A wonderful gift of love and confidence from Jesus came to me in a series of visions. Since that time I have known the level of intimacy in His relationships with the Twelve Disciples, with Lazarus, Mary and Martha, with Paul, and many others in Scripture. I received five visions over a period of weeks in mid 2009 and early in 2010. Each is burned into my consciousness and I believe I'll remember them forever. These visions are particularly poignant to me because as a boy and young man I was a very keen mountain and wilderness trekker and I still love the outdoors.
Vision 1
We are in a clearing, just Jesus and me, high on a mountain at the tree line. It is morning and we have finished packing our camp for the next big push up the mountain. I'm aware that this is a very important mission we are on. I am fastening my backpack and Jesus is a few metres away tying His boots. Jesus glances over His shoulder at me, there is a very soft look on His face, loving. At first I am puzzled - Jesus says nothing, He clearly wants me to follow Him; we are on this walk together. I am part of His team. Then I realise, He doesn't have to say anything, doesn't have to encourage me or give detailed instruction. He knows me so well and loves me so much that He can go about His plan knowing that He can trust me, knowing that in my clumsy imperfect way, I'll be sufficiently prepared and fully willing to follow where-ever He leads. I know that I am His beloved. Then he simply turns and starts walking up the mountain trail.
Vision 2
The second scene is a few minutes later. Jesus stops and waits for me to catch Him up. He steps up to me and hugs me, puts His cheek on mine, leans back so He can see me, smiles. Then He turns and continues to walk up the mountain path.
In none of these five visions does Jesus speak, neither do I; the whole point is that our relationship has reached the point that we no longer have to talk to be with each other or to share our thoughts and hearts.
Vision 3
Jesus gave me this third vision some weeks later. Jesus is leading, I am following. We are walking up the same path up the same mountain. This is simply later on that same day, a little further on our journey together. I remember that Jesus is showing me these things for a reason: I am His, He loves me, He has complete faith in me, He knows me so well that He can trust me completely, He can trust the work He has done in me that I will follow and we will accomplish His goals - I don't even know what these are, neither do I care, for I am with Him and He is leading me.
A gap of several months passed between the 3rd and 4th visions. In that time I was growing in my gifting in the prophetic and in teaching. The Lord lead Trish, my wife, and me into a new work which began in January 2008 and has been a delight to many. Our children are growing in Christ, five of the six belong to Jesus. The sixth, and his wife and kids, have been promised to us.
Vision 4
We are much further up the mountain. Jesus is still leading. Conditions are much harder. The path is steeper, indeed it is almost non-existent, it is comprised of big stones and boulders so each foot must be placed with precision so as not to slip or turn an ankle. The sky is grey, everything is wet, it is cold. Our sense of purpose and direction is unchanged. We press on full of confidence and a certain hope. This journey is immensely satisfying.
Vision 5
At last, we round a bend in the path, we are now very high, we can see the valleys and other lesser mountains around and below us. We are very near to the summit, indeed we can see it, over there, ahead of us, up and to the right. I feel a surge of excitement. Then I realise that between us and the mountaintop is a rock ridge. It is narrow with almost sheer falls to both left and right. We are so high that the sky is pale blue. It is very cold, nearly freezing, but there is no snow or ice for us to cut steps into to climb the ridge. This is much more difficult climbing than I have ever done. This is technical. Dangerous. All I have are my simple trekker's skills and Jesus. Jesus' confidence is unbounded. He knows that we will succeed and reach the goal He set; the summit of this mountain. He knows, so I know. I am ready to follow ..
Praise Jesus.
Amen.
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Be blessed.
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