About 10 yrs ago, I was teaching my Bible study and had several people from different churches and sometimes questions came up after the teaching. I knew what God had showed me and what I believed and why I taught it. I really went to God for better answers on some issues to try to help people know what His heart was on things. Especially on the issue of people "losing their salvation" or were they really saved if they didn't live a Godly life. The one thing I knew was that it wasn't our job to hold people to a set standard outwardly. It really is all about their heart.
One particular night I sat on the side of my bed and I was praying about a certain person. I was talking to the Lord about my concerns and how people were quick to judge this person without knowing their heart. I told the Lord that I knew what I believed but I was willing to lay down what I thought about this situation and I wanted His perspective. I turned out the lamp and in seconds I was asleep. For many years God has spoken to me in dreams and visions and this night He wanted to show me His way of seeing this whole issue.
I saw a man with a back pack walking along and approaching a table with a magnificently beautiful goblet. It was bright radiant gold with jewels set in the gold. It shined brilliantly. He picked it up, looked at it and thought it was quite interesting and put it in his bag pack. As he walked along he saw other things that were not as beautiful but interested him as well so he put them in his pack along with the cup. After much searching and collecting his hands were full of " things" and his back pack was very heavy. After a while he stopped to inspect his treasures. Looking at each one, he would remember where he had been and the significance of each one. He then discarded the ones that he decided not to carry to make his pack lighter. He put the cup aside with other "things" that he had collected and no longer wanted. As he walked away I saw the cup and I could hear it calling his name trying to get his attention and turn around.
Then a second man came to a table and saw this beautiful cup and picked it up and thought it must be a wonderful treasure. He also had a back pack. He carried the cup in his hand for a time and truly cherished it. After awhile, he carefully wrapped it up in a cloth to keep it from getting damaged and placed it in his back pack. He also collected other " things" and his pack got heavy. From time to time he would sort out what he wanted to get rid of and what he didn't want to carry. But every time he would come across the cup he would unwrap it and fondly remember the day he found it and carefully put it back in it's cloth and carry it in his pack.
Then a third man walked up to the table, saw the beautiful cup, He also thought it was a wonderful treasure and carried it around and told everyone he saw about it. He would tell them where he found it and how they could find their own cup. He never put it in his back pack. He carried it carefully in his arm and polished it. No matter how heavy his back pack got he always held the cup in his arm as he walked along sharing his cup.
Then there was a fourth man. He saw this glorious treasure. He picked it up a beheld it's beauty.
He knew he had found a wonderful thing. As he gazed upon it, he was truly mesmerized. He then lifted it up to the heavens and thanked the creator of this marvelous cup. As he thanked and worshiped the Father of the cup, it was filled by the Father with something similar to wine. He then drank of the cup and was filled with indescribable joy. All of a sudden his back pack fell off and he went his way dancing, singing, and running with delight. Over and over I would see him worshiping the giver of the cup and lifting it up to the Father and refilling and drinking from his cup. People would see him and want to know what had happened and he would tell them about his cup and the One that gave it to him.
About this time I woke up. I was so overwhelmed with what God had shown me I wanted to write it down as to not forget anything. I sat up with intentions of getting up. The Lord spoke to me and said "No, there's more". I fell back into sleep instantly and the dream continued.
The fourth man still dancing along came upon a finish line. He crossed it almost without noticing. I could hear his heart saying " I want to see the One who gave me this magnificent cup. He went in search of His Father to continue worshipping Him.
The third man came up and crossed the line with his back pack so heavy he could hardly walk. The cup still in his hand, he fell to the ground weeping and rejoicing now realizing that his back pack was gone. He went in search of the Father of the cup to thank Him and to worship Him.
The second man came up to the finish line and went to check his backpack to find the cup neatly wrapped in a cloth at the bottom of his pack. As he crossed his back pack fell off of him and his cup was in his hand. Extremely grateful he clutched it to his chest and walked on to explore this new and wonderful place he had just entered.
The first man stumbling over the line, searched for the cup among his other treasures he had collected in his back pack. Desperately searching then searching again he could hear his name being called out from the cup on the table where he had laid it down. Not knowing what it was or it's value, he had discarded it. In anguish and despair he longed for time to go back and pick it up and see the beauty of this cup. He had crossed the line with his back pack full of earthly treasures but his heart sank when he knew he had no cup in his hands . He then turned away to a place of complete darkness still carrying his pack.
When I woke up that time it was early morning and the Lord took me to Ps. 116:13 "I will lift up the cup of salvation and deliverance and call on the name of the Lord" Then to 1Cor.10:16 where it talks of the cup of blessing in fellowship with the Lord and communion with Him. Jesus also says " drink of me and you will never thirst again" If we continually drink of Him we won't thirst or hunger for anything else. So there's no need for a back pack.
What I learned:
I know from years of experience on several issues that if you want the truth and God's perspective. He will show you.
It always requires a teachable heart and a willingness to give up your own thinking and maybe what you've always believed about God.
I also learned that you can't judge someone else according to their back pack.
Three out of the four men in this dream were saved. In only two was it easily seen.
I decided many years ago that I wanted everything God had for me. I will live this life as closely to the fourth man as I possibly can. When I start feeling weighed down I know I can go and worship my heavenly Father and in His presence those things that weighed me down fall off of me .
So I will lift up the cup which He has provided and drink of Him. I choose to dance and sing and praise God along the way.
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