I had a dream last night that I was being held in a foreign land on false charges.
I was innocent, and the person I was supposed to have wronged was even saying it wasn't true. Nonetheless, I could not move on until the trial was over, which was being done “community style”. The whole village turned up to vote on my innocence or guilt, and they would play the role of judge. My ally, who was testifying on my behalf got distracted and started talking about things unrelated to my case, something important to him, that was a total distraction and delay of the case at hand. This incensed me, and I exclaimed aloud in protest. He was well-meaning, just distracted. It looked like it would not be resolved quickly, as the day was ending and the community would have to be assembled again to hear more and decide my fate.
When I awoke this morning, I had a facebook message from a guy in the very country in question. This is what he sent, just the scripture reference: 2Cor. 4:16-17
Here is what it says: 16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!
Timely and precise is what I would call that.
Incidentally, I have a trip planned to this country. Shall I brace myself for false accusation, and delay? I want to live life free from fear, with an open and willing heart. Jesus said, “No man takes my life from me, I lay it down willingly.”
I think I have a lot to learn about this kind of living, this kind of dying.
I have been working thru the book of Acts in the last month or so. This dream reminds me a lot of things that happened there. I wrote in my journal this morning:
In some ways this reminds me of the book of Acts, how they were detained on charges and for reasons that didn't make sense, but had to go thru that process anyway. They were accused of being destructive, when there was no evidence to support the claim. Paul said that he was really on trial for the resurrection of the dead, which corresponds exactly to the apostolic calling as witnesses (martyrs) of the resurrection. I want to be in the fellowship of those who were so called, and faithful thru the trial.
We as the body of Christ can and will pray protection for you. If an earthquake happens and prison doors are opened I won’t have a problem with that.