Thursday, November 26, 2009
Caleb's Kitties
Caleb, 7, woke up this morning thrilled to tell me the dream he had just been awoken from: "I had a dream that I got two little kitty eggs, and they were going to hatch. But one of them hatched where it was too cold, and so it became a stuffed animal. It was the cutest stuffed animal! The other hatched where it was warm, so it became a real kitty. It was so fluffy and soft! So I was lucky to get a cute stuffy AND a real kitty!!!" After hearing his dream, I thought I better clarify one point, so I asked him, "Do you know that kittens don't come from eggs?" Caleb's response was, "Everyone knows that mammals give birth to live young, but I still wish my dream would come true!"
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Enter The Sanctuary
Have you ever grumbled or complained about the apparent success of the ungodly? Have you felt jealous of the wealth, the power and the prestige they display? Have you wondered how it can be that some people have gained their wealth in a corrupt manner and selfishly hoard it while so many people are living in poverty and desperate need?
You are not the only one who has contemplated these questions. A man named Asaph pondered these matters in Psalm 73. “I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills… This is what the wicked are like – always carefree, they increase in wealth” (Ps. 73:3, 4-5, 12). Asaph even questioned the benefits of maintaining his integrity and he lamented, “When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me” (Ps. 73:16). But then, Asaph did the right thing! “I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny” (Ps. 73:17).
It is only in the presence of God that we find peace of mind and gain divine understanding.
If you find yourself questioning things as Asaph did, it is probably a sign that you need to take more time out of your day to pray, meditate on God’s Word and listen to His voice. Then you can rest assured that the prosperity of the wicked will come to an end and you will say unto the Lord as Asaph did, “Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds” (Ps. 73:23-28).
Take time daily to “enter the sanctuary of God”!
You are not the only one who has contemplated these questions. A man named Asaph pondered these matters in Psalm 73. “I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills… This is what the wicked are like – always carefree, they increase in wealth” (Ps. 73:3, 4-5, 12). Asaph even questioned the benefits of maintaining his integrity and he lamented, “When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me” (Ps. 73:16). But then, Asaph did the right thing! “I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny” (Ps. 73:17).
It is only in the presence of God that we find peace of mind and gain divine understanding.
If you find yourself questioning things as Asaph did, it is probably a sign that you need to take more time out of your day to pray, meditate on God’s Word and listen to His voice. Then you can rest assured that the prosperity of the wicked will come to an end and you will say unto the Lord as Asaph did, “Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds” (Ps. 73:23-28).
Take time daily to “enter the sanctuary of God”!
Friday, November 13, 2009
Affliction in the Life of the Christian: Causes, Implications and the Cure
The Causes of Affliction
God’s Role in Affliction
The Bible tells us in Lamentations 3:32-33 that “Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.” The Lord does not desire to see us walking in a state of affliction, but rather wants to see us living victoriously in health, healing and wholeness. It grieves God to watch His children go through affliction. In 2 Samuel 24, David committed a sin before the Lord. In verse 14 David says, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.” David understood that, although the Lord would afflict and discipline him, it was from a place of love and restoration. When God saw the affliction of the people brought on by David’s sin, verse 16 says, “The Lord was grieved”. God withdrew the affliction when He saw the time was right, and He had compassion on His people.
God cares deeply for those going through distressing circumstances, no matter what the cause is. Psalm 10:14 says, “But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.” Isaiah 54:7-8 says, “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you.” God’s role in affliction is to restore us. He is not silent, according to Job 36:15, “But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction.” He has not abandoned His child who is going through affliction. His promise is that He will provide a way out, according to Isaiah 30:20-21 which says, “Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction... Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’.” God is determined to see His afflicted children come to the point of restoration and victory.
Affliction’s Relation to Sin
According to the Bible, affliction is not a sin. However, it is usually the result of sin, and through it, God is calling His children back to Himself. It is meant to be a “wake-up call” for the believer, for the purpose of causing His children to repent, turn from their evil ways and be restored to Him. Affliction and sin go hand-in-hand, which is shown throughout Scriptures. Almost everywhere that affliction is discussed, sin is mentioned as the cause. For example, Psalm 25:16-18 says, “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish. Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.” Similarly, Psalm 107:17 says, “Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.” And again, in the list of curses for disobedience to the Lord, verse 28 says, “The Lord will afflict you with madness, blindness and confusion of mind” (Deuteronomy28:28). Solomon acknowledges the relation of affliction to sin in 1 Kings 8:38-39; “And when a prayer or plea is made by any of your people Israel – each one aware of the afflictions of his own heart... then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive and act; deal with each man according to all he does, since you know his heart.”
