Two Directions
Hi Friends,
Much has happened recently. There have been spiritual fires fought and put out, and there have been several victories too. God is good. That is what we know to be true - simply that God is forever good. His ways are perfect. If we align ourselves with him, in spite of what may seem to be going on in the natural, we will see God move powerfully behind the scenes. When we see miracles, healings, and the Lord’s provision, we will know without a doubt, that we have seen heaven touching earth.
I am writing today about three visions that may point out the obvious, but there is still revelation when the obvious, and overlooked become a rhema word for us.
The Clipboard
In the first vision, I see a clip board with a single sheet of paper on it. At the top of the page is the word “Closed.”
A clipboard is used as a tool in the field. It is meant to be used as a writing surface when one is on the go, or on a job site. It holds forms and papers securely. There are now tablets which will soon, and have already replaced the clipboard. But God uses pictures that mean something that perhaps only you or I would understand. And because a clipboard is a functional tool that I have used often, he will give that picture to me. If you are part of the more tech savvy population, he may choose a different picture for you. God is very personal!
The sheet of paper on the clipboard is white and blank, with the exception of the word, “closed.” This sheet of paper reminds me of a story that a visiting evangelist told us. He had a son who was struggling with making a commitment to God. His son was afraid that the Lord might send him to a place where the gospel is met with persecution, incarceration and even death. Those that are called to the mission field, are fully aware of this possibility. (There are missionaries who have chosen to “live dead.” They are committed to taking the church and the gospel message to where it does not exist. These people have chosen to live for Christ and to entrust him with both their lives and their deaths.)
In the story of the evangelist’s son, the young man was praying one day, and got up the courage to write a contract with God. He wanted it to be a written agreement between himself and the Lord. After writing what he wanted to write, the Lord spoke to him saying, “Turn it over, and sign it.” God was directing this young man to trust him-- to sign a blank white page. The Lord wanted his commitment to be with no reservations, and no strings attached. God wanted the evangelist’s son to trust him with the details of his life’s calling.
When Jesus sent out the disciples, he gave them instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff--no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals, but not an extra tunic. Whenever you enter in a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” Mark 6:8-11
The Lord wanted the disciples to depend entirely on his provision. They would have to rely on the divine favor of God and the people that they would meet.
It is not easy today, to take a trip anywhere, without bringing extra clothes, food and money. It is like being homeless. There would be no money for a hotel, or a bus, or a train. Everything you would need, would come only from the goodwill of trusting individuals.
In the vision, I see the clipboard as a white page, with no details, nothing other than the word
“Closed.” I believe that God is saying “This issue is closed. Settle the matter once and for all. Give me all of yourself, and trust me as to where I take you and what I choose to do with your life.”
I am taking this message as being for me personally, but I realize that it is something all of us need to settle in our own minds, once and for all. After all, “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
We, as independent people, believe that we can make our own plans and build our own fortunes. But if we are submitted to the Lord and belong to him then we must respond to his commands with obedience. “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast in your arrogant scheme. All such boasting is evil.” James 4:13
We need to seek God for his direction, his leading. Otherwise, we run ahead of him, and get into trouble. Then we pray for the Lord to rescue us, or to bail us out of some difficult circumstance, something which we could have avoided had we been seeking the Lord’s direction in the first place.
Two Trucks
I saw a red and white truck in the distance, coming from the left and going to the right. At the same time, I saw a dark charcoal grey truck coming from the right and going to the left. The two trucks simply pass each other.
I believe that the two trucks represent two different people. Coming from the left in most of my visions, means to have come from the world, the world ‘s values, or the world of sin. Coming from the right means that the person has come from a place of righteousness, or a place of right standing with God. In this case, the two trucks are driving towards each other, having come from opposite places, and are now going in the direction from which the opposing truck would have come. This depicts a change in the course of each of these people’s lives.
The red and white truck, comes from the left, or the world of sin, and leaves that place behind. He is going in the direction of righteousness, on a road that leads to God. The truck is painted both red and white. The red represents sin, but it at the same time, represents the blood of Jesus which cleanses us from sin. The result of that cleansing is purity, righteousness, and having no sin, represented by the color white.
Therefore, as I believe it to be, the truck describes a sinner, who becomes born again, cleansed by the blood of Jesus. He leaves the world and its values behind (on the left) and goes in the direction of God. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18
The dark charcoal grey truck leaves from the right, representing the place of right standing with God and goes in the direction of the world. This is someone who becomes enamored with the world and its offerings and is lead away from God. The truck is dark because his motives are dark. Temptation is at work, and if it goes unchecked, apostasy follows. The person this dark truck represents is in a state of apostasy. He is on the road, yet has not reached his final destination. This person has willfully chosen to sin, for he is shown represented by the dark grey. Black represents death, which is the last stop on the road. Spiritual death, or “the second death,” is another name for hell.
