Freedom? Or Going the Wrong Way?
Hi Everyone,
I hope you are all well. I have a vision to share with you today which concerns the fear of God. Something I really didn’t understand for a long time. But the word says, “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.” We need to seek Him and read His Word to come into a greater understanding and appreciation of who God really is.
The Visions
The Horse
This vision shows an aerial view of a city. I could see a brown horse with a light colored mane, prancing on the street. He was on the right hand side of the street close to the curb, walking towards the left. He walked with his knees lifting high with every step as if he were in a show or parade. He was a beautiful horse, well groomed, but without a carriage, a wagon, a saddle or rider. The horse was entirely by himself, there were no people in the scene whatsoever.
I thought and prayed about this vision to understand its meaning. It is a rare sight to see a horse in a city, for a horse does not serve many functions. A horse might pull a carriage and take tourists for a nostalgic ride through the park. Or perhaps, a horse might be used by the police to oversee a crowd or event, or chase down a criminal on foot. But in the vision, the horse is alone. What does he represent and what is the Lord showing me?
I believe that the horse represents people who are suddenly free of some encumbrance, and are excited at the prospect of a new adventure. The horse in the vision was happily prancing down the street. He was walking on the right side of the road, but he was going left, which in visions, usually means heading away from God or heading in the direction of trouble or sin.
The vision brought to mind a situation in my family many years ago. My father and mother seemed to argue often, but they were always united when it concerned the well-being of us, the six children. However one dispute was great enough to separate them forever. My mother demanded a divorce, and my father, being an attorney, said, “Okay, if that is what you want, I’ll go draw up the papers. He came back and said, “Sign here.” And so she did. My dad was an honorable man and took good care of my mother financially. However, as time went on, my mother eventually told me, “It was foolish. I regret my decision.”
My mother thought things were going to be better if she were on her own. But she took a left turn and made a bad decision.
The horse in the vision seemed happy as he pranced down the street, feeling the freedom of not being harnessed to a carriage with passengers. But since a horse cannot reason or make good decisions, he is heading for trouble.
The horse also reminds me of the Lord’s parable of the prodigal son, who was foolish in his thinking and lacked self-control. He was anxious to experience the liberty and freedom to make his own choices, but he was also headed for trouble.
The Prodigal Son
And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’
And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in.
His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’
And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’” Luke 15:11-32
We can be like the prodigal, shortsighted, and making unwise decisions. If our emotions are allowed to run wild, we can make decisions based on our feelings rather than the wisdom that comes from God and His Word.
Jesus told that parable, to demonstrate the Father’s love for his wayward people. All throughout history, the Israelites, would abandon their relationship with God and become enticed by the nations around them to do what they did and to have what they had. By accommodating their desires and lusts of the flesh, they were no longer interested in serving God. His commands were burdensome. So they went their own way, and did their own thing. They enjoyed and participated in the religious festivals of the ‘gods’ of the nations around them, and so became corrupt.
Today is the same as it was then. There are still temptations to do what others are doing. Sin and wickedness abound. Most people do not fear the Lord, for they really don’t know who he is. They give him characteristics that describe a ‘god’ who would think and act as they would. They do not know him because they choose to go it alone, or follow the crowd. They deceive themselves when they take on such reasoning as this: “Since Jesus died on the cross for everyone to be able to go to heaven, then he died for me too. Therefore, I don’t have to worry about sin. If everyone is doing “whatever,” and nothing bad happens to them, then it should be okay for me too. Besides, if I am wrong, Jesus will still forgive me, because he loves everybody.”
But they do not know him. They make an assumption that Jesus, winks at sin. They would say: Jesus is loving and kind and would never send anyone to hell, unless they did something really bad, like killing someone.”
Jesus is God. He is love, but he is also just, holy and righteous. The Lord expects us to fear him, to love him and to obey him.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.“ John 14:15
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome, 1 John 5:3
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10
We are to fear God, for He said to Moses: “No one can see my face and live.”
“So the LORD said to Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.”
Then Moses said, “Please show me Your glory.”
“I will cause all My goodness to pass before you,” the LORD replied, “and I will proclaim My name—the LORD—in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.” Exodus 33:17-20
Most often, the Israelites did not appreciate the Lord’s goodness and his patience, so they would continue to sin. They would give God lip service, but not fear him or obey his commands. At one time they became so hardened by sin, that they provoked God to wrath and judgment. Their women were worshiping the Queen of Heaven, and justified their actions, rather than recognizing their sin. It was God’s patience and his decision to hold back his wrath which allowed them to continue prospering for a time. Here is the passage that describes their faulty reasoning.
Then all the men who knew that their wives were burning incense to other gods, and all the women standing by—a great assembly—along with all the people living in the land of Egypt and in Pathros, said to Jeremiah, “As for the word you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you! Instead, we will do everything we vowed to do: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and offer drink offerings to her, just as we, our fathers, our kings, and our officials did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem.
At that time we had plenty of food and good things, and we saw no disaster. But from the time we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been perishing by sword and famine.”
“Moreover,” said the women, “when we burned incense to the Queen of Heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, was it without our husbands’ knowledge that we made sacrificial cakes in her image and poured out drink offerings to her?” Jeremiah 44:15-19
Do you see the rebelliousness of their hearts? They said “At that time we had plenty of food and good things, and we saw no disaster.” They didn’t see that their actions were in opposition to God, but since he did not zip-zap them on the spot, they reasoned that God must not be too bothered about them. They had no fear of God.
