Few days back, I saw this vision while praying with brother B. M.
Cross A Chasm
I saw a myriad of soldiers, like the legions of the Roman Empire, marching across a bridge with great valiance, pride and order. The bridge is across a wide and deep chasm with steep cliffs, cut in between two rocky mountain ranges. Packs of soldiers are coming towards us, one dressed in gold armor, followed by another in silver. It is such a grandeur scene to behold. Block after block of soldiers are marching across the scary bridge as if it poses no danger.
Enter Through the Narrow Path
Brother B. M. and I are on this end (the near side), posted on either side of an opening in a huge rock, or rather a mountain. The crooked path meanders to it as the destination. We are to greet these mighty and loyal warriors and let them in.
It seems that this narrow entrance caves through the rock, leading to a “broader place”. I heard in the vision this very descriptive term written by David, when I ask the Lord what is this about. I know instantly that the hidden place is like the garden of Eden, with fruitful trees and beautiful streams everywhere, full of life and tranquility. It seems that B. M. and I were sent out to help others to enter.
Now, many have entered without our assistance. They instantly know what needs to be done. It seems that they have journeyed all the way just for this.
The caved passage is quite narrow. It won’t allow anyone with cloth on to get through. So each has to get totally naked, then crawl through it. But no one feel shamed about it or consider it strange. Actually witnessing the instant action on their part, I am very much amazed by it-I am not sure if I could so readily do the same. So two of us have nothing to do, but watch this going on and on until someone comes up and makes a scene.
A Man and His Gold Shield
A legion in gold armor is now approaching the entrance. On the front line, there is an older man in his 50s. He has a strong built. Just by looking at him, you could see that he must have fought many formidable battles. Apparently he is very proud with the armors he is carrying. I know instantly all his armors are the best of his plunders from his enemies.
Now, it is clear that he has to take all these off. This makes him very unhappy. But reluctantly he yields to it, knowing that, if not, he would not be able to get into the passage. After he strips down all his armor and cloths, he is still holding a gold shield, naked as he is.
In the vision, I instantly draw parallel between his and the gold shields in Solomon’s temple, a gift of David to God seized from the enemy. Then the Lord reveals to me, actually, his is exactly that kind of gold shield. That is why it is precious to him.
How the man struggles to hold on to that shield! It kills him with the idea that he has to let it go. I have to remain quiet as I detect that if I say anything to him about it, he would try to harm me.
This goes on and on. He would put it down, then pick it up. One moment he would let go of it with great sadness, then he would wield it and shout at the top of his lung: “Why this is not allowed to go with me? This is the token of my victory and the sign of my bravery. How can it be that I should have to let this go. No, you need to get the passage broader, so that I can manage at least get this carried with me!”
Now he is really making a scene while files of people behind him are being hold back. When he comes to his sense for a moment, realizing the foolishenss of his request, he would repent and apologize. Then swiftly, he would be gripped with rage.
He would beat his own chest again and again and his face would twist with great agony. One time he looks at me almost with total hatred as if I am the one responsible for his misery. So I keep my mouth shut, wish he’d overcome himself and wake up.
But it seems it is getting nowhere. It is my duty to see that all the people get through. So knowing that time is up, I finally come up to him. Sternly, I tell him: “Face it and gather yourself together. Do what needs to be done! Or else you shall not enter, then step aside and be quiet!”
Note 1:
I do believe we are coming to a broader place in the Lord. It would be a wonderful place to be! But only a man of peace (desire peace and enjoy peace as the ultimate purpose of his life) would be allowed to enter this place of peace.
I am reminded of Moses and David’s story.
Note 2:
Some details I forgot to mention in my first draft. The vision came in a flash. It inundated me with so much information that I had a hard time to express what I wanted to say.
- I am surprised to find that we are dressed in plain gray and bluish garments, like civilians yet unlike soldiers in armor. I remember I questioned about this in my vision. And why not white garments? Then I am given understanding that these are the kind of garments Jesus and his disciples had worn. Also I am reminded of the fact that our Lord chose to empty Himself to become a common person in flesh and blood like anyone of us.
- Also I realize that we had never fought a battle, but were raised up in perfect peace in the garden behind the cave, during the time of which all these mighty men had been fighting outside. In the vision, realization of this humbles me greatly. I am so grateful and glad that I am able to serve them. I feel a lot of uneasiness after I recognized what kind of privilege the Father has given us. Yet somehow, I know, in His eyes, we are exactly the kind of sons that He has always wanted. He does not need his people to put a great fight for His cause. He wants all His children to simply learn His ways in love and peace, and truly learn to love Him as their Father.
As I am writing this, I realize how misleading some of the Evangelical, Pentecostal or Charismatic agenda are in regard to representing the Father’s heart.
I know now that John G. Lake’s strong man mentality is very biased in term of understanding and enjoying of the kind of spiritual life the Lord wants us to have. Such projections of what a man of God should be have produced in the past, in one way or another, many servants of God of great valor and discipline, yet remain unable to enter into the Rest of God or the Kingdom of Peace.
It seems in many ways such a practice has given up on the front our true inheritance in God. Because it defaults us on “lesser things” without the sure counsel of the Father as a son, on what is important in the eyes of man, like saving the lost, taking care of the poor, healing the sick, exercising spiritual gifts, etc. etc. It orients us away from the divine order of a godly life, as issued forth from the sovereignty of God. It thrusts many into great illusion and presumption. As a result, they are not able to truly touch, not mention to represent, the essence of the Kingdom of God, where Peace and Righteousness, the will of God and the will of man have to marry, or become one.
Note 3 (02.16.2016):
(It would be good to expound on the idea that the will of God the Father towards us as a son is for us to be a man of peace. I will have to do it at other time or as an separate topic. )