“When a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, he will die for this. He will die because of the iniquity he has committed. But if a wicked man turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life. Because he considered and turned from all the transgressions he had committed, he will surely live; he will not die.” Ezekiel 18:26-28
“For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God. So repent and live!” Ezekiel 18:32
This is good news for those who turn from sin to serve the Lord. But at the same time it is bad news for those who have tasted of the goodness of God and have now chosen to embrace the world and its values. I have quoted this scripture often: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15
“See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” Hebrews 3:12
“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.” Hebrews 10:26
These are sober words. I want to quote from an article in my study Bible:
The Full Life Study Bible, “Personal Apostasy,” (1) To apostatize means to sever one’s saving relationship with Christ or to withdraw from vital union with and true faith in him (see article on Faith and Grace, p. 1720). Thus, individual apostasy is possible only for those who have first experienced salvation, regeneration and renewal through the Holy Spirit (cf. Lk 8:13; Heb 6:4-5); it is not a mere denial of NT doctrine by the unsaved within the visible church. Apostasy may involve two separate, though related, aspects: (a) theological apostasy, i.e., a rejection of all or some of the original teachings of Christ and the apostles (1Ti 4:1; 2Ti 4:3), and (b) moral apostasy, i.e., the former believer ceases to remain in Christ and instead becomes enslaved again to sin and immorality (Isa 29:13; Mt 23:25-28; Ro 6:15-23; 8:6-13).
So in regards to our loved ones who have backslidden, I want to encourage you to keep praying for them. Some have chosen a lifestyle of sin, others have embraced false religions, and some have chosen to practice divination for monetary gain, and others consider money more important than God.
We should never assume that they have reached the point of no return. Through prayer, and sharing our testimonies and the gospel of peace, we may see a turnaround. They may indeed, repent and once again make peace with God. The Lord encourages us with these words, “For all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27
So never, ever give up on them! The Lord wants none to be lost. “‘Return, unfaithful people,’ declares the Lord, ‘for I am your husband. I’ll take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I’ll bring you to Zion.’” Jeremiah 3:14
A Road Sign
In this vision, I saw a two lane road on a steep downward slope. At the bottom of the hill was an intersection with a sign posted, not on the right as you might see a stop sign, but on the left. The sign was round and white, with the words “slant us,” written across its face.
The road itself was slanted. The hill upon which the road was built provided a steep incline, or slope. If we were to graph the slope of the hill, we would call it a negative slope because the coordinates on the line, (viewed left to right), become more positive on the X axis, and more negative on the Y axis. (The slope of a line is the change in Y over the change in X).
If one were traveling on the downward or negative slope, and then were to see a sign that said, “Slant us,” one might see it as a call to change the slant of the road. The slope would then have to become either more negative or more positive, for there to be a change.
Because the sign was on the left, we might say that the posted sign was intended to reach those on the left. Referring to the explanation above, the left represents the world view, the world’s values, and everything that is against God.
The sign could be giving directions or possibly a warning: Change directions!
Or it could be a sign that calls for help: “Help us! We are going too fast downhill and can’t stop! -- Slant us! Change the slope!”
When driving in mountainous areas, there are sometimes side roads created especially for “runaway trucks.” These side roads are positively sloped to allow the driver to slow down and gain control of his truck.
There are many people speeding through life, not realizing that they are heading for disaster. However when a person does come to that realization, he knows that something needs to change, and change immediately! At these critical times of life, people are more open to receiving help from the Lord. They may ask for prayer; they may be willing to go to church; and often, they may know that they need to get right with God.
The sign may appear as a warning, coming as a sickness, a heart attack or stroke, a death in the family, a broken marriage, a financial crisis, a loss of employment, or the loss of a home.
“Slant us,” is a cry for help. They are going too fast in the wrong direction. We need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, asking the Lord to help us, help them. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9
When we help someone to be reconciled with God, or helping them to make peace with God, we become peacemakers. We become sons of God! How wonderful. Everything the Lord does is good!
Thanks for reading. I hope you are encouraged to go deeper in your relationship with the Lord, and to share the gospel with those around you. Let’s believe God for changed lives! And please, pray for a revival in our nation. We want to see the whole nation at peace with one another, filled with the love of God - In God we trust! “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” Psalm 33:12
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