VISION

September 25, 2006 – Monday

An angel came up the path.  He seemed joyful and full of energy.

He had on a white jumpsuit.  It had zippers and buttoned openings, belts and tied sashes.  It also had glued sections each with a cuff or closing flap.

I had never seen an angel dressed like this one.  Over his heart there was a white safe door with a combination lock in the center.

When the angel saw me, he spoke:

“I am sent to you for the Holy One senses that you have need of me.”

“Who are you?” I asked.

“STEADFAST”, he answered.

“Why are your clothes so adorned with buttons and zippers?” I asked.

“Because you do not want to be unbuttoned, unzipped, unbuckled, unbelted, untied or unglued, do you?”

“No, I guess not,” I answered.

The angel said: “My heart is fixed.  Do you not want your heart to be fixed?”

“Yes,” I answered.

“The safe over the heart is sealed with a combination lock.  Would you like to know the combination?”

“Yes,” I answered.

He replied:  “Thankfulness and rejoicing – A child of God must be thankful before rejoicing can come forth from the heart.  Keeping this heart door locked means that thankfulness and rejoicing will travel up to the lips and out to bring glory to God.”

“Remaining glued, belted, tied, zipped, buckled and buttoned will hold the child of God’s purposes instead of allowing His precious life to dribble out to be squandered on the flesh.  He wishes to draw all of His children with cords of love.  He is the main purpose and all He desires will follow.”

STEADFAST dialed the combination lock.

“See a fixed heart,” he said to me.

“Now for the children of God, Jesus reigns within and the heart expresses this glorious reality through thankfulness and rejoicing.  This heart is fixed upon Him and all His purposes.”

The angel continued:  “I am come to help those who make their way to this hallowed place to become steadfast.”

I replied, “Thank you, STEADFAST, and thank you, Lord.  We receive STEADFAST from your hand.  May all of us be found to be steadfast to our God.”