A Greater Commitment
Hi Friends,
I hope you are healthy and are finding your true strength in the Lord. Today I am sharing a vision that I received several days ago. When we say “Yes” to God, he begins to take us deeper with him, but also into making a deeper commitment to him. This vision is about the deeper walk and the greater commitment.
The vision: A Burgundy Colored Tent
This is the second vision of a tent, that the Lord has given me. But this time it is not a two person tent, but a tent for just one. I saw the tent laid upon a mountain. The ground was rocky, not smooth. It was an unusual tent, in that its shape was fairly rectangular, with several angled facets on the roof. It had an opening at one end, that was on an incline, so that it was not vertical like a door, and not horizontal like a roof. The color was a burgundy, a deep rich dark red, with a drop of blue.
A tent is a dwelling, a shelter, a place of refuge. A tent is a barrier from the wind, the rain and the snow. It is a place of modest comfort. It is simply a portable shelter, with no luxuries, no running water, no TV, no refrigerator.
But the tent is a blessed place. It can be a place of meeting, but also a place of solitude. I say it is blessed, because many people have been blessed because they are tent dwellers.
A Call to Minimalism?
A person who chooses the tent over a home with a 3 car garage, is blessed. How so? Was Jesus blessed? “The Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Luke 9:58 He was homeless. Were his disciples blessed? “We have left all we had to follow you.” Luke 18:28
What did Jesus teach? In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus speaks of the seed that fell in places where the seed could not grow properly: on the path, on the rocky places, and among the thorns. “The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.” Mark 4:18:19
Material possessions, wealth, and the worries of life, caused by believing that these temporal things are important, push God out of our lives. “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so that you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness and slave to put on your eyes, so you can see.” Revelations 3:17-18
Jesus told the rich young ruler, much the same thing: “One thing you lack. Go sell all that you own, give to the poor and come follow me. Then you will have treasure in heaven.” Matthew 10:21 I am sure you remember his response: a hung head and a sad look. Why? Because he cared more for his possessions than he did for God. He walked away - but worse - he walked away from God. There is no salvation for someone who loves their things more than God. This is idolatry.
“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” Revelations 22:14-15
A Call to Obedience?
I have always been taken by the story of the Recabite family. The Lord wanted to use this family as an example to those in Judah, of true obedience. The Lord asked Jeremiah the prophet to invite the members of the Recabite family “to come to one of the side rooms of the house of the Lord and give them wine to drink.” Jeremiah 35:2
But the Recabites were a family that were obedient to their father’s commands: “We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jonadab son of Recab gave us this command: ‘Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine. Also you must never build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards; you must never have any of these things, but must always live in tents. Then you will live a long time in the land where you are nomads.” Jeremiah 35:6-7
This story has stayed with me for years. I can readily see why he wanted them to not drink wine, because it says in the word, “Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.” Proverbs 20:1 There is no redeeming benefit to wine as I see it. It clouds the mind and makes one less capable of self-control and sound thinking.
But, I thought long and hard about the tent. Why did Jonadab command them to live in tents? The concept of ownership becoming a burden was shown clearly in an educational children’s cartoon called “Horrible Histories.” In one episode, the children traveling through time, met a nomadic group of people who after making a musical instrument, had to later discarded it because there was no room among their few possessions. They could only carry a few things with them every time they moved. Possessions were to be considered a short term blessing, but an encumbrance to travel.
If you were constantly moving, do you think that a three-piece sofa, would be a burden or a blessing? How many appliances would you really need? If you had to carry your clothes, how many outfits would you bring? Everything you bring would have to serve more than one function - to earn a spot in your suitcase. Even sentimental treasures, unless they are very small would be left behind.
Jonadab knew this lifestyle, and wanted his family to live simply - to live at peace with each other, and at peace with God. Is it possible, that without wine to confuse the mind, and fewer possessions that promote envy, there might be fewer arguments? Is it possibly easier to cultivate self-denial in a child, who from birth has been taught to let go, and leave behind? Perhaps without barns, storage facilities, or garages to store food and other supplies, people might be more apt to trust the Lord for their needs.