It is essential, however, to keep in mind that God’s intent is restoration and He always provides a way out. Job 36:8-9 says, “But if men are bound in chains, held fast by cords of affliction, he tells them what they have done – that they have sinned arrogantly.”
The Effects/Symptoms of Affliction
There are many descriptions of affliction in the Bible. Words such as anguish, failing strength, weakness (Ps. 31:7-10), loneliness, multiplied troubles, distress (Ps. 25:16-18), suffering terrors, despair (Ps. 88:15), frustration and anger (Ecc. 5:17) all describe the experience of one being afflicted. Isaiah 51:20 describes affliction as being drunk, but not from wine. When a person is drunk, they lack clarity, judgment and common sense and do not have an accurate sense of their situation. Other symptoms that can be indicative of affliction is confusion, shame and embarrassment, as described in Job 10:15 where Job laments, “If I am guilty – woe to me! Even if I am innocent, I cannot lift my head, for I am full of shame and drowned in my affliction.” Job seems to be confused about the source of his affliction – but either way, he feels humiliation. Uzziah was also embarrassed when he was afflicted with leprosy after being prideful, unfaithful to God, and angry at the priests. When he became leprous, he was “eager to leave, because the Lord had afflicted him” and hurried away from the priests, who he was trying to angrily exert authority over just moments before (2 Chr. 26:20).
The Purpose of Affliction – Biblical Examples
The purpose of affliction is to move a believer forward, to bring them to repentance and to mature them. The key to coming out of affliction victoriously is to learn from it. Leviticus 21:21 says that if you refuse to listen and learn during afflictions, they will multiply. Isaiah 1:5 asks why a person would persistently remain in rebellion despite their afflictions. It is important to learn and move on from your affliction unless you want it to get worse.
There are good and bad examples of reactions to affliction in the Bible. King Asa relied on man rather than on God to fight his battles and when corrected on this matter, he became enraged rather than repentant. He became an oppressive king and did not live a godly life. As a result, he was afflicted with a severe disease, but again, sought help from men rather than from God and did not repent. He died in his sins (2 Chr. 16). Likewise, King Jehoram, who “did evil in the eyes of the Lord” (2 Chr. 21:6), was inflicted with an incurable and horrendous disease, dying a horrible death in unrepentance.
We must remember that we are never without hope. Although King Jehoram had an “incurable disease”, there is nothing that is incurable for the Lord. Jeremiah 30:12, 13 and 15 says, “This is what the Lord says: Your wound is incurable, your injury beyond healing, There is no one to plead your cause, no remedy for your sore, no healing for you. Why do you cry out over your wound, your pain that has no cure? Because of your great guilt and many sins I have done these things to you.” Two verses later, in Jeremiah 30:17, the Lord says, “But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds”! What is impossible for man is possible for God.
Take, for example, King Hezekiah. He was afflicted with a lethal illness, but when he called to the Lord, he was restored to health, and was delivered from his enemies, as found in Isaiah 38. David was also afflicted, as evidenced by the book of Psalms being the book that speaks most of affliction. But we know that David was confident in the fact that when he repented of his sins, the Lord would restore him fully.
The Cure
The cure for affliction is to accept the work that Jesus did on our behalf. Isaiah 53:4-7 says, “Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” We need to accept the fact that Jesus carried our afflictions on the cross. There is no need to hang on to them when they have already been fully paid for! Lamentations 3:19-24 is a passage that we can always look to with hope for full restoration: “I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him’”.
Continuous praise and seeking the Lord is a cure for affliction, according to Psalm 34:1-5 which says, “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.” One who is afflicted also needs to stay closely connected with the Word of God. Psalm 119:92 says, “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.”
I Kings 8:35-36 provides a model for the process of wholeness and healing from affliction. “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and confess your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live.” We can see that sin brings affliction, and confession brings restoration. It is also important to note that we need to be taught the right way to live, which can come through personal time in prayer and reading the Scriptures, as well as through mentorship from mature believers, God-inspired books, and godly teaching/preaching.
