| I often have dreams that have a bizarre twist at the end. I’m catching on that God is messing with my categories to get my attention. Here is a dream I had a couple of weeks ago that I never thought I’d share. Aug 22 – dream – I was in a church service setting. I didn’t recognize anyone, but I felt at home. I was sitting in the first row of the second section, giving me a wide view of the first section. The room was full of about 400 people, and everyone was focused on the front. The atmosphere was solemn or reverent. Then, to my shock, I noticed some people were wearing suits, but about one in six had no clothes at all. I could see quite a few who were naked. No one else noticed anything unusual. I was uncomfortable seeing naked people in front of me worshipping so I decided to get out of there. I could see the door. As I was getting up to leave, I noticed I had no clothes or was seriously underdressed. No one else paid any attention to this, but now I was even more uncomfortable. I didn’t want to stay, but I rationalized that I could not leave because I would draw attention to myself. I woke up feeling like I had been in the heavenly courtroom. I was concerned. Clothes are good, right? And being seriously undressed in the courts of heaven is terrible, right? That’s how I think. Then, I came across these verses. Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love respectful greetings in the marketplaces, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets (Luke 20:46–47). Jesus thought fancy clothes and honor were not necessarily signs that all was well. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). I searched for the Greek word that was translated as “poor” how those people used the word, and how I could be blessed. “‘Because you say, I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,’ and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent” (Revelation 3:17-19). John thought money and wealth blocked some people from knowing they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. John thought knowing you are naked is better than not knowing. We can buy gold that is refined by fire from Jesus, white clothes, and eye salve. And we can buy eye salve to see into the spirit realm. I’ve been praying for this daily for years. For more mature believers, gold, clothes, and eye salve are available on the other side of reproof and discipline. The advantages to overcoming are beyond our imagination. In Conclusion: Things are rarely as they seem. Beware of feeling like you are important to people, like your good works should be honored by people. Beware of judging others in the heavenly courtroom and drawing attention to your own condition. Humility, child-likeness, mercy, faith, hope, resilience to withstand the refining fire, and love are the currency for Kingdom assets. I share this because I’ve been thinking about it for almost six weeks. Maybe it will help someone who reads this. Your thoughts? |
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