Compromise with the World
Hi Everyone,
I hope you are all well. Today I have five visions that I would like to share with you. I believe that the Lord is dealing with our motives, and our commitment to him. The days are truly wicked, so we need to rise above the dealings of the world and not become weighed down with the “what ifs.” Let’s exalt the Lord and he will lift us up!
The Visions
The Parking Lot
In the first vision, I saw a parking lot that was bordered by a street in front and a stand of trees in the back. It was in a semi-residential area with a single small residential/office building just off the street and a single vehicle parked to the side of the building. As I came into the parking lot, I had the desire to hide, to stay for a while, to be secluded from the view of others. But I knew that this was not my property, and that I would not be able to hide or stay here. I was reminded of the passage in scripture where Jesus spoke of his living situation to a scribe who claimed to want to follow him.
“Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.” Matthew 8:18-22
Jesus was telling this scribe that even though he claimed to want to follow Jesus, he was not prepared for a life of hardship and uncertainty. It is hard for many people to leave their comfort to do anything challenging. Most people like to hold on to the status quo, and will avoid situations that bring change, uncertainty and a lack of physical or emotional comfort.
Many people may have a desire to go to church, but after staying up late on a Saturday evening, will not be able to leave the comfort of a warm bed.
In the vision, I felt the need to hide, to find a place of security, a little corner of the world where I could find peace. But there is no peace greater than the peace found in our Savior’s arms. It is in his presence that we find rest. “You will keep in perfect peace, those whose minds are stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3
A Foot
In the second vision, I saw a young woman’s foot with the toenails painted a baby blue. I believe that this vision represents several things. Usually when I see a foot or a shoe, I understand that it concerns our walk with the Lord. This foot belonged to a woman, and most often a woman represents the bride of Christ, the church. The color blue from a Biblical perspective generally denotes God or heaven.
I have always considered painting the nails as an exercise in frivolity, generally a waste of time. I am very active with my hands, (sewing, drafting, piano playing, typing, and various projects.) I find that I cannot wear nail polish and draft, for the color will come off on the paper and ruin the drawing. I use my hands so much that if I were to wear polish, they would chip immediately.
Painted nails may be considered attractive to many people, but to me, they are a nuisance. But my opinion is not what is important. What is important, is the Lord’s opinion regarding this vision. I believe that the Lord is drawing our attention to the church and its behaviors and motives.
I believe that the church is attempting to look pleasing and acceptable in the eyes of the world, but is not looking to the Lord to please him. Paint is something that is applied, just like makeup. It is there to hide the things we consider unattractive about us.
In the vision, the nail polish was a baby blue. It is not a true blue, a true representation of God or of heaven or of godliness. It has been mixed with white to “white wash” and cover over what is sin. The white has diluted the true blue, representing compromise.
Not every church, but many churches are willing to compromise with the world and its values, desiring what the world desires. If believers are more concerned for their image, and prefer to “look good,” rather than to please the Lord, then there is a serious disconnect with God.
“You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4
If we find that to love and be devoted to the Lord is too great a commitment, we will find ourselves settling for a painted-on look of godliness. We will have nothing of real value. No faith, no power and ultimately no salvation.
What is the Lord asking of us? Isn’t it our genuine love, and belief in him, that he desires?
As the church, we understand that God wants his bride to be holy, and to reflect his goodness and mercy, and to show love and consideration to all. But to bear fruit, spiritual fruit, it takes a desire to live for him. The Lord tells us that if we remain in him we will bear much fruit.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:51
The fruit that he wants us to bear is the fruit of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
We know that if we fail to spend time with the Lord and fail to remain in him, we will not bear the fruit that he desires. We will not be kind or patient, we will not have self-control. Instead, we will try to hide our inadequacies and sin with a coat of polish.
Do you remember what happened to the tree that bore no fruit? Jesus cursed the tree:
“The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again.’ And his disciples heard him say it.” Mark 11:12-14
Later the next day….
“In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!’