In order to be delivered from affliction, one must remain in prayer. It is essential to cry out to the Lord for deliverance. Psalm 72:4 and 12 tells us that God defends and delivers those who cry out to Him. Similarly, Psalm 9:12 says, “He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.” Even when we can’t ‘feel’ God’s presence, we need to know that He is still near. Psalm 31:21-22 says, “In my alarm I said, ‘I am cut off from your sight!’ Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.” Psalm 34:18 assures us that, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Conclusion
Our response to affliction determines the outcome. We need to remember that it is God’s desire and delight to see us walking in wholeness, healing and restoration. We also need to have an eternal perspective. “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).
God loves us and His sole desire is to see us walking in victory. He is our Father, who loves us and says in Isaiah 49:15-16, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.” Isaiah 49:13 says, “The Lord comforts and has compassion on his afflicted one.” When we come to an understanding that our God is a compassionate Father who cares deeply, loves intensely and desires the best for us, we can trust Him to restore us no matter how our circumstances appear.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Mr. Hermison
I am sure you would find it a bit odd too – seeing a wee girl, not much older than three, wandering alone in a meadow of wild flowers. It’s not the kind of scene you see every day, especially when only moments before you were sitting behind your desk in your air-conditioned corner office where you work as an accountant. Linear. Left-brained. Logical.
Nevertheless, that is where Mr. Lloyd Hermison found himself that hot July day. With his index finger, he pushed up his glasses which immediately slid down his excessively sweaty nose. It was truly sweltering hot, and his three-piece suit was not at all appropriate attire for a jaunt in a meadow.
Bewildered and somewhat dazed, Mr. Hermison watched the tot aimlessly meander through the field of brilliant colour. Her long golden hair fluttered freely in the gentle breeze and she wore a gleeful smile. Her grin grew wider and erupted into a giggle when she saw Mr. Hermison. Much to his dismay, she immediately and enthusiastically bounded toward him. Mr. Lloyd Hermison, the fearless suburban accountant, turned on his heels and ran for his life. He could handle a lot of things – but little girls chasing him through mysterious meadows was not one of them. Considering the hot sun overhead and the fact that he had last exercised in 1991, he did not get far before he decided it might be prudent to stop running and face his tiny foe.
He turned around and she was right behind him, offering up a bouquet of daisies. However, when he looked down into her eyes, he reeled back as if he had been slapped, for there was a look of familiarity about her; she looked like him. The little girl smiled and held up the bouquet, saying a single word… “Daddy?”
Mr. Hermison screamed, “No! No! You can’t be! We got an abortion!”
“Mr. Hermison? Mr. Hermison? Are you o.k.?” The secretary’s voice sounded far away. “Mr. Hermison?”
Mr. Lloyd Hermison awoke from his dream with a startle and knocked his coffee over onto his paperwork. A post-it note stuck to his cheek when he lifted his head from the desk.
“Are you okay, Mr. Hermison?” the secretary queried again.
“I… I’m just… I’m okay. But please cancel my appointments today. I need some time to myself. And, ummm… You know what happened between us three years ago? Maybe we should talk about it sometime.”
The secretary’s face softened with empathy. She lowered her voice and said, “Lloyd, I’ve been forgiven. I met Jesus and He has taken away my shame – He forgave me and one day I will see our little one in heaven.”
Mr. Lloyd Hermison cried like a baby. “I saw her today. She’s beautiful.”
Nevertheless, that is where Mr. Lloyd Hermison found himself that hot July day. With his index finger, he pushed up his glasses which immediately slid down his excessively sweaty nose. It was truly sweltering hot, and his three-piece suit was not at all appropriate attire for a jaunt in a meadow.
Bewildered and somewhat dazed, Mr. Hermison watched the tot aimlessly meander through the field of brilliant colour. Her long golden hair fluttered freely in the gentle breeze and she wore a gleeful smile. Her grin grew wider and erupted into a giggle when she saw Mr. Hermison. Much to his dismay, she immediately and enthusiastically bounded toward him. Mr. Lloyd Hermison, the fearless suburban accountant, turned on his heels and ran for his life. He could handle a lot of things – but little girls chasing him through mysterious meadows was not one of them. Considering the hot sun overhead and the fact that he had last exercised in 1991, he did not get far before he decided it might be prudent to stop running and face his tiny foe.
He turned around and she was right behind him, offering up a bouquet of daisies. However, when he looked down into her eyes, he reeled back as if he had been slapped, for there was a look of familiarity about her; she looked like him. The little girl smiled and held up the bouquet, saying a single word… “Daddy?”
