Yesterday late afternoon when I was about to finish work in my home office I felt a surge of shivering affecting my body. The shivering was so potent that I needed to leap into bed as quickly as I could. I huddled into my blanked try to keep myself warm turning from side to side. Slowly, my body temperature went back up again. After half an hour I needed to go to the bathroom. I got up, weak and numb in my head. Before I went back to bed I wanted to praise God and somehow I started with a poem that just entered my mind:
Lord, which whom can I compare thee, thou art like a hen that spread her wing over her chicks, but lo when the raptor strikes, she cannot resist him though she may fight back in a futile attempt.
Lord, thou art like a log hut that shelters the wanderer from the rain shower; he will feel relief to hear the raindrops whipping the roof but not penetrating it; but lo, if the tempest is of the force of Jobs whirlwind, it will be to no avail, and he has nowhere to hide.
Lord, thou art like a rock that stands in the surf of the ocean and defies the onslaught of the waves, what a spectacle to behold it turning far travelled swells into a fountain of salty spray, but lo, if there is a swell driven by a fierce tempest, it will be submerged and we do not see its rugged shape for a moment.
Lord, thou art much greater than this…
At that very moment I was caught by a wave of the Spirit, as if the Lord would carry on with the theme of the wave. I was overwhelmed by his grace and wept like a baby with words of praise flowing effortless from my lips. Then I found myself in the holies. I had been dragged in by the Spirit. Then I realized I had sweaty, stained and worn work clothes on. They were alright for a labourer, but not fit for an encounter with royalty. When I realized it, I protested, Lord, I am so sorry to meet you in such poor attire, I stink, shame on me!
\tThe Lord replied, do not worry, go and change, have a bath in the water of the word, take this garment and take this robe. He handed me a priestly robe of fine linen, with artful embroidery. It was not brand new, but it had been used in priestly service. The robe had a fragrance that I had not smelled before . It was a symphony of various fragrances, sweet, light, heavy, and even some nuances of a yet unfamiliar, slightly bitter but antiseptic properties. It was a kaleidoscope of aromas! When I put on the robe, I felt so awkward, so unworthy in it, but the Lord said: You look handsome in it!
Then I looked around and became aware that I was in a big room like a cathedral and a noticed that there were a few people sitting there in the presence of the Lord. The Lord told me, the place is spacious with room for many, but only very few people ever come to worship . He said, everyone who comes here gets blessed, but how come so few realize this privilege.
I continued to praise him and give thanks. Then he told me that he has no complaint about my work and the duties I perform. The one thing I lack is fellowship with Him. You labour and sweat and are weary,
The verse "can you not tarry with me for one hour” came to my mind.
I replied, can I really come whenever I want? He said, the door is always open! Just come in and fellowship with me. This is never a waist of time, and you will never procrastinate there.
He proceeded saying that I am like a swot who wants to get good marks. He said, do not serve me for reward , just come and worship . I have plenty of reward for you , but do not look for it.
Going further he said, you are like a bell made of wood. It gives its sound, but it is muted, and does not sound very well . Then he showed me a little, almost tiny crystal bell. It was so clean and beautiful, something you would keep as a showpiece in a vitrine, almost too dear to use. He said take it and ring it! I took it and with a few gentle movements it gave a beautiful harmonious sound that was neither loud nor shrill but reached far and penetrated the room.
Then I suggest, Lord I want other people to know about what you shared with me and that they come into your throne room. He said, no problem, take some incense, put it on the burning coal of the altar and let it burn for a while. Then take a censor while coal and burning incense, go out of the temple and let it disperse its scent. Just a bit, do not go too far from the temple, return to the temple when it is about finished. So I did. I beheld this wonderful scent and heard the crackling of the pieces of incense on the coals. I was so amazed by it that I bearly noticed the people that were drawn by the aroma and smoke and followed me.
Then a bible verse that I got in the morning came to my mind. It was
Psalm 142:7
Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.
I though that this verse was for someone in our fellowship, who went through a hard time. The Lord looked at me and I realized his obvious superior knowledge: "No, it was for you and you to share, he replied.
Then I sensed a great liberation of the spirit, like a child who goes to its long awaited summer holiday place . A joy welled up in me that I have not experienced for many, many years. He said, come to me , take a bath , take the robe , spend time with me, and then go out and be a blessing.
Do not parade your smelly, dirty work clothes and look weary . This does not honour me and puts me and other people off. Then I remember that I had looked on a website for work wear the other day and admired these tradesmen in their outfit who had a sense of work ethos. The Lord said to me, work wear has its place but to not wear it with pride but with humility bringing honor to him you serve.
Here ends the vision, leaving me in a state of piece .
I continued to praise and thank the Lord and wrote this report while battling with fever and fatigue .
My intension is not boast in rapturous visions. To an extend I believe the Lord had to allow this fever to catch my attention and draw me into his presence. These were very kind words, but also corrections I need to take serious. May it bless you and kindle fervent love to the Lord. Let us go into the holy place so few people bother to enter. Let us not glory in our works but in the Lord. I put bible references in because I want to convince those that are weary of extra-biblical revelation and that this was indeed a genuine visitation of the Lord. I pray my life will henceforth bring the fruit thereof.
Amen.
