Pastor's Pen April 1, 2010
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Lord, Come Visit Us
We desire and are trusting God for a divine visitation-a revival. Preparing
for a divine visitation involves many things one of which is our faith to
invite Him. Jesus comes where He is sincerely invited. However, it is
important for us to understand the repercussions of such an invitation.
About six years ago I began praying a simple and sincere prayer; "Lord, come
visit us." Not long afterward I entered into a time of testing and
brokenness-the darkest time of my life. The Lord took my invitation
seriously.
During a recent sermon as I was discussing the idea of inviting Christ to
visit us I had the spontaneous picture of Jesus moving things out of the way
as He makes His way to where we are. I shared it with the congregation Two
days later during the weekly Pastor's prayer meeting several were asking the
Lord to come visit us. As I myself was praying the same I saw in my mind
the Lord Jesus Christ with a machete in His hand cutting away the brush that
stood between us. I shared it with the Pastors. Then this morning, for the
third time, the Lord brought further insights to me as I was journaling.
Here is my journal entry..
While praying I saw in my mind the Lord Jesus Christ with a machete in His
hand. "I'm coming, but there is much brush between us." As He makes His
way toward me He cuts away all the brush and overgrowth of sin in order to
get to me. He has taken my invitation seriously. So I realize that my
invitation for Him to come includes His intention to cut away and remove all
the junk that stands between him and me.
As He clears the path things hiding in the brush scurry. Things hidden to
me come to light. I am shocked! Things that are evil run at me. I am
frightened! But I hear His voice saying, "I'm coming," and I take heart. I
look to see His face and though it is obscured by the overgrowth I catch
glimpses of Him. I can see Him raising His arm with the machete in hand,
bringing it down with force as He walks toward me; clearing the path. "I'm
coming," He assures me. And though His work of clearing away the brush and
debris is unsettling my heart tells me it is for my good. Soon, I will see
Him more clearly...if I keep looking for Him and expecting His arrival.
There may be many more unsettling things that will come my way as my Savior
whacks away at what stands between us but I will not retreat or turn away
for the reward of seeing His face without obstruction will soon be mine.
Jesus will take your invitation seriously as well. Even though it may shock
you what He will have to do to make His way to you it will be well worth it!
Seeing His face without obstruction is an awesome reward! Don't be afraid.
Begin to pray. "Lord, come visit us," and brace yourself for the journey of
your life...a journey to life's greatest destination!
Pastor Dan
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