Remember the TV game show, Let's Make a Deal ...where everyone seemed so excited, attempting to imagine what was behind the curtain, in the box, or behind one of the doors??
Yes, getting the grand prize would tend to bring a smile, and a "thank you". I cannot imagine asking what prize I'd be getting next ...after having received more than I could ever dream of.
Speaking of dreams, this was what it was ...a dream. There was no claim to Biblical accuracy. It was just a dream.
Yet, it left me with a good feeling. On the other hand, let it be said that I do not use that as criteria of genuineness. I would never want to embrace today's fairy-tale warm fuzzy feeling at the expense of a shockingly different reality of tomorrow.
I faded in and out of the dream, conscious enough to analyze the alignment between my thoughts and known Biblical teachings, yet the dream persisted ...in spite of my assertion of its inaccuracies.
Okay, okay ...I'll get on with my dream!! Here are some condensed portions of it:
We come to the end of time, as we know it. Crowds of people fill up every visible space. The crowd is an anxious crowd, a confused crowd. I feel there is going to be some sort of judgment ...though I don't know where, or exactly when. I see no great throne ...no point of reference, just this uneasy feeling. There seems to be more desperation than joy.
I feel a sense of the emotion ...like something I read about. I recall reading about a place. It was not a nice place ...one that would be nice to forget about, but it's so familiar. I recall talking about it, with others ...yes, that is why I remember it. It is Sodom.
I stand silent within the chatter of the crowd. I somehow sense someone is watching me. I glance to the side, and see someone I don't know ...standing a short distance away, smiling at me. I slowly zig-zag through the crowd, in the other direction. I glance around. I can't help but notice the same man following my every move ...with his eyes still fixed on me, and smiling.
Suddenly, I see pushing and shoving just ahead of me. A man in a white robe is making his way through the crowd ...his eyes also appear to be fixed upon me.
A ring of light encircles my feet, and I suddenly rise about ten feet up in the air. The man in the white robe, also rises ...above the crowd, just above their outstretched arms. He smiles, and walks towards me.
I have tears in my eyes. The gentle voice whispers, "What manner of person is this ...that tears should visit this place?"
I look into his loving eyes, and continue to cry. I softly reply to the man I feel must be Jesus, "For certain, this place does not seem like a place of tears ...yet, I would not hesitate to agree that I do not feel right in this place."
His whisper is gentle, yet, strangely I can hear him above the crowd, "Would you rather be in a place of criers and weepers?"
I don't know quite what to say, "Well, I'm not sure ...it would seem to me, that perhaps they'd be a little more in touch with what's going on around them than this group."
He smiles, "Well, I know you aren't quite sure about those details, but I know with certainty that those not crying now ...may do their share of wailing later. And those like yourself who've found tears, may find them wiped away."
I don't want to question his word, but for most of my life I've tended to speak honestly, sometimes not with good discretion, "I don't know about that ...this place looks rather sad, and I don't think I'd quickly find the strength to harden against what I see."
He has an instrument of gold in His hand ...which I see is a trumpet. "I am referring to this place you are going to, not here." He extends his hand, offering me the trumpet.
I rub my hand across my tear-ridden cheeks, and take a deep breath, "I appreciate the gift ...but perhaps it would better serve someone else, who has knowledge of music."
He rests a gentle hand of encouragement upon my shoulder, "I have the knowledge of all things...and I know your tears are tears of love. Love is the reason we have met here. Your tears touched Me. You've impressed Me in many other ways ...so, it's not just your tears. Many have shed tears, but often it is when they've not gotten their way. You have struggled much, but most often sought out My way. Now, trust Me. Touch the trumpet to your lips ...and the most beautiful music will come forth."
I touch the trumpet to my lips, and the trumpet sounds. Flashes of flickering light descend upon me. Radiant white sheets billow and float down from above.
One sheet falls upon me, fitting me like a robe. A pile of thread and cloth fall at my feet ...which was once my clothes, as the radiant white robe engulfs me. It seems to become a part of me, like my skin, yet loosely flowing as a robe does ...and I feel all clean inside.
As the other brilliant white sheets fall around me, they also form as robes, taking on shapes ...with bodies appearing within them. I cry more tears of joy, as I find myself within an enlarged circle of light surrounded by my wife and children.
But, many other people surround us, just out of reach below. They are pressing against each other, to get closer ...all reaching up towards where Jesus stands with me and my family. I notice one of them is the man who had been following me earlier. He calls out to me, "Give me the trumpet ...I want to sound it next!"
I answer him, along with all others who stand ready to request the same, "It is not for me to decide." And I turn to Jesus, tearfully, "Thank you, so much!!" ...extending the trumpet to return it.
My 'thank you' returns as an echoing whisper, and my tears flash like blinding prisms of light, forming torrents at my feet, and engulfing my entire family.
The dazzling light diminishes somewhat ...enough for silhouettes, then shapes take form, focusing back to images. This is no longer the same dark place. There is more light here ...pleasant and peaceful light.
No more pressing crowd below ...but luscious green grass at our feet, rolling hills, and fields of flowers along sparkling streams.
Jesus says, "Because of your love, you will experience more of the delight of your heart. There is no marriage here, nor the semblance of how it was on earth ...but, I did create the family as a unit of love which will exist here also. That is why you have Cindy and your children to travel with ...within this new city. There are many others here that I know you'd also like to see, but it may have been some time before you would have randomly found each other. That is why I have arranged these meetings the way I have. Now, sound the trumpet again."
Once again, I put the trumpet to my lips. Suddenly, my parents appear from over a not too far distance hill ...as if they were waiting for me. The children are overjoyed by this, but also by the appearance of the three dogs they had once cared for ...Lark, Summer, and Heath.
Jesus smiles, still seeing my concern, "I know you'd also like for Cindy's parents to be here. They are here ...but this is a big place. When it is her dad's turn to sound the trumpet ...she will recognize the call, and everyone in your group will then go to join up with them. This is the way everyone meets up with everyone else. It starts out with those you are familiar with ...and as time goes on, you may not know what connection there is with whom you meet. But, that is the joy of it ...in getting to know."
I smile at Jesus, then only look away for a moment as Lark runs up to me. As I look up again, Jesus is no longer standing with us.
A trumpet sounds in the distance ...and Cindy lights up, "It's him!"
Cindy begins to cry, "And she'll be there too. It's been so long since I've seen her, and ...I've missed Mom so much!"
The dogs run ahead to the hill, with the children taking my parents by the hand while dancing about. Cindy and I walk arm-in-arm, as we all joyfully travel over the first hill, to see what we will see.
