This has been weighing on my conscience
for some time. It's the things on Facebook I see, images, posts,
shares that all say the same thing: “You just shut up now, we
don't want to hear it.” It's bothered me, really, deep down
inside. For the most part I've complied, keep my references fairly
personal, letting things out in controlled fashions. I've still felt
that nagging inside.
Last night, a dream came to me. I was
in a town near a river. I was given a clear task to do. I was told
that a flash flood would soon arrive, and that I was to go out to
those near the river and let them know it was coming. There were
many residents out on the river that day. In my dream some were in
boats, other on the river side. It all seemed carefree, but I had to
continue with my message. Throughout this dream, that was
tantamount. I passed a large trestle-like structure. I called out
to a couple amongst the rocks, and some young men below. I told them
the flash flood was coming and they should leave the area right away.
The couple ignored me. The young men laughed and told me nothing
was wrong with the river.
I turned to walk back, doubting my own
message. Could it be wrong? Even as I felt the doubts stir, I
looked down. The river's edge was higher now, and I could clearly
see it climbing. I turned back to the people on the rocks. The
couple still ignored me. The young men turned concerned. They could
see what I was seeing. Before I woke, I called out to them again,
urging them to climb the trestle structure to get to high ground as
soon as possible.
The dream stuck with me as I awoke. It
brought to my mind the passage of Ezekiel 33:1-9, where God appoints
Ezekiel as watchman. Ezekiel is told God has a message for Ezekiel,
and it is Ezekiel's task to declare this message. What the listeners
do with this message is less Ezekiel's worry than the delivering of
this message. If the watchman does not sound the alarm, then those
that fall are on his head; if the watchman sounds the alarm, those
that fail to take heed are responsible for themselves. Whatever
happens to those who hear the message, whether they are saved or
fall, that depends on themselves as long as the messenger does his
task. What is this message? God goes on to deliver a message of
grace, that the exiled Judeans can still return to Him. The apostle
Paul takes this role to heart, and notes he has no regrets, as he has
delivered that Message faithfully, even as he is sentenced to die.
What is the message? That we are
separated from God, in darkness. That God came to us as His Son
Jesus, to live amongst us, die for us, and to rise again that we
might be reconciled with God and that we might know He has defeated
death. That Christ is alive, risen by His great power, and that we
can have a relationship with God because of Him. Praise Him!
I can't keep silent about this. I have
an obligation, a command, and a desire to let this be known. This is
bursting out, I can't keep it down just because it is undesired. We
have little time to act. In the span of the universe, our various
lifetimes are terribly brief, and our lives are over in a blink of an
eye. Should I blink and find an opportunity lost? Should I blink
and remain silent? We may not want to hear the Message, but it is
there. I need to speak out. I need to act as a messenger. Whether
any will listen or not, I can't say. I can't and won't force any to
do anything. But I can choose whether to speak or remain silent.
The water is rising.
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