I wish I could draw the visions that God gives me the way I picture them because sometimes, it is difficult to describe the picturesque views with words. Today is one of those days.
This morning, I had a vision that began with the view of a mountain that was cover with lush, green grass. It was so perfectly covered in green that it reminded me of the rolling hills in Ireland. At the very front of this mountain appeared a wide, stone stairway that looked similar to the Great Wall of China. The stairway led from the top of the mountain to the bottom, which was a long way down. The next thing that became visible was a thick layer of dark storm clouds above and behind the mountain. For a little while, I was captivated by the brightness of the colors and the beauty that unfolded before me but then I saw that the clouds were becoming darker as the time passed. Then I questioned in my mind, "were the stairs for me to go up or to come down?" The Lord began to speak:
"Over the passed few weeks, I have shown you that this journey you are on is likened to that of Moses as he climbed the mountain that ultimately led to him being in My cloud of Glory for forty days and nights. That is what this green mountain is. It shows the beauty of the uphill journey you have been on. It depicts new life growing from the fertile soil that you have tilled. Lush... green... beautiful! The clouds represent the storms that are coming your way. Things are going to get a bit rough in the coming days but I have provided a way of escape. All you have to do is take the stairs to get off the mountain."
I thought, "well that's simple enough," but then the view panned in so that I could see the top of the mountain. It had a volcano-like crater that was filled with water like a pool. The water was a light ocean blue color and had specks of debris that was a mixture of dust and animal fur. The debris was barely noticeable but I noticed it. As the scene panned out again, the Lord continued speaking.
"Yes, I will provide a way of escape but I have another option for you. You could take the stairs and get off of this beautiful mountain as the first drop of rain comes, ORRR... you could jump in the pool of My Presence and rest there until the storm is over. The choice is yours!
I began to feel conviction as God spoke to me because I am currently in the midst of some hard times. People I love are being attacked by the devil and it's difficult to watch and not step in. I see divisive situations rising up at church right at the moment when God has begun the revival we have been praying for. My job has turned into a boxing ring where words are the gloves and they throw a mighty punch. So much gossip and backbiting. I see the storm clouds in my life becoming darker and those stairs to get off this mountain look awfully attractive. However, I have prayed and prayed for God to take me deeper. I believe that this is an answer to that prayer. God is showing me how to hide myself in His Presence as I face the storms of life. He is showing me that there is a place where I can rest in Him and allow Him to surround me with the cool, refreshing waters of His Spirit. The Lord is showing me that I don't have to come down from the high places. To deal with "real life" issues but I can remain in Him and face the storm in Him.
John 5:39-40 says: "You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to Me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life."
These verses combined with the vision hit me hard because over the past few weeks the Lord has been challenging me to wake up earlier and spend more time with Him and I have yet to do all that He told me to do. Like the man at the Pool of Bethesda, I came up with many excuses. Too tired, spending time watching television with the family, I'll do it later, etc. The reality is that those excuses became the steps that led me off the mountaintop. I keep praying that God would take me deeper and yet when He opened the door, I ran. May God forgive me for being so doubleminded. I will no longer look at the clouds or the stairs or even the green grass on the mountain. I will keep my eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith. Today, I choose to stay in the pool of the Holy Spirit and live in the high places. I hope to see you there.
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