During one of my many naps in my hermit state from our most recent snowstorm, I had a dream.
Now this dream was two fold - it scared me, and it taught me a lesson.
First, let me tell you about the dream: my best friend, Billie, came over to my house to pick me up to go somewhere, and we left, with me driving her car. As we got a little ways down the road, there was a white pickup truck in our lane, coming head-on toward us. When I looked to my left to see if I could swerve around him, there were two more cars coming at us head on. I couldn't swerve to the right (don't know why...I just know I couldn't), so I took my chances and swerved into the path of the oncoming cars, hoping I would make it off of the road before they hit us.
I didn't. In my dream, I felt the car hit us, and I felt a warm sensation start at my feet at begin moving up. I heard myself saying, "I'm going to see Jesus...I'm going to see Jesus". While this is happening, my best friend is yelling in my ear, "Read Acts 4! Read Acts 4!". When the warm sensation reached my waist, I woke up. Scary!
So I read Acts 4 -so don't let Billie ever tell you that I don't listen to her - and was amazed at what God used that dream to show me! Since Billie's dad's death, we have discussed many times the need to be bold in the Spirit when sharing our faith, that time is short and it is very important to share the Gospel with all of those around us.
As I read Acts 4, I saw Peter and John be confronted about healing someone in the name of Jesus Christ...I saw them spend a night in jail (a night to pray for the Spirit to lead them in what would happen the next day)... and I saw them face the Sanhedrin the next day and BOLDLY share the Gospel of Jesus Christ!!! I saw Peter and John TESTIFY to the things that they had seen and not back down, even when faced with jail! They did not do this on their own power, but by the Holy Spirit! I saw learned men amazed at the knowledge of these two simple uneducated men...I saw God at work through those willing to give all for the Gospel.
Friends, do we share that boldness? Do we witness as if our very souls depended on it? Guess what - the souls of those we are supposed to witness to do depend on it! Jesus tells us that if we are not ashamed of Him before men, He will not be ashamed of us before the Father...we are called for our lives to be a mirror of the very one we claim to love. Do our faces shine like Moses', when he had been in the very presence of the Living God? If not, why? Are we prepared to share the Gospel no matter what consequences we might face?
God taught me several lessons in that dream - I can leave this world at any moment; do I want to be remembered for my zeal for the Gospel and my love of Jesus Christ; and am I willing to face any consequences for my faith?
More than anything, I want people to say that they saw the light of Jesus love on my face, and my life mirrored the One I love so much.
It's just what's on my mind...
