And
He said “stay close to Me, be quiet and follow the way I go”
I
said “I am afraid”
He
simply replied ”I am here”
It
was early and still the darkness of night had not departed. We walked together
on a broken path and I listened for His every word watching each step He made,
trying to put my footsteps exactly where His had gone. It did not look
like we were going the right way. Everything was foreign to me and the
way was not clear except right in front of Him. So I followed as He had
told me. Darkness was everywhere but in His presence; so I dare not
linger or take my eyes off of Him even for a moment because the way was
treacherous and full of danger.
All
I could do was to repeat His words over and over in my mind and simply follow
Him.
He
said “Step just where my feet step. Say nothing until I tell you what to
say”
I
whispered “Yes Lord”
And
we traversed, with unseen enemy nearby arrows flying all around us, walking
slowly and taking deliberate steps. He knew the way. His presence
comforted me even with so much of the battle playing out round about us.
It
seemed that there was a great war going on, the epic battle for the ultimate
prize - no cost too high to pay. At times the din of clashing weapons was
a cacophony of evil in my ears. I had to hold my hands over them because
it was so deafening. What could cause such desire for this kind of
destruction I wondered. How could anything be worth this amount of ruin
and desolation? I felt the war fever trying to surge up in me, anger and
rage against this assault was almost overwhelming.
Then
He whispered in my ear as clear as summer bells tinkling in soft breezes “You
belong to Me”. It was as refreshing as a thousand showers of clean
fresh rain in the afternoon. I was taken away from the turmoil for a
while as I let His words soak into my soul. This is the Lord of Hosts and
He loves me. Dressed in traveling clothing and rough from the trek but
unmistakably Master and Commander of all. I could not fathom the reason
for His love for me nor why He would deign to be my guide through this bleak
and tortured world. But I knew that His words were true and so I allowed
myself to trust Him.
The
air was dank and full of heavy evil. It made me shudder and had I not
been with Him I would have fallen there. Is this the right road? I
often caught myself wondering, but then looking at Him I knew that He was True
and a Sure Guide. He would let no harm come to me and He would bring me
to our destination in due course.
Daylight
had come but the evil kept the sunlight from us. It was just as well
because of who was near. The enemy lurked at once about waiting for me to
stray and so I clung to Him with all my strength. I need not have worried
because He held me without fail wherever our path took us. And even when
it seemed that I had taken a wrong step and gotten off the track He was there –
right there to take my hand and bring me back with Him to continue together on
our journey.
We
passed rocky crags, through wooded areas of damp forests with rotting trees,
spans of endless dry deserts, and an occasional clearing with a somewhat
greener grassland. On and on we walked. Long periods of silence
without a word spoken between us made the journey wearisome to me. I craved
to sit awhile with Him and hear His voice. But He pressed on, ever
towards the goal, and I followed as best as I could. He patiently kept
the pace as I was able for He knew my weakness. And on occasion he gave
me rest; often sheltering me with His own body.
So
we came at last to a steep mountain and began our assent. “You must climb with
me to the top”. He had said little throughout the day but each word was
branded on my heart and I held them close. “I am with you” “Follow
Me” “I will guide you safely through” “I will not leave you”.
These words gave me strength and courage for His goodness could not be
questioned and His strength was unmatched. The way was steep and riddled
with unstable soil and cliffs treacherously close to the edge of the trail. He
held my hand and at times carried me, for I was weak and often stumbled.
But He did not abandon me or let me fall, and I knew He would bring me to our
destination without fail. At last we reached the clearing that brought us
out to a green dell and a softly flowing brook.
Once
atop the mountain we could see the sun rising in the distance and there were
birds and a sweet fragrance of sweet blossoms all around. “Rest here for
a while” He said. And we tarried there together taking in the brisk clean
air. He fed me bread and wine and then bid me to take sleep. And so
I did, knowing that He would be there when I woke and never far while I
slept. I wondered that He did not lay down to rest Himself but I was so
weary from our travel that sleep took me quickly and I rested in complete
peace.
When
I awoke He gave me living water to drink. It was such that I felt I would
never thirst again, giving life to my bones and strength to my body.
“Drink deeply” He said and so I did and I was refreshed and rested. The day was
bright and cheery there with a warm sun bathing us in it’s light. How I
longed to remain here with Him. I could see clearly now and His
countenance out shown the sun as I gazed at Him. What a wonder that He
who the stars worship had come to serve me as a guide. I could not rise
from my knees because of the awe that had struck my heart. Now seeing Him
as He is I cannot fathom the depth of His love for me. No words could
spell out how wretched I felt in His presence. I had to hide my face from
Him.
But
then with tender gentle care he reached down and lifted me up and looked into
my eyes. I could not move but had I been able I would have flinched at
this piercing search of my soul. I wept because it was pure love that
looked into my eyes. No wrath, no anger, no disdain though He peeled away
the masks of my deepest heart. Nothing but the kindest gentlest love
could reach in and remove the filth buried there within my being. Pain
surged through me and I cried out but I did not resist. His surgery was
needful and welcome in spite of the pain. And so I was there before Him
who is Alpha and Omega, Truth, Love and Light. His care for me beyond
description and I at last knew Love. The barriers between my heart and
His had been broken down, my eyes allowed to see through the veil and so to
look upon my Redeemer. Such beauty indescribable. The Light of the
world, Son of Man, Morning Star and Great Physician attending to me. Such
is His love, such is His power. I never wanted to leave Him. I knew
no other peace or Love but His in the universe. There is nothing to
compare with Him.
I
do not know how long we remained on the mountain top, but it had come to the
time to depart and continue on the journey. My heart was broken to think
that we must go. Could there be any better place? “Why is it
necessary to continue on?” I asked. He said “There are others”. And
I knew from the great love spoken in those words that I could not remain.
I could not deny the heart cry of my Sovereign Lord to go out again and find
those still lost and waiting for their rescue.
And
so we donned our travel clothes and then set out again to continue on our
journey. For the mountain top was not the destination. It was a
place to draw near Him and know Him as He is, but not to remain for long.
Our destination lies far down below and through again a more treacherous
road. The enemy is there waiting and hiding in those low places.
Disguised and scheming in his plans to steel the Chosen
from the King. We must pass by him to reach the end and endure his
torment along the way. But the Master has sealed me with the Love of His
heart into His very Being. So I am strengthened as I hide His words in my
heart and hold close to what He has instructed me to do. He is always
with me though the way may be dark and dreary at times. I know peace
because I know Him, and because He knows me. He goes before me and
shields my way, His hand upholding me. And I know He loves me, and it is
enough.
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