting.

Many people lived on one of these islands. Unfortunately, as fate would have it, it was the wrong one, the second island. But why, you may ask, didn't people live on the first island, the beautiful paradise? The answer was quite simple, in fact .The answer was ... the Grump. The Grump? Yes, the Grump, the most evil, dangerous and hungry beast ever created. It was twice the height of a man, with sharp grey scales down its back and three huge poisonous tusks, to spear its unfortunate victims. And its favourite food was people, particularly the fat, juicy variety. It had the strangest hunger, because even though it was surrounded by all kinds of delicious food where it lived, the Grump had to munch a human every day!

So where did this monster live? Yes you've guessed, the first island, the beautiful one. This was quite fortunate for the Grump, but not so for the poor humans, who lived on the other island and had to travel by boat every day between the islands to gather food and water to take back to their families.

So every day the Grump would lie in wait for his food. It was accepted that every day one less person would return on the boats, it was seen as a necessary sacrifice, to pay for the food that they brought back with them.

But one day the King of the islanders, a most thoughtful and kind man, who loved his people, decided that enough was enough. He could see the population of his island slowly falling and was greatly saddened. Why should they sacrifice themselves to this monster? It didn't own the island or the food, so why should they have to pay for it with their lives? Enough was enough!

So he got all his scientists and magicians together and asked them to find out how to destroy the Grump. Unfortunately most of them were superstitious and muttered things like 'upsetting the balance' and 'angering the spirits'. He was not having any of that nonsense and sent these people away. He was left with only one person, Brian, his chief scientist, who immediately disappeared into his secret underground laboratory.

Three days later Brian, looking very ragged and tired, appeared from his laboratory and went immediately to the King.

"Do you want the good news or the bad news?" he said.

"Don't jest" cried the King, who was a little impatient by now.

"Well" said Brian, "the good news is that, by reading the ancient scrolls and mysteries, it appears that the Grump cannot be killed, but I have discovered what would rid the Grump of its appetite for humans". He paused awkwardly.

"Yes, yes, go on, Brian", shouted the excited King.

"You're not going to like it" said Brian, meekly.

"Tell me, I order you", shouted the King. "What will take its appetite away?"

"Royal blood", Brian whispered, looking away from his King.

"Any royal blood. Yours …your wife, your son..."

The King stood up, and with a sweep of his hand, sent Brian away. For three days and three nights he remained in his throne room, not speaking to anyone and not eating or drinking a thing. Then he summoned his son to his room for discussion. Meanwhile crowds gathered outside, wondering what was going on, but sure that something very important was happening.

Eventually the door opened and the heralds summoned the people. The King announced that he was going to send out a military expedition to Paradise Island to finally destroy the Grump and this expedition was to be led by his son, Nigel. The crowd gasped at this as everyone knew how much the King loved his son and what a sacrifice it would be to send him on such a dangerous mission. No-one gasped louder than Brian, who knew the real reason for the King's son going. He looked over to the King, in total shock and noticed the tears on his cheeks, glistening in the light.

The expedition set sail, sent off by a grateful, cheering crowd. Nigel, the King's son, stood on the bow, his sword pointing towards Paradise Island.

"Death to the Grump", he cried. "Death to the Grump" they cried.

Later that day the small fleet returned in sadness. Although they had brought back new supplies of food and water, they had not destroyed the Grump. There had been a battle and Nigel had fought bravely, ahead of his men, but the Grump had been too strong for them and the Prince had been not only defeated, but eaten.

The King was greatly grieved and weeped and wailed. He summoned Brian to speak to him, then together they spoke to the people and told them that they should fear the Grump no more, as the monster will never trouble them again. The villagers found this hard to believe, but they trusted their King and believed him. The test would come the following day.

So, the next day, the villagers were gathered at the small harbour to see off the food boat. When the boat had set off on its journey, the people remained where they were, nervous but excited. Hours later the boat returned. With great joy they learned that the food expedition had been totally left alone by the Grump.

And so was the next one on the following day. In fact the Grump was never seen again. So over the next few weeks, using all the boats available, they moved all the people from their old homes to new homes on Paradise Island. No more would they have to leave their island for food, or live at the mercy of a monster.

In time, life settled down, and all except the King and Brian, his chief scientist, forgot about the expedition. They forgot because they never really understood the sacrifice the King had made in losing his only son to the evil monster. But Brian never forgot, for, as he often thought to himself, "the King so loved his people that he gave his only son, so that they may live".

And there is another King, an even greater King. This King is known as the King of the Universe, but you and I know him as God. This greater King also loves his people. You and I are his people. So are your family, your friends and everyone you know. And everyone you don't know.

This greater King also has a son. You and I know his son as Jesus. This son also died. He died for you and me. He also died for your family, your friends and everyone you know. And everyone you don't know. He died so that you may live a better life, a fuller life, a more exciting life. He has done this because He loves you. And He wants you to love him, too.