My dream

It is not often that I remember perfectly a dream that I have had, but last night I had this dream that I cannot keep from sharing because of its relevance to this blog. I will first explain the details of the dream, then explain the meaning and significance of it the Holy Spirit wrought in me to share.

During my dream last night, I lived in the East Coast. I remember I was on the beach, and lived in a beautiful summer cabin. There was not a care in the world, everybody did what pleased them and it seemed to be a utopia. 

When all of a sudden there exploded tragic news. In 12 hours there was going to be a gigantic tsunami wave that will wipe out the entire East Coast. Authorities ran around the beaches with mega-phones telling everyone to get out of the water and escape from the East Coast.

I was panicked, I was on my knees praying to God to spare me and my family as soon as we were in the car rushing West. Or... Rushing West for awhile.

I quickly learned that very few people took heed to the warning, and fled West. I remember as I was on the road with my family, still being well within the impact area of the incoming tsunami that was supposed to wipe out entire states, my family decided many times to stop at McDonald's or somewhere else to get something to eat or drink, or stop for the washroom. I was the only one in the family crying "NO! LET'S KEEP ON GOING, WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE TONIGHT!"

However, they didn't care. They thought they had plenty of time before they had to worry about the incoming wave. So they infrequently drove West, enjoying the cares of their lusts while I was sitting in the back seat trembling in fear about the imminent destruction - praying to God continually to spare me.

Another thing I noticed in my dream was how few cars I saw driving away from the East Coast. Not many people apparently gave heed to the ample warnings, and decided they would stay on the beaches and 'live it up.'

The story did not go on much further. I woke up wondering what the dream was about. That was when the Holy Spirit prompted in me this allegory; much like the allegory of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress:

-The East Coast resembles the carnal world, that is heaping up wrath for itself.

-The West resembles Heaven, for those who will flee from their lusts.

-The tsunami wave resembles the wrath and displeasure of God.

You see now. God gave me a dream much like He gave John Bunyan when he wrote 'The Pilgrim's Progress." The dream is about the present world, and the depraved spiritual state of many.

We as Christians must decide on whether to deny ourselves and pick up the cross (Matthew 16:24), or to, as Proverbs 6:10 puts it : "Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:" 

But then once God's wrath (tsunami wave) is upon you, woe is you. How will you be able to stand up for yourself then?

Finding Refuge in the Gospel

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High."

Psalm 46:1-4

Whatever it is, either spiritual or physical, of any temporary struggle, infirmity, or affliction, we can be assured in this: That God, the omnipotent and omnipresent Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, hath effectually wrought in us His perfect spirit of grace, whereby we are called to be the sons of God, and wherefore having the spirit of adoption, we cry "Abba, father" - (Romans 8:14-15).

The question now, as pertaining to my blog, is how this assurance of peace with the Father has any relevance to living a Christian life in the modern world. We are told by the world to rely on ourselves; to find refuge in our knowledge and understanding, and to look to those who profess to be wise to give us the answers to life. 

Howbeit, we still find ourselves in an earnest desire to know truth and to be loved withal. This earnestness of our flesh is a continual and perpetual struggle, in that, whatever we may know about science, ourselves, and those around us, there will always be that fervency of desiring divine knowledge, love, and truth. If this earnestness did not exist, then there simply wouldn't be religion - which is today a broadened term defined amongst many circles of monotheists, pagans, and even some evolutionists.

Yea, religion today is a very broadened thing, a universal acceptance of a deity of any kind, sort, or spirit. We may indeed expect there to be a clash within ourselves, a question of 'which religion is right, then?' Aye, but there is only one religion, that of Christ, which alone is reliant upon the works of a Saviour, a King, a Sovereign. This Christ, even the Lord Jesus Christ, did so effectually atone for our sins, in that whatever pretenses we may have about our spiritual state or condition, it is alone the grace of God whereby we are saved. Other religions rely on personal achievements and works to earn salvation.

That being said, - that salvation is not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9) - if one is truly a born again Christian, he or she must find their comfort and strength in the Gospel. Our faith is a two-edged sword that cuts through all evil (Hebrews 4:12). There are, however, many out there who profess to be Christians, but will live for the world, and will strive to gain comforts and conformity in the world. "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:36. Do not let your faith be gone with the wind due to afflictions, cares of this world, and other lusts; for, a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8). But rather, let your mind, body, and soul be in submission to Christ Jesus, and be in daily meditation upon His word. Scripture is your spiritual food, if you are to deprive yourself from your food, how do you expect yourself to grow?

As many look to the world for comfort, still many people of religious conviction will look to images, music, and other man-made helps to find refuge. This is indeed the deception of the Catholic Church, who look to images, pictures, and statues to help them in their worship. We are not to look to these things for help - but rather, we are to look solely upon the inspired word of God by which we are given in Scriptures. Scripture alone, as well as our faith, fervent prayer, and supplication, are the only means by which a Christian may endure in his faith and grow therein.


Find therefore, in this modern world, your refuge in the Gospel, and not in the works of the world or of man. For indeed, our God is there when we need Him, and by faith alone and by Scripture alone we may behold Christ's glory. Just ponder on how magnificent it is for us that we have the Gospels, which do so effectually proclaim His glory and works to us! This alone should uplift the Christian to glorify God!

Introduction

"Christ is with us to the end, let His sheep be bold therefore"

William Tyndale

  Today we live in a culture that exalts the creature instead of the Creator - in that I mean, our society puts much emphasis on human development, technology, medicine, science, etc. Though development in technology and medicine is not a bad thing, we need to be diligent in seeing that we do not let our fallen nature take control of our decisions, that is: to put human development and our lusts before our relationship with God.

It is indeed a difficult task for a Christian to live in harmony with Scripture and be caught up with the affairs of the world. It is no secret that our culture, in respects to American culture, has forgotten God and has worshiped the creature more than the Creator (Romans 1).

Recent decisions made by the Supreme Court and the increasing sinfulness of our entertainment system, media, public schools, politics, and our culture in general bear witness that we have fallen away from God, and are therefore, as a nation, under God's wrath. Television has been ravaged by a sexually perverse Hollywood, television shows display promiscuity as a permissible lifestyle, and worst of all... Our entire governing system has forgotten God, in that many of its decisions sinfully defy God and work against His Word.

The point of this blog is to be an encouragement to other Christians who desire to live for God and exalt Christ above man. I will be making blog posts about many different topics and issues. I hope my blog will serve a purpose for Christ in that it encourages the Church to live boldly for God and to endeavor in a healthy spiritual life through Christ in the face of an increasingly sinful society.