Mr. Hermison screamed, “No! No! You can’t be! We got an abortion!”
“Mr. Hermison? Mr. Hermison? Are you o.k.?” The secretary’s voice sounded far away. “Mr. Hermison?”
Mr. Lloyd Hermison awoke from his dream with a startle and knocked his coffee over onto his paperwork. A post-it note stuck to his cheek when he lifted his head from the desk.
“Are you okay, Mr. Hermison?” the secretary queried again.
“I… I’m just… I’m okay. But please cancel my appointments today. I need some time to myself. And, ummm… You know what happened between us three years ago? Maybe we should talk about it sometime.”
The secretary’s face softened with empathy. She lowered her voice and said, “Lloyd, I’ve been forgiven. I met Jesus and He has taken away my shame – He forgave me and one day I will see our little one in heaven.”
Mr. Lloyd Hermison cried like a baby. “I saw her today. She’s beautiful.”
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Go Up
I was only one of a multitude of people. You were there too. We all were. We awoke every morning to the sound of the trumpet insisting we begin our work. This morning felt no different. As I wiped the sleep from my eyes, I looked up to the top of the hill. The castle. It seemed to shimmer with light as the sun reflected off of its towers and parapets. Or maybe it wasn't the sun. The castle appeared to have its own light, radiating a white glow that made the sun look a dim shade of yellow. Even the walls around the castle were studded with jewels inlaid in gold. I could only imagine what kind of riches were inside.
As I wiped the sleep from my eyes, I imagined the King on His throne, living in the middle of that opulence. My imagination soared. What if I was of noble birth? What if I was summoned by the King to live in the glorious light of His presence?
Now I was really dreaming. I shook my head to wake myself up. I looked around at the shoddy conditions in which I lived, then stuck my head out of the rickety door of the shack that I called home. Everyone else was already making their way down the path to the fields we worked every day. I shuffled my feet along the dirt floor to the basin to wash my face. There was no need to change my clothes. The rags I wore were the only clothes I had.
As I walked down the dusty path, I watched the multitude of people who walked ahead of me. Every day, we walked down this dusty path. Every day, we toiled to grow food in dusty fields that never produced quite enough, and whose fruit never tasted good. For a moment, I longed for something... something better. Again, I shook my head to clear my thoughts. The fruit didn't taste good? I had never thought of that before. Why should I concern myself with the flavour when I hardly had enough to fill my belly?
I began my work. It was not fulfilling, but then again, it never was. We lived and worked at the bottom of the hill. We were the lowest of the low, and the layout of the city reflected this clearly.
Our city was set on a hill. At the top of the hill was the castle where the King dwelled. I could not possibly describe it. For one thing, I had never been anywhere near it. I could see the spires reaching high into the blue sky, and it always seemed to shimmer with light. I could see the most lush, brilliant green trees around it and vines with fruit growing up to the top of the highest tower. To divide the King's living quarters with the rest of the city, a magnificent wall had been built. There were gates into the King's area, but they could not be opened except by decree of the King. I only knew this to be true, for from where I stood, I could not see those gates.
Below the castle was the hub of the city, where I could only assume the middle class lived and worked. I had never seen this for there was a wall between us and them. This wall was not inlaid with jewels. It was made of large grey bricks. I leaned on the wall, wiping my sweaty brow. Dusty perspiration dripped into my eyes, and I tried to blink away the grit. Sometimes I felt hopeless when I looked at this wall, and today was no exception. Why was I at the bottom of the hill? It seemed unfair. All the people living on the other side of the wall were living in affluence simply because they had been born there. Why was the wall here? It had a gate but it, like the gate to the castle, could only be opened by decree of the King. To my knowledge, it had never been opened. The hinges appeared to be rusted shut and I wondered if it could open at all. There had been rumours as long as I could remember that one day, that gate would open, and...
A trumpet blast interrupted my thoughts. Normally, a trumpet announced the end of the work day, but I could tell from the position of the sun and the lack of hunger in my belly that the day was still young. And it sounded different... louder... clear... it sounded like LIGHT. Once more, the trumpet blasted and then a voice gently, assertively commanded, "Open." A scraping, grating sound filled the air. My heart jumped within me and for a moment I forgot to breathe.
The gate! It was opening!