“‘Have faith in God,’ Jesus answered. ‘Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.’” Mark 11:20-24
So let us not be a fruitless tree. Let us bear fruit that will last. If we choose to remain in him, we will have a faith that believes God for miracles. We will have a church that is filled with the Spirit of God and his glory!
Two Girls
In the third vision I saw two young girls dressed for cold weather coming from a wooded area and walking towards me. Suddenly, the larger girl pushed the smaller one on the back and made her fall face down on the ground. The older girl continued on her way.
I saw these two girls as sisters. There was obviously some animosity between them because it was not a playful or teasing action. There may be feelings of rivalry or jealousy that has made its way into their hearts. Again, I believe that this vision represents the motives of those in the church. (When I speak of these things, very often the Holy Spirit will convict me too, of sin or wrong motives. So please do not think that I am “holier than thou,” for we are all capable of sin!)
This passage of scripture came to mind when I thought of jealousy in the church.
“Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? For when one says, ‘I follow Paul,’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos,’ are you not mere human beings?
What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” I Corinthians 3:1-9
The Lord wants us to value and show honor to everyone. There should be no room in our hearts for jealousy or envy. We are all gifted in different ways, but it is the Lord’s plan for us to bring him glory and to do the will of the Father. We should work together for the benefit of the body of Christ, and to reach the lost.
A Pillow-less Bed
In this fourth vision, I saw a bed partially made. The bedspread was folded back in anticipation of the placement of bed pillows. The final step in making the bed would have been to fold the bedspread over the top of the bed pillows. However there were no bed pillows, so the bed remained unmade. On top of the folded edge of the bedspread was a stack of four folded pillowcases.
A bed can refer to many things: comfort, sleep, rest, luxuriousness.
The bed in the vision was high with a thick mattress. The bedspread was of a good quality, as were the sheets and pillowcases.
Since the Lord gave the vision to me, I see it quite differently than perhaps the average person. I was an interior designer, so I had clients that wanted luxurious things. They were most concerned that their furnishings for their home or their office were tasteful and impressive to others. Since most of my clients were very wealthy, money was not usually an issue.
I left the design business, because the Lord asked me to give it up. I did so easily, for I had become quite turned off by materialism. In regards to my own home, I sleep on the floor, with no pillow. And I eat on the floor with no chair. I am happier and healthier for doing so.
In the vision, the bed had no pillows, but there were four pillow cases. What does this mean? I believe that God is telling us that he wants us to live in a more simple way. In the first vision of the parking lot, I quoted this scripture: “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Jesus was telling the scribe that there is a cost to following him. He would have to give up his comforts to follow him.
Do you remember the Lord’s parable of the rich young ruler? This ruler came to Jesus and asked him what he should he do to have eternal life? After a short discussion of the ten commandments, Jesus said to him, “‘If you want to be perfect, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.” Matthew 19:21-22
Our possessions and our comforts can get in the way of following the Lord. We need to look at things from God’s perspective. For there is no doubt his ways and his thoughts are higher than ours!
There is another aspect to this vision. It is the idea of expectation. Someone had begun to make the bed, and there was an expectation that there would be pillows, for there were four pillowcases. We look at this and think that something is wrong. Where are the four pillows? When our expectations are not met, we can be disappointed, and even bothered. And If you were someone who enjoyed sleeping with pillows, it might be quite annoying to find there to be none. How would you be able to sleep?
Returning to story of the scribe, Jesus in so many words informed him, that he would have to give up his comforts and way of life to follow him. It is one thing to give up a pillow, and a bed, but it is a harder thing to surrender our right to ourselves. It is a much greater commitment to surrender our wills to his, to surrender our ability to choose for ourselves: our relationships, our possessions and our time. To follow the Lord, we must come to the realization that we are not our own. “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
It takes faith and a surrendered will to follow Christ. And by giving us his Holy Spirit, he makes it possible. He says to us, “Trust me!” “Take up your cross and follow me!”
The Cat
In the fifth and last vision, I saw a cat standing on its hind legs. It had the left front paw placed on something like a Bible and the right paw raised up as if it were swearing in.
