Hello elected...
I have a friend who met the Lord as the result of a similar vision. Michael was struggling with his spiritual condition at the time. He had walked with the LORD as a child and into his teen years, but became carried away by lust in college. He became a very promiscuous man. Eventually, he began to question his childhood/teenage relationship with (and belief in) the Lord. At one point, he began to publicly provoke others to forsake their beliefs in the Lord.
But the emptiness of his loss was everpresent.
One day, he opened up a Bible to the book of Hebrews chapter 6. He read the passages where it states, "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame."
Michael interpreted this as a possibility that he had blasphemed the Holy Spirit. He became quite worried that he was now without hope. He couldn't eat. He couldn't sleep. He continued in this misery for about two weeks. Michael said that he lost about 20 pounds in less than two weeks because of the stress and agony of his soul.
Out of desperation, Michael telephoned several ministries for counseling. Some of them, upon hearing that he had understood and accepted Christ as a child told him that he was already saved and simply needed to realize it. Another ministry warned him that if he had blasphemed the Holy Spirit -- there was NO hope. Yet he knew that his heart was still mired in dark sexual sin.
After weeks of agonizing and crying out for his sins -- Michael had a vision. I don't remember if this was a "dream" or a "vision" (whereas he was awake).
Michael said that he saw himself standing at the bottom of a rugged hill. At the top of that hill was a man hanging on the cross. Michael said that this was not the picture he was used to of Jesus almost standing on a cross peg. This was a man beaten beyond recognition -- literally hanging from nails. Jesus was covered in blood, bruises, and sweat. He was also extremely swollen. But his eyes were open, and he was looking directly at Michael.
Michael said that he had never felt so much anguish in his entire life. He looked at Jesus and was somehow able to see "into" him. Christ had a heart that was pure and clean -- as pure as the whitest snow. Then, Michael looked at himself. He could see inside of himself as well, and his heart was black. He said that it was dirty to the core; if it were cut down the middle, it would have been black through and through.
Michael said that the agony of the moment was only compounded by the fact that he was embarrassed. Yet Jesus continued to look at him with the purest stare one could imagine -- piercing right into Michael. At this moment, Michael felt more helpless and hopeless than he had ever felt in his entire life. The agony of that moment was more excruciating than ever! He looked up at the Lord, like a little boy who was totally crushed on the inside.
Then the Lord said to him, "Michael, will you trade with me?"
At this point, Michael reached into his chest and pulled out that heart that was black with sin. He then pulled out the pure and clean heart from the Lord. Michael placed his heart into Jesus, and Jesus died. Michael then placed the Lord's clean heart into his own chest.
That was the end of his vision.
That was about ten years ago. Michael has walked with the Lord with an extreme and sincere love for Him ever since. He truly is a "crooked path made straight." I was privileged to stand as a groomsman in his wedding (even though I was a teenager). I am pleased that he will be attending my own wedding this Saturday.
Your desire for such a vision reminded me of Michael's own experience. While I have been extremely blessed by Michael's testimony and friendship -- I have prayed for such a vision of my own. Even more, I am pleased to fellowship with the Lord KNOWING the extent of the sacrifice for which He gave His life for me. I pray that my life can somehow bring others to the same place.
Be encouraged! I am praying for you in this. Please pray for me too!
:-)