The sea of people of which you and I were a part paused for a moment. Is this real? Is this really happening? The story we had heard from childhood was not a myth? Is it possible that we might be free?
Then, as if with one movement, we rushed for the gate. It seemed to take forever, yet no time at all. Once we were through, we looked about in silence and awe. The first thing I saw was that there were jewels strewn haphazardly about. Lying on the ground, sitting on tables, hanging from trees; necklaces, rings, bracelets, and silk and satin robes were everywhere. I began to slowly walk toward a tree ornamented with golden necklaces. Then I realized -- there were no other people here!
The only people I could see was the crowd who just came through the gate. Where was everyone? Is it possible there was no one else in this city but us? Were these jewels here for us? Weren't we the lowest of the low? Maybe there was no one better than us after all. Maybe all of humanity was at the bottom of the hill. Maybe we had believed a lie all this time that we were not worthy... that there must be others better than us who deserved more. Maybe WE were meant for this! I ran to the nearest tree with a gleeful shout. We all seemed to come to the same conclusion at the same time and there were a few minutes of joyful chaos as we clamoured for the riches we saw around us.
I put on a gold coloured silk robe and arrayed myself in various items of splendour; sapphire earrings, pearl necklaces, jade bracelets studded with various stones, and diamond rings. I looked down at my hands, which only minutes before had been hard at work. They were calloused and grimy; the rings and bracelets appeared out of place. I suddenly felt self-conscious, and quickly lifted my eyes to see if anyone was watching me. A man nearby who had just discovered a chest of gold coins lifted his head with a look of disbelief and our eyes met. Our eyes spoke of the wonder around us, yet our voices remained mute. What could I say? What could he say?
As my new surroundings became familiar, I realized that there was plenty of time and plenty of riches. My desire to hoard these treasures faded, my heart began to slow to its normal pace, and my mind began to ponder. I sat down on a grassy hill beneath a gold-laden tree, watching the activity around me. Then I had a thought that made me sit up straight. Just before the gate opened, I had heard a trumpet blast and a voice. It was the most breathtaking, beautiful voice I had ever heard. The authority in that voice was almost terrifying, yet it was comforting. I knew I had heard that voice before. Maybe not audibly, but there was a familiarity about it that made every cell in my body desperate to please the one to whom that voice belonged. I realized that the gate could not possibly have stood against the command to open. I knew that absolutely nothing in the world could stand against the authority of the one who had spoken.
There was one thing that baffled me: Where was the one to whom that voice belonged? I knew for certain that I would recognize him, even though I had never seen him before. Where was he?
I tried to remember the stories that I had been told since I was a child. They were stories of freedom. But I could not recall anyone telling me what happened after the gate opened. Freedom. No one had ever defined the term for me, but somehow I knew I must meet the One for whom my whole being longed, or I could not be free even in the midst of these riches.
I wondered if I was being selfish. I was in beautifully landscaped surroundings, more spectacular than I could ever have dreamed about. I was also surrounded by unspeakable riches. What else could my heart desire? I found myself speaking out loud to the voice which had commanded the gate to open. "I am so grateful. Thank you. But what I really want is YOU. I'm sorry if I'm asking too much. But I want to know who you are."
I held my breath, almost expecting an audible answer. But I didn't even hear a whisper. I exhaled, and suddenly a peace that I had never felt before washed over me. It didn't matter as much where I was... I felt that I could even have been at the bottom of that hill again and it would have been alright, as long as I felt that peace.
I stood up and looked around me. The scene had changed somewhat. No, not the treasure. It remained the same. But the people... Most people were still milling about, looking at their new surroundings. But some were fighting over their treasure. Two men were fist fighting over a purple silk cloak that lay in a heap beside them. They trampled on it as they wrestled, and it began to look more and more like the ragged clothes they wore before coming through the gate. Behind them, hanging on a fence, were many purple silk cloaks that were identical to the one they were fighting over. I shook my head in disbelief. There were outbreaks of fighting all over.
There were some people, however, who were sitting or standing calmly and peacefully. Peacefully... Yes, when I looked at them, I could see the same peace radiating from them that I was experiencing. And I knew that they were also anticipating the arrival of the Peace-Giver.
Only a short time passed when we heard the same trumpet blast again. "Open," was the command that came forth, and my heart leapt within me with anticipation. I knew that I was soon to see the giver of the command. In the distance, the gate to the King's quarters opened. No one moved to pass through the gate. We knew that was not to be.