When anyone takes an oath of office, he is swore in by placing his hand on the Bible and raising his right hand. He makes a promise to uphold the Constitution and to carry out the duties of the position for which he is appointed. At other times, particularly in court, a person is sworn it by raising his right hand and placing his left hand on the Bible. In court, the person takes a vow, saying: “I promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God.”
This vision concerns our testimony, and our promise to live for the Lord. When we become born again, we make a commitment to God. We declare with our mouths what we believe and know as truth. It is our declaration of who God is and what we believe that creates a change in us. We come to the Lord with a repentant heart, knowing that we have transgressed God’s laws, and and have sinned by our thoughts, our words and our deeds. We acknowledge that we have broken the commands of God and deserve punishment.
But we also acknowledge that the Lord took our punishment for our sins on the cross, paying for our sins and the sins of the world, with his shed blood. His blood paid the debt for our sins. By his blood he redeems us and restores us to a right standing with the Father. by his blood, we are made the righteousness of Christ. He then puts his Holy Spirit within us as a guide, and as the Spirit of Truth, he leads us into all truth. Hallelujah!
If we walk with the Lord, and in step with the Holy Spirit, then we will be able to follow his ways and his commands. We will be united with him. And as Jesus lived a holy life, he will help us do the same. He will help us to live according to the Spirit of God rather than succumbing to our own fleshly desires. This is truly the key to a life that is filled with grace, love and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Yet everyday we must make the decision to follow him in spite of hardship or uncertainty. Each day we must spend time in the word of God, and in the Lord’s presence with prayer and in obedience to him. This is our reward and our joy here on this earth, a taste of heaven. Just being in the Lord’s presence and waiting upon him to hear his voice, or to see something he wants to share with us is truly a blessing.
“I will never leave you nor forsake you!” Jeremiah 23:39 Hallelujah! When we walk with him, we are not alone. When we walk with him we have peace.
In the vision, it was a cat that was taking the oath. Can a cat pledge to tell the truth? Can a cat pledge his loyalty to God? Can a cat pledge to uphold the Constitution and the law of the land? Can a cat pledge to carry out the duties of his office? No, of course not!
Who is the cat? Not a born again believer. A cat is independent, willful and not surrendered. A cat is loyal to only himself. And a cat is territorial. In spite of its owners moving to another house, in another town, a cat will walk a long way to return to its first house. His instincts cause him to return to his territory. He is not loyal to those who feed him, he is only capable of following his instincts.
The cat represents the natural man, not the man born again. They may claim to know God. They may claim to be believers, but they are independent and are not led by the Holy Spirit, but are instead led by their flesh. I quoted this scripture in my last post:
“But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.
They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood!” 2 Peter 2:12-14
Who were these people that Peter was describing? He was speaking of false teachers and false prophets. These are people who at one time professed to know God, but because they did not remain in him, they returned to their sinful ways. It is very dangerous for the church, the body of Christ, to have within its fellowship, people who are teachers or prophets that care only for themselves and not for the body of believers. They bring their waywardness, their false doctrines, and their own selfish behaviors into the church. Most people become like their teachers and those they look to emulate. They take their cues from leadership and from their peers. False teachers and false prophets were in the early church and continue to be in the church today. We need to be aware, to have discernment, and a true command of the word of God, so that if a false brother introduces a teaching that does not align with the word of God and sound doctrine, we will recognize it, and renounce it.
The cat took an oath to promise to tell the truth or he promised to fulfill the duties of his office. We need to see that the cat cannot tell the truth, because it has given itself to follow sin. Jesus said that we become a slave to whatever masters us. If we give into sin, we will become a slave to that sin. We open a door to the devil, and we become his partner. This is follows the passage above:
“…These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”
2 Peter 2:17-22
So we must commit to the Lord, and choose our associations wisely. We do not want to become like the people who have been led astray by their own flesh and have become partners of the devil. Let us make sure that we continue in the faith and not allow ourselves to follow the example of people who claim to be holy and God-fearing, but are not. Test the Spirits!
Thanks for reading. Please share this post with others of like mind! God bless you and may he help you keep your faith strong!
