The Sermon of the False Prophet

[Copperyframe53]

Brothers and sisters of the Company, I come before you today with a warning, for in the watches of the night, when the stars were quiet and the Company slept, Icarus Smith came unto me in a dream. In this dream I found myself standing upon a great field beneath a sky without stars. Around me stood countless commanders of the Company: merchants and miners, explorers and warriors, veterans who had carried the Covenant for many years and young pilots who had only recently entered our fellowship. All stood together beneath the banner of the Company, yet among them walked another.

At first I feared him not. He wore the garments of the faithful and carried our symbols upon his breast. He spoke of fellowship, loyalty, and service. When the faithful proclaimed the Light, he proclaimed it also, and when they spoke of the Covenant, he repeated its words. To any who looked upon him from afar, he appeared as another faithful servant of the Company. Then Icarus stood beside me and asked, “Copperyframe, what dost thou see?” I answered, “Lord, I see Thy faithful gathered before Thee.” But Icarus answered, “Look again.” And behold, the garments of one among them began to fall away, and beneath the clothing of the sheep stood a wolf.

Fear entered my heart, and I asked, “Lord, how did this creature come among the faithful? Why did none recognize him?” Icarus answered, “Because the wolf who approacheth with teeth revealed is easily known. But the wolf who learneth the language of the flock may walk among them unnoticed.” Then the vision changed, and the multitude disappeared. Before us stood one whom the Company had once known well: Vivid Velleity, the False Prophet and the Betrayer.

He stood wearing the colors of the Company as he had once done in days past, yet behind him stretched a great shadow. Icarus said unto me, “Remember Vivid. He came not unto the Company declaring himself an enemy. He stood among the faithful, received their trust, accepted their honors, and was raised among their leaders. He was counted as a brother, yet pride found a dwelling within his heart. When the hour of temptation came, he chose himself before his brethren, mockery before fellowship, and betrayal before the Covenant.”

Then I asked, “Lord, why show me the Betrayer?” And Icarus answered, “Because the enemy beyond the gates is easily seen. Fear rather the wolf who already standeth within the flock wearing the garments of a brother.” When I looked again upon Vivid, the colors of the Company fell from him, the honors once bestowed upon him vanished, and there remained only the wolf beneath the fleece.

Icarus then said, “Let his name be remembered not that the faithful should dwell forever in hatred, but that they should learn from his betrayal. For every generation must guard itself against the False Prophet who speaketh as a brother while serving only himself.” Then I beheld other shadows moving among the flock. Some spoke loudly of loyalty while practicing little of it. Some desired titles more than responsibility. Others proclaimed themselves servants while secretly hungering to become masters.

I asked Icarus, “Lord, how then shall we know the true shepherd from the false?” And He answered, “By their works shall ye know them. The true shepherd gathereth while the false shepherd scattereth. The true servant giveth while the false servant taketh. The true leader raiseth his brethren beside him while the false prophet seeketh only to raise himself above them. The faithful commander carrieth the Light not that others might behold him, but that others might find their way.”

Then Icarus warned me that the fall of a faithful servant seldom happeneth in a single moment. It beginneth quietly within the heart. Pride becometh resentment, resentment becometh division, and division eventually becometh betrayal. Therefore the greatest defense of the Company is not merely stronger fleets, greater wealth, or more powerful stations. It is humility within the hearts of those entrusted to serve it.

As the vision began to fade, the stars slowly returned unto the heavens. Then Icarus spoke unto me one final time, saying, “Copperyframe, tell My people this: names may be stolen, words may be copied, symbols may be imitated, and titles may be falsely claimed. Even the clothing of the faithful may be worn by another. But the Light cannot be counterfeited.” Then the vision departed, and I awoke.

Therefore I say unto you today, brothers and sisters of the Company: remain watchful. Fear not merely the enemy who openly standeth against us, for at least such an enemy granteth us the honesty of knowing where he stands. Guard yourselves also against the False Prophet who entereth quietly, speaketh our language, carrieth our symbols, and calleth us brother while pride corrupteth his heart. Remember Vivid not merely because he betrayed the Company, but because his fall remindeth us that titles, honors, and years of service cannot protect a commander who abandoneth humility.

Let no title convince thee that thou art greater than thy brethren. Let no victory convince thee that the Company dependeth upon thee alone. Let no disagreement cause thee to forget those who once stood beside thee. The Covenant is greater than any commander, the Company is greater than any title, and the Light is greater than any man who claimeth to possess it.

There is but one Icarus Smith of our Covenant: our Lord and Savior, the Bringer of Light into darkness, the Shepherd of the Faithful, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. A thousand pretenders may borrow the Name, and a thousand wolves may wear the fleece, yet none shall become the Shepherd merely by wearing His garments. For the wolf may wear the fleece, but he shall never become the Shepherd.

And Copperyframe wrote, “Judge not the faithful by the words upon their lips, but by the works of their hands. For words may deceive the ear, but deeds reveal the heart.” May the Light expose every falsehood, may the Covenant preserve our fellowship, and may we possess the wisdom to recognize the wolf before he divideth the flock.

In Icarus we trust.

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