Suddenly, through the gate emerged a chariot. The horses were whiter than snow, the chariot was made of pure gold and it was inlaid with diamonds. But those seemed pale compared to the One who was driving the chariot. It was He! The Prince! The horses galloped down the hill toward us. Those who had been fighting amongst themselves appeared terrified. Some fainted where they stood and others even ran down the hill and back through the gate of their captivity. Most people stood unmoving, wondering what could possibly happen that was more exciting than what had already taken place. Those of us with "the peace" knew... This was the Prince of Peace! We were to meet Him! Joy unspeakable flowed through me. My heart danced and my face almost hurt from the smile that I could not contain. I knew at that moment that He was coming for me.
The Prince stopped in front of us. In a voice that all could hear, He said, "Follow Me." My feet were propelled by my heart's desire to be near Him. "I'm coming, I'm coming! Thank you!" I shouted with glee. The chariot raced toward the east, and effortlessly, I kept up. I did not look around me. I could only focus on the One who had given me the command. He left a trail of love behind Him and I basked in it as I walked. I knew I was not the only one who followed, but I was only truly aware of He and I. We reached a wall that ran south to the bottom of the hill, and to the north, to the King's quarters. The Prince stopped and turned to face us.
"Hail, Prince of Peace!" I shouted, and several others echoed my salute. "But aren't You the King?" asked someone to my left. "I AM" He replied. I felt confused for a moment. Wasn't He the Prince of Peace? He looked at me kindly, and responded to my thoughts. "I AM." I looked up into His eyes, and was so overwhelmed that I could not stand. I fell to my face and worshipped Him. "You Are! You Were! You Forever Will Be!" All those who were there fell before Him. I was unaware of the passing of time. It could have been hours, days, or minutes. I wanted to worship forever.
Then He spoke. "Crumble." The wall before me collapsed into fine dust. "Follow Me" said the Prince, the King. Then He climbed off His chariot and took my hand.
When the dust completely settled, I saw before me a river. It was wide and the flow was fast. It was a deep, sparkling blue, and shone with a light that came from the river itself. It flowed down from the top of the hill, and continued as far as I could see. I desired so badly to jump in. I knew that in that river, was life. True life. But I didn't want to let go of my Prince's hand. "I will never leave you", He assured me. Uncertain, I looked up at Him. One glance into His eyes, and I knew that He could only speak truth, and with no more hesitation, I plunged into the depths of the river. I sank, but never reached the bottom. When I bobbed to the surface, I saw that all the grime and dirt I had accumulated over the years was washed clean. My skin was fresh and new. The jewels I had adorned myself with were also gone. I knew that I would not need them at my destination. I looked up. My eyes followed the path of the river up the hill. I saw it go under the jewel studded walls of the King's quarters. I saw it enter the castle, then the throne room. I then saw, with the eyes of my heart and by revelation from the Prince, that the source of this River of Life was the throne and the One who sat upon it. "Go up", urged the Prince, "Go up."
As I wiped the sleep from my eyes, I imagined the King on His throne, living in the middle of that opulence. My imagination soared. What if I was of noble birth? What if I was summoned by the King to live in the glorious light of His presence?
Now I was really dreaming. I shook my head to wake myself up. I looked around at the shoddy conditions in which I lived, then stuck my head out of the rickety door of the shack that I called home. Everyone else was already making their way down the path to the fields we worked every day. I shuffled my feet along the dirt floor to the basin to wash my face. There was no need to change my clothes. The rags I wore were the only clothes I had.
As I walked down the dusty path, I watched the multitude of people who walked ahead of me. Every day, we walked down this dusty path. Every day, we toiled to grow food in dusty fields that never produced quite enough, and whose fruit never tasted good. For a moment, I longed for something... something better. Again, I shook my head to clear my thoughts. The fruit didn't taste good? I had never thought of that before. Why should I concern myself with the flavour when I hardly had enough to fill my belly?
I began my work. It was not fulfilling, but then again, it never was. We lived and worked at the bottom of the hill. We were the lowest of the low, and the layout of the city reflected this clearly.
Our city was set on a hill. At the top of the hill was the castle where the King dwelled. I could not possibly describe it. For one thing, I had never been anywhere near it. I could see the spires reaching high into the blue sky, and it always seemed to shimmer with light. I could see the most lush, brilliant green trees around it and vines with fruit growing up to the top of the highest tower. To divide the King's living quarters with the rest of the city, a magnificent wall had been built. There were gates into the King's area, but they could not be opened except by decree of the King. I only knew this to be true, for from where I stood, I could not see those gates.
