Nothing More Important
Hi Everyone, I am writing today about a four part vision that I received this past Saturday. The theme is about the things we value and how God see those same things.
The vision
First I see a small black boy about 5 years old. He is wearing a red shirt and standing next to a child’s height, round, blue table. I notice that he has lost all this hair. He walks away from the table.
Next I see a gold chain necklace with a center medallion from which three gold chains hang straight down. On the medallion is a portrait of a Victorian woman in profile, wearing a high comb and mantilla.
Then I see a man behind a steering wheel, pulling a string from the center of the steering column. The string seems endless. The man gets frustrated, that he keeps pulling and winding the string onto his right hand. He never reaches the end.
In the last part of the vision, I see two outdoor storage lockers with garage doors. They are both fully open and are adjacent to one another. The locker on the left is completely empty while the one on the right is fully packed with only a single narrow strip just in front of the garage door. There is no walkway to access any of the items for viewing or retrieval. Everything is packed floor to ceiling.
As I have prayed about this vision over the last several days, I believe this is what the Lord is showing me.
1. The Little Boy
In the first part of the vision, I see the little boy, who has lost his hair, perhaps from cancer treatments like chemotherapy. This is a hard thing for anyone to experience, but even worse for such a tiny guy. He is simply standing next to a blue table. There is nothing on the table to distract him, or to play with. He is completely alone. He stands there for just a minute and then walks away. What would a little guy like this value? His health? To simply feel well, to have energy to play? His desires are probably very simple. He would love to have friends to play with, and a loving Mother or Father to read him a story. Maybe something good to eat.
2. The Necklace
In the second part of the vision, I asked myself, “Who would wear such a piece?” Who would have had the piece made?” It is definitely a woman’s piece of jewelry. If a woman had it made for her husband to remember her while he was away on business, it would have been concealed on the inside of a pocket watch, or a locket, but certainly not a necklace. A woman may have had it made to give to her child as a keepsake, or to give to a son going off to college or to war. Even though it is a necklace, it would probably be treasured, but never be worn. The person who had it made would have given this as a gift to a family member, someone they loved.
However, I don’t believe this is the case for this particular piece. The portrait, was in profile, so the beauty, or personality of the woman was not apparent. It was not handpainted, like some of that era, which gives color to the face and sparkle to the eyes, making the portrait come alive. No, this portrait was more like a black and white photo.
The face of the woman was very stern. It seemed to be more about authority. As if the woman held a high place of honor in society. I was reminded of Queen Victoria upon seeing it. The high comb in the hair was worn by women of her day, yet, the addition of the mantilla was more often seen among Spanish women, even though I found a few pictures of the Queen herself wearing a mantilla with the comb.
I believe that the person creating this piece, could have been someone who wanted to flatter the woman, by honoring her with a portrait of herself. Usually pride is the motivator behind a portrait. What does the person value? Herself ? Maybe she values power, money or her beauty that can can give her what she wants.
3. The Man Behind the Wheel of a Car
The man is frustrated with his car. He cannot drive until he fixes what seems to be wrong. The string does not belong in the steering column. He would like to be done with the string, but can’t seem to get beyond it. The steering wheel, represents control. He wants to be commander of his destiny, to go where he wants to go, without any hindrances. He wants to call the shots. He is tired of spinning his wheels in life. What does he value? Freedom. Freedom from work and responsibilities. Freedom from financial stress.
The more the man continues to pull the string, the tighter his right hand becomes bound. He wants to go his own way and do his own thing, but he has no idea that he is “kicking against the goads.” If he were to give the Lord the steering wheel, and submit to his direction, he might find the peace that he seems to lack. The Lord says to us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11: 28-30
4. The Two Storage Lockers
In the last piece of the vision, there were two storage lockers. One was filled to capacity and the other was entirely empty.
Why do we save things? What do we save? What do we treasure? Old photos, our awards, our plaques, our collections? Old love letters? Back issues of magazines? Do we keep every generation of computer we’ve ever bought? Do we keep our children’s report cards? Or do we keep every article clipped from a newspaper or magazine? Do we keep recipes, hoping someday to make the dishes? Do we keep craft supplies, just in case. Or anything that comes to mind...just in case!
Some people are all about things and gadgets, and other people are just into an uncluttered open space. You can tell alot about us by what we treasure, and where we spend our time. The Lord spoke about treasures. He said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do no break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
What seems most critical about possessions, and other things on which we bestow high value is that they pose a threat to our devotion to the Lord. We may find that possessions like a television, may be fine for occasional entertainment, but they can become so great an attraction, that we find them demanding much time and attention.
What does the Lord value? Time spent with him, in worship, in prayer, reading the word, helping a friend, visiting the sick or shut-in, and spending time with the family? And of course the things we need for life, he gives to us. "So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all theses things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about the body, what you will wear." Matthew 6:31-33
Jesus uses possessions, and the things we love to test us.
When the rich young ruler asked Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life, "Jesus looked at him and loved him. 'One thing you lack,' he said. 'Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.' At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, 'How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!'" Mark 10:21-23
But a final test will be given to us when Jesus returns. He gives us this warning: "It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you , on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.” Luke 17:30-35
These were words of warning written in red! Jesus wanted us to know how important it is to remember Lot’s wife. She never made it to safety, fleeing the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. She was told, “Do not look back.” But because her heart was still for her life, and the things she loved back in Sodom, she looked back and turned into a pillar of salt.
If someone borrows something of ours and returns it in a ruined condition, we should not be angry because the object was never really ours. Everything that we possess is only on loan to us. We are simply to be stewards of the things God has entrusted us. The word says: "If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.....But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back." Luke 6:28-35
These commands of Jesus, are so counter to our flesh. We are going to need a lot of practice giving our things up, to really appreciate what he is saying. I believe that real liberty can come to us when we are free of the need to hold onto our possessions, like they are part of our very selves.
For the past several years my family and I have lived in a large complex, which seems to have fire drills and false alarms going off all the time. I have learned to keep the important things together. Contacts, glasses, keys, cell phone, purse, and in the bad weather, an extra blanket.
But preparing for a fire drill is different than preparing for the Lord's return. He could come back at anytime, and we must be expecting him. I will not need my glasses, contacts or cell phone. I won’t need my purse or a blanket, the only thing I can take with me is another soul. Even then, we cannot go into the house and grab a family member to take with us. They are either ready themselves, or they are not. Our eyes must be upon the Lord.
I believe that this is what concerns most Christian moms. We cannot make our children love the Lord. It is exclusively an individual matter. The two angels urged Lot to get his family out of the city. When he spoke to his two sons-in-law pledged to marry his daughters, they thought he was joking. They stayed behind and were destroyed. We pray continually for the salvation of our families and friends, yet when will they take our urging seriously?
I know that I have written about the Lord’s second coming and rapture several times, but it must be that God wants us to be ready, otherwise he would not continue to give me such a sober message. My prayer is that people start taking their walk with the Lord seriously, for there is nothing that can possibly be more important.
Note:
For more of what the Lord values, read Isaiah 58. It is something that I come back to over and over again. We see his heart in this passage. We see what he values.
Also remember John 3:16, because what the Lord values is us! "For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us!" Romans 5:8