Because Jonadab’s descendants valued the wisdom found in his commands, they were obedient to keep them. However, when the Assyrians came to attack Israel, they went to Jerusalem to seek shelter. They gave up the nomadic lifestyle at that time, but they continued to follow the commands of Jonadab with regards to wine. God commended them for this: “‘You have obeyed the command of your forefather Jonadab and have followed all his instructions and have done everything he ordered.’ Therefore, this is what the Lord Almighty the God of Israel, says: ‘Jonadab son of Recab will never fail to have a man to serve me.’” Jeremiah 35:18-19
A Call to Death
The top of the tent in the vision, I have to admit, looked or reminded me of a casket. It had beveled edges or facets built into the shape of the roof. And because the tent was rectangular and large enough for only one person, it brought to mind the idea of a coffin or casket. So I asked the Lord, “Does the tent speak of death? Dying to oneself, or dying to sin? Does it represent natural death?”
He answered with a scripture: “In the same way, count yourself dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:11
By this, the Lord was referring to a spiritual death - the death of sin. It is by an act of our will, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, that we can: “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire and greed, which is idolatry.” Colossians 3:5
“And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses.” Colossians 2:13
But our bodies are temporal. We use our natural bodies for a brief time on earth, and then comes death, when we give up our tents, for a much better one: “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.” 2 Corinthians 5:2-4
This passage comes from Paul’s heart’s longing to be with God, in a new glorified body. He sees his natural body as a temporary dwelling filled with human desires, pains, and weaknesses. He sees this life, not as life at all, but only something that is passing away. He wants to be with God, and to experience real life, a life free of sin, temptations, and what he sees as nakedness - human shame. All of this is left behind. Life - eternal life, “swallows up” the past, the human earthly experience. He wants to close this chapter, and go on to where life truly begins - a life with the Lord, for all eternity!
Peter also referred to his body as a tent: “I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of the body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.” 2 Peter 1:13
Peter having realized that he would be departing soon, chose to cover the most important topics: election and calling, the truth of scripture, false teachers, and the day of the Lord. His urgency and pleading was focused upon living life, from an eternal perspective.
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming….Make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” 2 Peter 3:10-12, 14
Paul, Peter, James, John and Jude all pleaded for their followers to remain faithful to God and trust scripture, and not to be lead astray by sin or false teachers and false doctrine. Their concerns are genuine.
A Call to Seek the Lord
The tent is a shelter: “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.’” Psalm 91:1-2
The tent in the vision was pitched on a mountain. The ground was rocky, A mountain top may be cold and windy. The rocky surfaces can be slippery and the drop off, steep. But a mountain top is where you can hear the voice of God. Moses climbed Mount Sinai eight times to speak to God. It was a place of revelation, but also a place of waiting. Twice, he stayed on the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights. When we are seeking God, he may have us wait with him for a period of time. “Moses was there with the Lord for forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water.” Exodus 34:28
But at the end of his life, Moses climbed Mount Nebo for God to show him the Promised Land. “And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is.” Deuteronomy 34:5
(It is believed that Joshua, wrote the last chapter of Deuteronomy, to record Moses’ death.)
Getting alone with God, of course does not have to be on a mountain top, but alone is truly alone. Even Jesus had to get alone to pray, to seek the Father, and spend time with him. It is in this time of seeking God, that he speaks to us. If we want to hear from him, we must spend time with him.
“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” Mark 1:35
“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 5:16
In Summary
So the Lord’s message to us through this vision is clear. He wants us to find shelter with him, to see him as our refuge. He wants us to fast and pray and wait upon him for revelation and to hear his voice.
He wants us to let go of things, possessions, habits and everything that hinders our walk with him. The Lord wants us to live simply, just as Paul said, “Make it your ambition to live the quiet life.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11
He wants us to live at peace: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18
He wants us to be free of covetousness, and the things that provoke us to sin, like wine, and greed. He wants us to die to these desires, to die to ourselves. It is the act of self-denial. Jesus said, “If anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23
So we must live by dying to ourselves. We must be dead to sin, giving no place for sin to harbor in our thoughts, or our flesh. The Lord would have us live each day, with an eternal mindset. “Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is. seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:1-2
I hope you will ponder this message, for I believe this is what the Lord is showing me. I know this may seem more than anyone of us could do, but we have to make every effort to follow him. It is not in our doing that we are saved, because we know that we are saved by the blood of Jesus, and his death on the cross, for our sins. But because we are his children, He wants us to follow his instructions, and his commands. “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” John 13:15-17
So I am sure that his blessing is what each of of truly wants for ourselves and our loved ones. So we try to please him, simply because we love him. He will be returning for us, his bride, and he wants us to be ready.
God bless you!
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