It’s not a matter of being prophetic nor involved in deep spiritualism. However, it happened to me a number of times that I had received the word – verses of the Bible, in my dreams, from time to time. It always was a blessed time and pleasant experience indeed.
In my book, Unconsumed; In His Abiding Grace, I had written about such an experience while I was in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital. There are times, in my subconscious state, specific chapters and verses from the bible came in my mind although I’m not sure about the content.
Now, several days had passed, when one night in my dream I opened the Bible from two-verses of Jeremiah 2. It reads:
“‘I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me, and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown.
Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of his harvest; all who devoured her were held guilty, and disaster overtook them,’” declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 2,3)
The verses were the opening phrase of Jeremiah’s prophecy to the Israelites. It focussed on forgiveness and the compassion of the Lord but soon followed by the case charged against the Israelites and warnings against their wickedness and backsliding.
Here I wanted to share the two points we discussed with my friend, that too in my dream, which I had noted down in my flare mind. It’s more of loving God as a bride because of the unceasing love of God. It’s more of a word spoken to me, which we discussed with a friend.
Remembering Devotion to the Lord:
At first, I was taken aback momentarily when I re-read the verses first things first in the morning. Could it personally be meant for me? Flashbacks of the bygone days came flashing in my mind. When I meditated on the word, tears welled up my eyes.
More than now, I remembered, I had been devoted to God as a young boy in my pre-teen and later part of my teenage days under the guidance of my father and grandfather. I remember how I could spend the days meditating on the words and singing hymnals in the hills while tending my duties of our life in the countryside.
It was a great joy to be in the leading group of praise and worship in the small church we attended. There was hardly music except for the drum made from animal skin. However, the ecstasy of communion with the God we worshipped and praised was uplifting to the soul.
Spreading and preaching the gospel, few times in my young age, and the lovingkindness of God for which He is worthy of praise was always my cherished moments. In times of low faith, it uplifts and nourishes the mind and soul.
The compassion of the Lord:
Life in the countryside wasn’t easy, with little or no access to basic needs. Yet it was calm and peaceful, which makes it more homely than living in the city. The people, there in the countryside loved God and devote their time to God.
With no immediate help near from us, in all kinds of difficulties and sufferings, we run to God. He is compassionate towards us, never hiding His face, and granted us the need of our lives. Once I wanted money or sponsorship for my higher studies, my God had granted me my prayer in the small cabin after three-days and four-nights of fasting intercession.
Even in the wilderness, where no one was there, the compassion of the Lord was with me. It becomes the place where the desires of my heart were heard and met. The Lord is compassionate to the one who seeks Him, but also towards every human or creation who abide in Him. When we’re in deep sorrow, pained, and feeble to go on, the Lord is always with us.
The Loving Lord:
The Lord is forgiving beyond the measures of human. He keeps a record of the few good deeds of our lives. And, please note here, not only did He remembered it; He treasured it. Should the Lord had ceased to forgive my relationship with Him would have been ended a long time ago.
There are times I could not love Him like the way I did before. Just a newly wedded couple love each other, there are times, I had loved Him because He first loved me. My love for Him was a reciprocation of His eternal love.
When a disaster, many times committed by myself, tried to overtook me He covers me among men. He never exposed me nor devour me of my guilt-ridden life. In him, I found rest because He is loving and faithful. In His lovingkindness the Lord keep balance on my life.
The Forgiving Lord:
The day after having this dream of the word, I happened to come across Psalms 32 in my normal routine reading of the scripture. Sinning is my way of living although I wanted to be faithful with a life lived in an upright manner.
“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.” (Psalms 32: 1&2)
Hideous life was tormenting; it weakens the heart and will surely consume us. But when we confess the Lord was ready to accept us with an open arm because the price of our sins was heavily paid upon the Calvary’s cross by Jesus Christ himself. I am glad I’m accepted and protected just as I am!
The Warnings of the Lord:
The last part of Chapter 2 in the book of Jeremiah was filled with warnings if they forsake the Lord. The Israelites as found in the Bible were quick to forsake the Lord when they are blessed with sufficiency, just as we are.
The Lord is kind and always an anchor of our life, undeniably. Forsaking Him, deserting Him, unrighteousness, and living in denial breaks His heart towards us, although with a given chance of reconciliation.
As much as His strictness, we are allowed to use our free will but keeping in mind the will of God. We should never forsake Him; for it is He who is the Lord who defeated the Evil One for us. From generation to generation, we are to pass on the word of God – teach and show to our children the love of God.
Let me end herewith Psalms 32: 10, 11:
Many are the woes of the wicked,
But the LORD’s unfailing love
Surrounds the one who trusts in him.
Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;
Sing, all you who are upright in heart!
