A Leader's Fall

The Rise of Micah

Micah was a man who, from an early age, felt destined to lead. Raised in a devout Christian home, he clung to the words of the King James Bible, studying the scriptures with fervor. His knowledge of the Bible gave him confidence, and soon he began preaching righteousness to anyone who would listen.

"A true leader among the people," he would say, "is one who is righteous in judgment, who fears God, and who holds himself to a higher standard. The rulers of this world are corrupt, but I seek to be different."

The message sounded right. People admired his boldness, his passionate speeches about exposing the evil hidden in high places. He spoke of the Illuminati, of corrupt governments, and of leaders who had sold their souls for power and wealth.

"They've sold out," Micah declared one evening before a small gathering. "But I have not. I stand apart from their secret societies. I will not bow to their demands. I am a righteous man, and I will lead righteously."

The people cheered. But even as they cheered, doubts crept into Micah's heart. Would they still follow him if they truly saw him? If they knew the ambition that lay beneath the words?

The Call for Justice

As Micah's influence grew, so did the opposition. Not everyone admired him, and many saw him as a fanatic. People mocked him on the streets, wrote critical articles, and spread rumors about him on social media.

To Micah, this wasn't just ordinary harassment. It was persecution.

"They seek to destroy me," he told his inner circle. "But God will judge them. They mock the righteous, but they will not mock for long."

Micah's sermons became more forceful. He spoke of judgment and justice, of the need to root out evil before it corrupted the faithful.

"Harassment should be punished severely," he said. "These mockers and scoffers defile the righteous and must be stopped."

Gasps filled the room when he added, "If I had my way, they would face the ultimate judgment."

Even his closest followers hesitated. "Micah," one of them whispered, "no legal system in the world enforces the death penalty for words. That's not righteous judgment. That's—"

"Silence!" Micah snapped, his face red with anger. "You don’t understand. These people are agents of the enemy. They defile the land with their words, and we must cleanse it. If the rulers of this world won’t do it, then God will."

Perceived Defilement

Over time, Micah’s words alienated many of his followers. They once saw him as a beacon of righteousness, but now, they saw someone consumed by vengeance.

"He preaches purity," they whispered, "but his heart is dark."

"He once spoke of saving souls," another said, "but now he condemns them. Is this the man we followed?"

Micah noticed their absence, the thinning crowds at his speeches. Rumors spread like wildfire. He was defiled in their eyes—not by sin, but because his words of capital punishment and judgment made them view him as defiled.

The Words of Jesus

One evening, as Micah sat alone in an empty church, a voice interrupted his thoughts. It was an old friend, holding a Bible in hand.

"I’ve been reading," the friend said, flipping to Matthew 15:11. "Jesus said, 'Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.' Micah, it’s not that your heart was ever impure—it’s that your followers saw your words and you were defiled in their eyes."

Micah lowered his head. "They don’t understand. I was fighting for righteousness."

"Perhaps you were," the friend replied. "But righteousness is about speaking the truth in love without driving others away through harsh judgment. What do you want them to see in you, Micah? A man of justice or a man of God?"

The Great Tribulation

As the world descended into chaos—wars, famines, and natural disasters marking what many called the Great Tribulation—Micah wandered the streets, seeking refuge in God.

He wasn’t defiled. He hadn’t fallen into corruption, but his pride had driven others away.

"Lord," Micah prayed, "I see it now. They didn’t leave me because I was wrong—they left because they didn’t see You in me. Help me show them that You never left."

A peace settled over him as he knelt in prayer. The world outside crumbled, but inside, he found restoration. Though he had lost his followers, he had not lost God. Micah rose, determined not to chase after lost crowds but to walk humbly before his God.