On a snowy Christmas Eve in 1965, Max and his sister Julia set out with
sleds, ready for adventure. But a sudden blizzard swallows the world in
white, leaving them lost and afraid - until a mysterious old man rescues
them and leads them to a glowing church in the storm.
The room frightened Jacob. It was at the end of a long corridor. There were countless entrances along the stretch of dark hallway, but once the room was entered, there was only one way out. Inside, there was no visible doorknob, handle, or bolt. Lucian had to let him out again. Jacob always suspected there was a secret exit in the floor, but he feared what might happen if it were ever opened. He envisioned a long descent into darkness if that were the case.
Lucian, the casino’s manager, sat behind a large polished desk. But there was also a stranger standing in the corner, and judging by Lucian’s hostile glances in his direction, he didn’t appear to be welcome. Jacob wondered how the man had come to be here. Did he owe the casino too?
“Sit down, Jacob.” It was a command, not an invitation.
Jacob obeyed quickly. He would never dare defiance. He had tried that once and had been carried out on a stretcher as a result.
“You know our deal. Today is your last day to pay back what you owe me without additional penalties - and you haven’t paid me.”
“I've sold everything, Lucian. My home. My car. I cashed out my life savings, but it’s still not enough. I can give you what I have.” His voice sounded weak and pathetic. If only he could turn back time. Moving to this wretched place had been the biggest mistake of his life. He was ashamed of what he had become. He once had a life. A family. A home. All of it was gone now. And he was the only one to blame.
The stranger crossed the room and stopped beside him. “I will pay your debt, Jacob.”
Jacob stared at the man in numb disbelief, barely able to process what he had just heard.
Lucian’s explosive laugh shocked him. “Not that lie again! He’s always promising to pay everyone’s debt, and he never does. If you fall for this, I won’t be responsible for what happens, but I promise you’ll owe me twice as much as before if you believe him over me.”
Jacob looked at the stranger, then back at Lucian.
“Are you willing to risk that?” Lucian leaned across the desk, his eyes dark and menacing. “Well, are you? Twice as much, Jacob. Twice as much. I won't warn you again!”
“You won’t owe him anything, but there will still be a price,” the stranger’s voice was soft and reassuring. “But it won't be the kind of price you owe now.”
Lucian stood abruptly, knocking his chair backward with such force that it crashed into the wall. “If you listen to him, you’re an even bigger fool than I thought! Accept that offer and you’ll just trade one master for another - one debt for a new one.”
The stranger ignored Lucian and sat next to Jacob. There was something different about him. In his presence, Jacob could ignore Lucian for the first time. Jacob wasn’t sure why, but he trusted this stranger.
“My price is not like his. All I ask is that you trust me. I want you to stop destroying yourself.”
Jacob had tried countless times, but he always failed. “I want to stop destroying myself, but I don’t know how.”
The stranger rested a reassuring hand on his.
“I can help you to do what you can't do on your own.”
Lucian was raging, but when Jacob glanced at him, his tormentor seemed smaller and less frightening. Everything about him was diminished.
“I believe you,” Jacob whispered. “I believe you really will pay my debt.”
“Jacob, I already have.” With that, a new door opened - one he had never seen before. And beyond it lay hope.
The original video is available here and at YouTube:
I have remade this with different voice overs. There is only one image throughout in the remake, and I have removed sound effects. If you watch both, I'd be interested in knowing which one you prefer. Perhaps neither will be your "cup of tea."
Here is the video's description at YouTube:
A Parable of the Christian Gospel tells the story of Jacob, trapped by
debt and despair, facing an impossible choice. In a dark room under the
watchful eye of Lucian, the casino’s ruthless manager, Jacob believes
his life is beyond redemption - until a stranger offers to pay his debt
in full.
This modern parable illustrates the heart of the Christian gospel:
though we are bound by sin and powerless to save ourselves, Christ steps
in to pay the price and lead us into freedom, light, and hope.
Narration: Multiple voices bring the parable to life.
Artwork: Custom Baroque-style illustrations by ChatGPT highlight the
contrast between darkness and redemption.
Video created with Open Shot Video Editor with narration from
ElevenLabs.
Story and editing by DL Kennedy.
If this story spoke to you, please like, share, and subscribe at YouTube for more
original parables and reflections on faith.
Explore more on my YouTube channel at:
The painting had changed again during the night. The
self-portrait was nearly erased, only a faint outline remained, barely visible
through the stains and smudges. A new image was gradually forming where the
original had been - a grotesque caricature of the artist.
Yotsero didn’t turn at the sound of knocking. He already knew who stood
outside.
“Come in.”
His guest entered the studio. Still, the artist did not move from his spot. He
merely raised a hand and motioned for Giulio to join him at the canvas. Both
men stared at the image, each lost in thought.
“You said it keeps changing day by day?”
“Yes. It’s happened countless times now.”
His guest looked incredulous. “Are you sleep-painting, my friend?”
Yotsero might have taken offense at the suggestion, but he did not. He simply
shook his head. The noise of his beard rubbing against the rough fabric of his
shirt made a faint scratching sound, loud in the silence.
Giulio knew the room was always under observation and that formidable guards
protected the property and their beloved master. “Nothing unusual has been
seen, I take it.”
“Nothing. No one enters. No one leaves. It’s the painting itself. It is
remaking itself into its own idea of me.”
“The creation creating the creator instead of the other way around?”
“It happens all the time, Giulio.”
“What will you do? You must do something.”
“I will give it every opportunity, of course, but if it continues, I’ll have to
destroy this piece and create a new one.”
Giulio turned to go. “You said this happens all the time?”
“Oh yes, it has been going on for a very long time. You’d be surprised at how
often the painting thinks it knows more than the painter.”
“Rather arrogant, I’d say. I had no idea your handiwork was so rebellious.”
“Yes. That’s why there is so much pain and suffering in many of these pieces.”
Giulio studied the paintings. Each one seemed darker than the last.
“I’ve given them every opportunity to correct themselves, but my patience is
running out. I want them to trust me. I know what I’m creating, but most of
them believe they can do a better job than me.”
“It’s very foolish for the painting to believe it can argue with the painter.”
“Yes, my friend. It is foolish indeed. Still, it happens every day. And I get
blamed for the chaos my paintings create.”
