They're On the Move....Are You?

I’ve found the best sleep aid yet, and I mean no offense to the inspired and captivating preacher John Piper. Now that I have my I-Phone I can easily listen to a sermon in the middle of the night. I find the more focused I try to be, the more quickly I fall asleep! It’s also a very good way to judge how long I actually do toss and turn - usually far less time than I think.

Anyway, last night was one of those nights. I have been in deep discussion with mom and daughter about predestination vs. free will. I contend that it is from whose perspective you are looking at – man’s free will is really his response to the gospel seeing there is absolutely nothing he can do to save himself. Response seems an agreeable term to predestination loyalists. Man has a “responsibility” to believe, or it is man’s “duty” to honor God, vs. crediting man’s decision to do either. Our very limited mind cannot even comprehend the absence of time, but God is not limited to that as is man, therefore, I have felt that it’s really just a time perspective. “We see through a glass darkly, but then face to face.” 1 Corinthians 13:12.

Well, last night while sleeping I heard in my spirit, “You fool! You are mine – you HAVE the mind of Christ – I know all things, including those who will be saved! Predestination assures you that all I am seeking will come and frees YOU. You needn’t worry about the decision everyone makes! Preach the gospel – scatter the seed without regard to whether it’s sown upon a rock, sand, or fertile soil, whether it’s snatched or settles – the gospel always accomplishes what is intended.”

Then I contemplated the parable of the sower (Mark 4:1-8) and understood the parables show that we DO have the mind of Christ – “unto you, it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: that seeing they may see and not perceive (perception!); and hearing they may hear and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.” Thus I realized that before conversion, my perspective is one of response; but after, I have the mind of Christ – God’s perspective – and he knows his sheep – he’s gathering up his flock – or rather, seeking those who were predestined to be saved.

“Stop worrying about the semantics of the term – you were all predestined for hell without Christ - but in Christ…..life.”

But my night was not over yet.

Then I had a vivid surreal dream of my son Jon and I in a beautiful, colorful field much like the African savanna. In the distance was your typical lone savanna tree – it flickered with glowing neon yellows and greens – vaguely, I could make out the shape of two snakes wrapped on two branches. Jon went off to explore while I watched the serene scene from the top of a picnic table - even the snakes seemed to love their perch and offered no threat. I then casually walked toward Jon and, immediately the snakes untwined from the tree and like lightning, one went after Jon and the other toward me. My heart panicked as I realized they were cobras and there was no escape. I forgot about Jon and stuck my foot out realizing I was about to die. The cobra bit my foot – but I had on high tops, much like mom’s, and the snake kept trying to bite me, but kept hitting the shoe; he was MAD – meanwhile I was terrified that he would strike my bare leg at any point – I again heard, “You fool, put on the WHOLE armor of Christ!” I looked at Jon and he was in exactly the same stance with the snake biting his shoe, and I wondered WHY DIDN’T I BRING A WALKING STICK like dad always told me to! I had nothing to shake this snake off and kill it! But then I heard, “I’m the only one that can crush the head of the serpent with my bare foot!”

It wasn’t until recanting this dream to Nana that I realized one connection God wants me to see. It’s all about the gospel. That is the predestined plan (that saves in time) and MY feet are to be shod with the gospel of peace because HE has already defeated the enemy.

But the night extended to the late morning. Three hours after me my son Jon got up. He came down agitated and said, “Mom, I have to tell you my dream.”

All your family was gathered at Mumsy’s house. As I walked through the backyard to get my friend to come over, I noticed the trash can under the tree. Do you remember the tree I used to climb? I was staring at it for a while and I frighteningly realized this bulge I was staring at was a huge snake wrapped around the trash can and up into the tree. My cousins, two sisters, you, dad and nana were out there. Karlie knew from Uncle Bert to hit it on its head, but was afraid and instead threw a leaf upon his head – this made the snake mad and he slithered into the pool. Mom, this snake was huge– monstrous size; it had a huge bulge in the middle like it had eaten something, but its head was pretty small and he was mad. He couldn’t find a way of escape. He lunged first out of the pool at Allison, who dodged him, then he lunged at Tricia and she was able to dodge him, then he went to get me, but you stood in front of me and grabbed the snake by the head and crushed him like a sumo wrestler and daddy said, “you’re going to hurt your neck!”

I couldn’t believe it. I am certain the Lord had a message in our night’s dreams. But that message came in the form of an email later. My husband, who had only heard my dream in the morning, listened to Jon’s dream that evening and said, “You have to see the email Bert sent me.” The ending words of the email are below:

Please be really careful to watch out for snakes. In this drought, they are coming in closer, looking for water. They just mentioned today that local ER's are noting a substantial rise in snakebite cases. They're on the move...