Below the castle was the hub of the city, where I could only assume the middle class lived and worked. I had never seen this for there was a wall between us and them. This wall was not inlaid with jewels. It was made of large grey bricks. I leaned on the wall, wiping my sweaty brow. Dusty perspiration dripped into my eyes, and I tried to blink away the grit. Sometimes I felt hopeless when I looked at this wall, and today was no exception. Why was I at the bottom of the hill? It seemed unfair. All the people living on the other side of the wall were living in affluence simply because they had been born there. Why was the wall here? It had a gate but it, like the gate to the castle, could only be opened by decree of the King. To my knowledge, it had never been opened. The hinges appeared to be rusted shut and I wondered if it could open at all. There had been rumours as long as I could remember that one day, that gate would open, and...
A trumpet blast interrupted my thoughts. Normally, a trumpet announced the end of the work day, but I could tell from the position of the sun and the lack of hunger in my belly that the day was still young. And it sounded different... louder... clear... it sounded like LIGHT. Once more, the trumpet blasted and then a voice gently, assertively commanded, "Open." A scraping, grating sound filled the air. My heart jumped within me and for a moment I forgot to breathe.
The gate! It was opening!
The sea of people of which you and I were a part paused for a moment. Is this real? Is this really happening? The story we had heard from childhood was not a myth? Is it possible that we might be free?
Then, as if with one movement, we rushed for the gate. It seemed to take forever, yet no time at all. Once we were through, we looked about in silence and awe. The first thing I saw was that there were jewels strewn haphazardly about. Lying on the ground, sitting on tables, hanging from trees; necklaces, rings, bracelets, and silk and satin robes were everywhere. I began to slowly walk toward a tree ornamented with golden necklaces. Then I realized -- there were no other people here!
The only people I could see was the crowd who just came through the gate. Where was everyone? Is it possible there was no one else in this city but us? Were these jewels here for us? Weren't we the lowest of the low? Maybe there was no one better than us after all. Maybe all of humanity was at the bottom of the hill. Maybe we had believed a lie all this time that we were not worthy... that there must be others better than us who deserved more. Maybe WE were meant for this! I ran to the nearest tree with a gleeful shout. We all seemed to come to the same conclusion at the same time and there were a few minutes of joyful chaos as we clamoured for the riches we saw around us.
I put on a gold coloured silk robe and arrayed myself in various items of splendour; sapphire earrings, pearl necklaces, jade bracelets studded with various stones, and diamond rings. I looked down at my hands, which only minutes before had been hard at work. They were calloused and grimy; the rings and bracelets appeared out of place. I suddenly felt self-conscious, and quickly lifted my eyes to see if anyone was watching me. A man nearby who had just discovered a chest of gold coins lifted his head with a look of disbelief and our eyes met. Our eyes spoke of the wonder around us, yet our voices remained mute. What could I say? What could he say?
As my new surroundings became familiar, I realized that there was plenty of time and plenty of riches. My desire to hoard these treasures faded, my heart began to slow to its normal pace, and my mind began to ponder. I sat down on a grassy hill beneath a gold-laden tree, watching the activity around me. Then I had a thought that made me sit up straight. Just before the gate opened, I had heard a trumpet blast and a voice. It was the most breathtaking, beautiful voice I had ever heard. The authority in that voice was almost terrifying, yet it was comforting. I knew I had heard that voice before. Maybe not audibly, but there was a familiarity about it that made every cell in my body desperate to please the one to whom that voice belonged. I realized that the gate could not possibly have stood against the command to open. I knew that absolutely nothing in the world could stand against the authority of the one who had spoken.
There was one thing that baffled me: Where was the one to whom that voice belonged? I knew for certain that I would recognize him, even though I had never seen him before. Where was he?
I tried to remember the stories that I had been told since I was a child. They were stories of freedom. But I could not recall anyone telling me what happened after the gate opened. Freedom. No one had ever defined the term for me, but somehow I knew I must meet the One for whom my whole being longed, or I could not be free even in the midst of these riches.
I wondered if I was being selfish. I was in beautifully landscaped surroundings, more spectacular than I could ever have dreamed about. I was also surrounded by unspeakable riches. What else could my heart desire? I found myself speaking out loud to the voice which had commanded the gate to open. "I am so grateful. Thank you. But what I really want is YOU. I'm sorry if I'm asking too much. But I want to know who you are."