Jeremiah gave God’s response to the people:
Then Jeremiah said to all the people, both men and women, who were answering him, “As for the incense you burned in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem—you, your fathers, your kings, your officials, and the people of the land—did the LORD not remember and bring this to mind? So the LORD could no longer endure the evil deeds and detestable acts you committed, and your land became a desolation, a horror, and an object of cursing, without inhabitant, as it is this day. Because you burned incense and sinned against the LORD and did not obey the voice of the LORD or walk in His instruction, His statutes, and His testimonies, this disaster has befallen you, as you see today.”
Then Jeremiah said to all the people, including all the women, “Hear the word of the LORD, all those of Judah who are in the land of Egypt. This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: As for you and your wives, you have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled with your hands your words: ‘We will surely perform our vows that we have made to burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and to pour out drink offerings to her.’ Go ahead, then, do what you have promised! Keep your vows!
Nevertheless, hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah living in Egypt: Behold, I have sworn by My great name, says the LORD, that never again will any man of Judah living in the land of Egypt invoke My name or say, ‘As surely as the Lord GOD lives.’
I am watching over them for harm and not for good, and every man of Judah who is in the land of Egypt will meet his end by sword or famine, until they are finished off.
Those who escape the sword will return from Egypt to Judah, few in number, and the whole remnant of Judah who went to dwell in the land of Egypt will know whose word will stand, Mine or theirs!”
Jeremiah 44:20-28
God has the final word. The fear of God is important. Too many people think that God will stand by and do nothing. Somehow people have made an assumption that the God of the Old Testament is not like the God of the New Testament. But they are wrong. The word says:
“For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. Malachi 3:6
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17
He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind.” 1 Samuel 15:29
There are several New Testament examples of God’s judgment upon those who sin. Here are two of them:
Example 1. Ananias and Sapphira
Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.
Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to men but to God.”
When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”
“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”
Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”
At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. Acts 5:1-11
God is more than capable of judging those who take God’s glory for themselves. Ananias and Sapphira wanted to look good in the eyes of the congregation and the apostles. But they did not put their trust in God as the others had done, by selling all they had, and giving the proceeds to the church. Ananias and Sapphira, trusting in their money, and so kept part of the proceeds for themselves. Yet they lied so as to be esteemed in the eyes of others. “Look at our faith in God. Look at our generosity!” The Lord detests hypocrisy.
Example 2. The Death of Herod
Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king's country for food.
On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”
Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
But the word of God increased and multiplied. Acts 12:20-24
As a king, Herod was used to receiving praise, and expected it. But he also knew that he was no ‘god,’ and that he should have said, “I am only a man myself.” But he enjoyed the praise of men more than the praise of God.
John recorded this same attitude among some of the religious leaders.
Nevertheless, many of the leaders believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue. For they loved praise from men more than praise from God. John 12:42-43
God brings judgment against people who refuse to repent, especially those in the church who should have the fear of God, but go their own way and deny him. I have a present day story, that happened a little over 20 years ago.
A True Story
A married associate pastor with three children had an affair with his secretary, who became pregnant and gave birth to a little girl. The son of the secretary knew what had happened well before the child was born. The husband knew as well. When the child’s blood type did not match the husband’s, there was a big commotion at the church.
The associate pastor took his small flock with him and left about a week before it was announced to the main congregation. Both marriages, the pastor’s and the secretary’s fell apart. The son came to live with us, because of the turmoil in the home. I would drive the young man to work in the morning, and on one occasion I ran into his mother in the parking lot. Her child was in the car. Out of a guilty conscience, she brought up her side of the story, doing her best to convince me that her daughter was her husband’s child. She made this statement “God will vindicate me.” I knew that she was lying and that those words “God will vindicate me,” could very well bring judgment. I chose to say nothing, leaving it in God’s hands.
It was a few years later that she came home and suddenly “dropped dead,” of a brain aneurysm. She was a healthy young woman, but with her ego and refusal to repent, God’s judgment came, and took her life. I would like to think that she repented, certainly God gave her time to do so, but I don’t think she ever did. Only God knows.
We need to see that God is love. He is faithful, and cares very much for each of us. But he is also just, and cannot wink at sin. God will withhold judgment in order to give us time to repent.
Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 2:9
So let’s get right with God— right now while there is still time. We have no idea when our last day will come. Let’s be ready today, before it is too late. Let’s pray a prayer of repentance and ask God to save us from our sins.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
Dear Jesus,
I know I have sinned by the things I have said, the things I have done and by the things that I should have done. Please forgive me. I deserve your just punishment, which your word declares is death. But I ask that you forgive me and restore me to yourself, that I would be right in your eyes. I know that your sacrificial death on the cross, paid for my debt of sin. It is a debt that I can’t pay. Thank you that by your precious blood I am cleansed and set free of the power of sin and death over my life. I ask that you fill me with your Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, who will be with me all the days of my life, who will lead me into all truth. I also ask that you write my name in the Book of Life, so that when I die, I will be with you for all eternity. Help me to follow you and should I ever fall into sin, I promise to immediately repent and turn back to you. Keep me under the shadow of your wing and lead me in the way of righteousness. I give you myself, as you have given yourself to me. I thank you that I can say that I am truly born again and that I will never be the same. I pledge my love and devotion to you. Amen.
I hope you will read the Bible - everyday. It feeds our spirit and leads us into truth. God bless you! May you know true peace, for Jesus is the Prince of Peace!
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