03/20/2024 Sometimes, I’m reflecting in the last 15 years of so of being a Christian, I have had times where I felt very secure in my faith, and as strong as a warrior. There have also been occasions where I have literally felt my soul in such peril, that it amazed me, so that I could only learn “obedience from what I suffered”, (Hebrews 5:8), but I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all. It wasn’t that I was being treated ill, although at times it could have been, rather it was actually battles from within my own soul, with what many consider in dealing with their conscience daily as the “battle of faith” or “fighting the good fight”. In 2008, the Lord dealt with me very hard after having a vision of going down an elevator into hell, and I already had had a born-again experience. I was so perplexed for a while, that it took me a shaking to get back around to see grace. But it was so much clearer to me, that though Hell was such a real place, I needed to fear God in the direction of staying positive, staying in the light, and demonstrating that to others, just what He had done in my life! I know now 16 years later, after testing the vision, testing the spirits 1 John 4:1, reading theology, praying and seeking, searching and crying, listening and testing, that the vision really was from God. I pondered at it for a long time, but I am the better for seeing a gracious Lord. It has to be dark, before I can appreciate the light. Although I do believe that some people are already disposed to being thankful. There are times when I think its not feminine to think of hell too much, or even healthy, or even possible, really – but the sad thing is, that it is a reality that has to be dealt with. People have lost a fear of eternal destination, and for that it would do us good, even to fear half as much the day of judgment, “Judgment Day” as my Dad calls it. Praying I can live up to such a high call, because much of the church won’t even use the word hell, and that deserves another article, just like some churches won’t use the cross, which is our salvation and our very hope!
What jerked me out of hell many times was this gracious Lord, allowing me to be around people of faith, people seeking Jesus, not really fitting in anywhere else, but fitting in with people who continually see a definite need for Jesus. Jesus’ blood, Jesus’ presence, Jesus’ words, and all the good stuff. The kind nature of the Lord that doesn’t fail, but isn’t flawless, is seen in heaven – no, not till we get there? (There is actually so much we have not even discovered about heaven); is seen in the Bible – not as much, as IT IS really seen in the interactions of our living out our lives with our brothers and sisters. It makes the thought come up to me, How many people do you know have turned away from the faith of God, because they blame it on the way someone else didn’t walk out the Bible perfectly enough for them to have seen a proper example.
We have to wake up!
The trouble with Jesus is that once you’ve been enlightened and tasted the holy gift, and the powers of the coming age, you cannot settle for anything less (Hebrews 6:4-5). How can this be shared if its not shared in? I am reading a book now called “Fire Within” by Thomas Dubay, and its about St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, and their views on prayer. I am almost finished with it and will reach the goal of finishing it this year, I believe! Reading has been very difficult for me, because sometimes my heart is very full by the time I sit down, that the first thing I read could feel like an impactful a message an anything I could perceive all day. I’m often left sitting and marvelling at the Lord, which is not a bad thing, but it does slow me down. The Lord deals with us based on our walk with Him, but He is higher too, so that He is dealing with us based on grace, mercy, and simply wanting us to return our gaze on Him. What a wonderful Lord! I want to answer the call for help, and having His countenance in my favor is the only way to have that. “Restore us, Lord God Almighty, make your face shine on us, that we may be saved” (Psalms 80:19).
The disciples turned the world upside down by declaring his wonders, singing his praises, being persecuted for his name, and I think that those circumstances and points of conflict are still the same today. God, I pray that you help show us how to live so that we can be still considered qualified as your disciples in this world, in Jesus’ Name!
Rebekah's Reflections 