I held my breath, almost expecting an audible answer. But I didn't even hear a whisper. I exhaled, and suddenly a peace that I had never felt before washed over me. It didn't matter as much where I was... I felt that I could even have been at the bottom of that hill again and it would have been alright, as long as I felt that peace.
I stood up and looked around me. The scene had changed somewhat. No, not the treasure. It remained the same. But the people... Most people were still milling about, looking at their new surroundings. But some were fighting over their treasure. Two men were fist fighting over a purple silk cloak that lay in a heap beside them. They trampled on it as they wrestled, and it began to look more and more like the ragged clothes they wore before coming through the gate. Behind them, hanging on a fence, were many purple silk cloaks that were identical to the one they were fighting over. I shook my head in disbelief. There were outbreaks of fighting all over.
There were some people, however, who were sitting or standing calmly and peacefully. Peacefully... Yes, when I looked at them, I could see the same peace radiating from them that I was experiencing. And I knew that they were also anticipating the arrival of the Peace-Giver.
Only a short time passed when we heard the same trumpet blast again. "Open," was the command that came forth, and my heart leapt within me with anticipation. I knew that I was soon to see the giver of the command. In the distance, the gate to the King's quarters opened. No one moved to pass through the gate. We knew that was not to be.
Suddenly, through the gate emerged a chariot. The horses were whiter than snow, the chariot was made of pure gold and it was inlaid with diamonds. But those seemed pale compared to the One who was driving the chariot. It was He! The Prince! The horses galloped down the hill toward us. Those who had been fighting amongst themselves appeared terrified. Some fainted where they stood and others even ran down the hill and back through the gate of their captivity. Most people stood unmoving, wondering what could possibly happen that was more exciting than what had already taken place. Those of us with "the peace" knew... This was the Prince of Peace! We were to meet Him! Joy unspeakable flowed through me. My heart danced and my face almost hurt from the smile that I could not contain. I knew at that moment that He was coming for me.
The Prince stopped in front of us. In a voice that all could hear, He said, "Follow Me." My feet were propelled by my heart's desire to be near Him. "I'm coming, I'm coming! Thank you!" I shouted with glee. The chariot raced toward the east, and effortlessly, I kept up. I did not look around me. I could only focus on the One who had given me the command. He left a trail of love behind Him and I basked in it as I walked. I knew I was not the only one who followed, but I was only truly aware of He and I. We reached a wall that ran south to the bottom of the hill, and to the north, to the King's quarters. The Prince stopped and turned to face us.
"Hail, Prince of Peace!" I shouted, and several others echoed my salute. "But aren't You the King?" asked someone to my left. "I AM" He replied. I felt confused for a moment. Wasn't He the Prince of Peace? He looked at me kindly, and responded to my thoughts. "I AM." I looked up into His eyes, and was so overwhelmed that I could not stand. I fell to my face and worshipped Him. "You Are! You Were! You Forever Will Be!" All those who were there fell before Him. I was unaware of the passing of time. It could have been hours, days, or minutes. I wanted to worship forever.
Then He spoke. "Crumble." The wall before me collapsed into fine dust. "Follow Me" said the Prince, the King. Then He climbed off His chariot and took my hand.
When the dust completely settled, I saw before me a river. It was wide and the flow was fast. It was a deep, sparkling blue, and shone with a light that came from the river itself. It flowed down from the top of the hill, and continued as far as I could see. I desired so badly to jump in. I knew that in that river, was life. True life. But I didn't want to let go of my Prince's hand. "I will never leave you", He assured me. Uncertain, I looked up at Him. One glance into His eyes, and I knew that He could only speak truth, and with no more hesitation, I plunged into the depths of the river. I sank, but never reached the bottom. When I bobbed to the surface, I saw that all the grime and dirt I had accumulated over the years was washed clean. My skin was fresh and new. The jewels I had adorned myself with were also gone. I knew that I would not need them at my destination. I looked up. My eyes followed the path of the river up the hill. I saw it go under the jewel studded walls of the King's quarters. I saw it enter the castle, then the throne room. I then saw, with the eyes of my heart and by revelation from the Prince, that the source of this River of Life was the throne and the One who sat upon it. "Go up", urged the Prince, "Go up."
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