Dream Awareness

I am sure that you could validate the fact that dreams can be off the wall at times with regard to content; a little far-fetched in some instances.  But then there are those epoch moments that awareness-of-reality someway makes its appearance in our dreams.  Such was the case a couple of nights ago.

As I lay sleeping I experienced an extremely, unusual dream, which could have been a nightmare had I not been a Christian.  It was eye-opening, yet worrisome and distressing at the same time. 

I dreamed that I had the ability to time-travel back to earlier days of my life.  I guess I’ve been watching too many sci-fi movies lately.  Just at the moment I transcended to a day in the past, in the twinkling of an eye, Jesus returned for those that were living for Him.  Many people call this experience, “The rapture of the church.”

Though I was a Christian and ready to meet the Lord, the timing was such that I was not taken, because I was not present at the exact moment of His coming, but somehow aware of the wonderful event that I had heard about for so long.  It really happened!

I was awestruck, mesmerized, and taken aback at what took place.  Though surprised that the promised event finally took place, I was more concerned about those that were left behind.  Wait!  I am now in their past; surely they will listen to me when I tell them of the impending phenomenon that is going to take place! 

The awareness of lost souls was overwhelming.  The dream alerted my psyche to the same realization that our pastor, at church, was trying to get across to the congregation; that we must share the good news that God forgives sin through His Son Jesus Christ.  He said that Jesus died on the cross to bring salvation to you and me, our households, neighbors around us, and people throughout the world.

I wondered why Christians were so lax in their responsibility of sharing this message with others when the reality of the end of time was so close at hand.  I was compelled to tell every person I met that Jesus was really coming back.  Some listened and gave their heart to the Lord, while others rejected the message of the hour.

I was aghast that more people did not surrender their life to God.  “Why won’t they listen?”  I cried out.  Then the Bible parable came to me about a certain rich man that fared sumptuously and a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table (Luke 16:19-31). 

So it was that the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom.  The rich man also died and failed to make things right with God and went to hell, because he had made money his god.

Being in excruciating torment from the unquenchable flames, the rich man asked father Abraham to send Lazarus to his five brothers that were still living and warn them of the impending judgment; a horrifying destiny that awaited them if they didn’t change their ways.

(Luke 16:29-31), “Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ ” vs.30 “And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ ” vs.31 “But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ” 

In my dream I realized that some people would sooner live for the devil in poverty of spirit than surrender their will to the God of peace.  This is the nature of fallen man.  Everyone has a freewill to choose their destination—heaven or hell.  It was impossible to make that choice for them though I wished I could.

It seemed as if the people that rejected my message thought they were going to live forever, or did not want to face the fact that what I was saying may actually come true.  They chose to live their life in a vacuum of their own making; refusing to see beyond the momentary pleasures that would one day seal their fate in hell.

They looked at life as if it were an hourglass full of sand.  When the last grain was about to fall through they would turn the glass over and restart their meager existence again, taking up where they left off.

I believe that God has given us ample time to make the decision to walk with Him, while enjoying an abundant life in Jesus.  God gave mankind seventy plus or minus years—a dressing room to prepare for eternity.  We can either wear garments of virtue or rags of iniquity.  Heaven is the reward for those that become children of God, which is the hope of Christians.

The dream was a reminder of the importance of witnessing—sharing my faith with others.  It also prompted me to re-examine my relationship with God to make sure that I was living the life that ought to be in order to make heaven my home. 

I live in the knowledge that God set me free from sin through the blood that Jesus shed on Calvary.  I am saved, because of His great sacrifice and love.  It is not of my own righteousness, lest I should boast, but the righteousness of Jesus who set me free.

The dream awareness is fresh in my mind and I trust that you too will consider this dream as a wake-up call.  The reality of this experience is that it won’t be a dream one day.  Are you ready to meet the Lord?

Written by,

Papa Boyd